Model Tree: Planes, Origin and Sketches
The Model panel shows the three planes through the origin, the origin itself, the sketch behind each step, and any sketch you have drawn but not used yet. Each has its own right-click menu.
The Three Planes and the Origin
The Front Plane, Top Plane and Right Plane pass through the Origin. Right-click a plane for:
- Sketch on This Plane: starts a sketch on it (Pro).
- Hide Planes / Show Planes: hides or shows the three planes in the view. Your browser remembers the choice.
You can also double-click a plane to sketch on it. The Origin row has no menu. Pieces tied to the origin never move.
Step by Step: Sketch on a Plane
- Open the Model panel.
- Right-click Front Plane, Top Plane or Right Plane, then choose Sketch on This Plane.
- Draw as usual. When you finish, extrude or cut the shape.
Reference Plane and Axis Steps
A plane or axis you made with Reference Geometry is a step in the list with an eye at its right. Click the eye to hide or show it. Right-click it for Sketch on (the plane's name), Hide or Show, and the usual step menu. Sketch on is grayed while the step is suppressed or rolled back.
The Sketch Under a Step
Open a step with its arrow to see its sketch. The sketch row has two menu items besides the usual Rename and Delete:
- Edit Sketch: reopens the drawing. See Model Tree: Edit Feature and Edit Sketch.
- Delete (with the step's name): deletes the sketch and the step together.
A mark in front of the sketch name says how fully it is defined:
| Mark | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (-) | Under defined: some pieces can still move or change size. Open the sketch to see which. |
| (+) | Over defined: its relations and sizes disagree. Open the sketch to see which. |
| none | Fully defined. |
The grey note beside the name says which face the sketch is on.
A Sketch Not Used Yet
A sketch you drew but have not extruded or cut shows as its own row. It reads Sketch (not used yet), or Sketch (open now) while you are drawing in it. The note tells you how many pieces it has and which face it is on.
Right-click it, or double-click it, for:
- Open: goes back to drawing in it.
- Discard: throws the sketch away.
Open is grayed while that sketch is already open or while a step edit is under way.
Tips
- Double-click a plane to sketch on it quickly.
- Click a sketch row to light up that sketch on the model.
- Hiding the planes only hides them in the view. It does not change the model.
If Something Goes Wrong
- "Sketching needs a paid account." Sketching is a Pro feature.
- "An older version is showing. Go back to the current one to sketch."
- "Finish the step edit first: Update step or Cancel at the top of the Model tree."