Adjusting Sketch Dimensions in SOLIDWORKS 2016 with Instant 2D

I GET IT - TATA Technologies - James Keller | March 1, 2016 | Comment

The Instant 3D feature in SOLIDWORKS allows users to drag geometry dynamically in the graphics area to resize a sketches dimensions.

With the SOLIDWORKS 2016 update, the new Instant 2D update allows users to do the same thing in a sketching environment. In the tutorial video below, we’re going to edit a sketch to illustrate this process.

Users must first toggle on the Instant 2D feature in the feature manager. Selecting a dimension will create blue control handles around the sketch.

BlueHandles
Blue handles appear around the sketch after Instant 2D has been toggled on and a dimension has been selected.

Users only have to drag a handle to adjust the dimension and its related sketch geometry dynamically. A ruler feature appears to help track changes being made.

BlueHandlesAdjusted
Dragging the control handle adjusts the dimension and its related sketch geometry. A ruler feature helps keep track of adjustments.

Instant 2D also eliminates the need to rebuild a sketch after dimension changes have been made.

In prior versions, users had to double-click the dimension, enter a new value and rebuild to see their changes. When Instant 2D feature is active, users only have to click a dimension once to update its value.

To find more tutorial videos like the one shown above, visit myigetit.com.

About the Author

James Keller has over seven years of CAD and instructional design experience, with a primary focus on SOLIDWORKS 3D design software. A strong design background allows him to wear both the hats of Engineer and Designer at once.