SOLIDWORKS 2023

TRAINING GUIDE

APPENDIX
SOLIDWORKS 2023 Training Guide

In this chapter you will be introduced to:

• Geometric Relations
• Defining Sketches
• Trimming Entities
• Delete Entities
• Extend Entities

GEOMETRIC RELATIONS
In creating a sketch it is really important to realize relationships on the sketch entity(ies).

To display all the geometric relations in a sketch, left click on the mouse once on the
Display/Delete Relations button in the Sketch Command Manager.

 The Display/Delete Relations PropertyManager will appear. The Display/Delete

 Note: Below is the Display/Delete Relations PropertyManager after the completion of

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As seen throughout the Lessons, SolidWorks will create automatic relationships while
sketching.

 Note: The automatic relationships that were created in Lesson 1 included; Horizontal,
Vertical and Coincident.

You can also add geometric relations to the sketch. A geometric relation can be added to
one sketch entity or between sketch entities.

 Note: Refer to Lesson 3 and Lesson 4 on how to add geometric relations in SolidWorks.

Below is a list of the most common sketch relations available in SolidWorks.

Horizontal Equal

Vertical Intersection

Collinear Coincident

Coradial Midpoint

Perpendicular Symmetric

Parallel Fix

Tangent Concentric

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DEFINING SKETCHES
Under Defined

A sketch is Under Defined when there are no dimension(s) or relation(s) referenced to the
drawn sketch entity(ies). An Under Defined sketch is represented by the sketch entity(ies)
displaying blue in colour as well it is displayed in the status bar.

Fully Defined

A sketch is Fully Defined when sketch entity(ies) have been defined by its dimension(s),
relation(s), or both. A Fully Defined sketch is represented by the sketch entity(ies) displaying
black in colour as well it is displayed in the status bar.

To Fully Define a sketch quickly in SolidWorks;

 Left click on the mouse once on the Flyout under the Display/Delete Relations button
and choose Fully Define Sketch.

The Fully Define Sketch PropertyManager will appear. The Fully Define Sketch
PropertyManager allows you to add dimension(s) and relation(s) to the drawn sketch entity(ies)
to fully define the sketch

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 In the Fully Define Sketch PropertyManager under Entities to Fully Define left click
on the mouse once on Calculate.

Note: If All selected Entities is selected, SolidWorks will automatically define all the sketch
entities. If Selected entities is selected, you will have to choose the sketch entity(ies) that you
would like SolidWorks to fully define.

 Left click on the mouse once on OK in the Fully Define Sketch PropertyManager to exit.

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Over Defined

A sketch is Over Defined when a dimension has been created on an sketch entity(ies) that
have already been defined by relations or dimensions.

When a sketch is Over Defined a Make Dimension Driven? window will appear in the
SolidWorks drawing area.

Note: If you select the radio button besides Make this dimension driven and left click on the
mouse once on OK then the dimension you have selected will turn into a driven dimension. A
driven dimension is a dimension that cannot be edited and therefore the dimension will display
grey in colour.

If you select the radio button besides Leave the dimension driving and left click on the mouse
once on OK then you will see some dimensions display red or yellow in colour.

An Over Defined sketch is represented by the dimension(s) displaying in a red or yellow color
as well it is displayed in the status bar.

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To diagnose and solve Over Defined sketches;

 Left click on the mouse twice on Over Defined in the status bar.

The SketchXpertPropertyManager will appear. The SketchXpertPropertyManager allows

 In the SketchXpert PropertyManager left click on the mouse once on Diagnose.

Note: Selecting Diagnose allows SolidWorks automatically to find all possible solutions to the
Over Defined Sketch.

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 In the SketchXpert PropertyManager under Results, SolidWorks displays all possible

Note: Use the Forward and Reverse buttons to scroll through possible solutions.

 If the accepted solution does not cause another conflict with other sketch entities you will
get a message in the SketchXpert PropertyManager “The Sketch can now find a
valid solution”. Left click on the mouse once on OK in the SketchXpert
PropertyManager to exit

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TRIMMING ENTITIES

To modify and edit sketch entities in SolidWorks you can use the Trim Entities button from the
Sketch CommandManager. There are 5 types of trim commands available in SolidWorks.

Note: You will need to create the sketch below. The Line numbers are only for reference.

Trim Outside

 Left click on the mouse once on the Trim Entities button in the Sketch
CommandManager.

The Trim Options PropertyManager will appear. The Trim Options PropertyManager
enables you to trim and extend entities.

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 In the Trim Options PropertyManager left click on the mouse once on the icon besides
Trim away outside.

 Move the cursor to the SolidWorks drawing area and left click on the mouse once
anywhere along Line 2 and then once along Line 4.

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Note: Selecting Line 2 and Line 4 allows you to define the boundary of the entities to be
trimmed.

 Left click on the mouse once on the portion of Line 6, Line 7, and Line 8 in between
Line 2 and Line 4.

The sketch will look similar as shown below.

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Trim to Closest

 In the Trim Options PropertyManager and left click on the mouse once on the icon
besides Trim to Closest.

 Move the cursor to the SolidWorks drawing area and left click on the mouse once on
Line 1 and then once on the portion of Line 5.

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The sketch will look similar as shown below.

Power Trim

 In the Trim Options PropertyManager and left click on the mouse once on the icon
besides Power Trim.

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 Move the cursor to the right side of the geometry in the SolidWorks drawing area and
hold down on the left mouse button and drag the cursor pass Line 3 and the portion of
Line 5.

The sketch will look similar as shown below.

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Corner

 In the Trim Options PropertyManager and left click on the mouse once on the icon
besides Corner.

 Move the cursor to the SolidWorks drawing area and left click on the mouse once on
Line 6 and then once on the portion of Line 2.

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 Left click on the mouse once again on Line 6 and then once on the portion of Line 4.

The sketch will look similar as shown below.

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Trim to Inside

 In the Trim Options PropertyManager and left click on the mouse once on the icon
besides Trim to Inside.

 Move the cursor to the SolidWorks drawing area and left click on the mouse once
anywhere along Line 2 and then once anywhere along Line 4.

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 Left click on the mouse once on Line 7.

 Press the Esc key on the keyboard to exit the Trim Options PropertyManager.

The sketch will look similar as shown below.

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DELETE ENTITIES

When sketching in SolidWorks there will be many times where you will need to remove
entitiy(ies) in the SolidWorks drawing area. To remove entitiy(ies) you can use the Delete key
on the keyboard.

 Left click on the mouse once on Line 2 and press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Note: The sketch below is continued from the trimming process.

The sketch will look similar as shown below.

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EXTEND ENTITIES
Another method of editing and modifying entities in SolidWorks you can use the Extend Entities
command.

Note: You will need to create the sketch below.

 In the Sketch CommandManager left click on the mouse once on the Flyout under the
Trim Entities button and choose Extend Entities.

 Move the cursor to the SolidWorks drawing area and left click on the mouse once on
Line 1.

Note: Line 1 will extend all the way up to Line 2

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The sketch will look similar as shown below.

 Press the Esc key on the keyboard to exit the Trim Options PropertyManager .

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