SolidWorks Tips and Tricks - Sketching Line

SolidWorks simple yet powerful tools helps designers to easily navigate the software with ease. Lets see how we can do sketching line in SolidWorks.

When you open a new part document, first you create a sketch. The sketch is the basis for a 3D model. You can create a sketch on any of the default planes (Front Plane, Top Plane, and Right Plane), or a created plane.

Command	:	Line
Location	:	Click Line on the Sketch toolbar, or click Tools, Sketch Entities, Line

You can start sketching a line by clicking anywhere (in this case origin is used) and then move it in the direction you want the line and then click it again. This way you can go on and once done with the sketch, to get out of the command hit the Esc (Escape Key) or Right click-Select or Press Enter key two times.



What if instead of a line you want an arc, for that we know the option of  Alphabet A key in keyboard shortcut or Right click-Switch to Arc but there is an easier way to do it. As shown below once you have created your first entity (line) you can go back to the end point of the previous entity (line) and will see the symbol as shown below and the line command will automatically turn to arc command.

Note: No need to click on the end point just move your mouse pointer on it and you will see the below symbol. Also if you escape from the line command after creating the first entity it wont work.

Once you are in the arc command you can create the arc by moving the mouse in the direction you want the arc and it will create it.

If you cannot get the arc direction or orientation correct just go back to starting point of arc and try to redo it. It will follow the direction/pattern in which you move you mouse cursor.

Note: No need to click anywhere or hit the escape or else it won't work.

What if you change your mind and don’t want to create an arc. If you try to go back to the end point you won’t see the line as shown in picture below.

To get the line command active simply click on the last entity’s end point and you are back in line command.