<!DOCTYPE html
  PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">

<!--
Copyright (c) 2006 UGS Corp.

All Rights Reserved.

This software and related documentation are proprietary to UGS Corp.
-->
<html>
   <head>
      <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
      <title>Using sketches in NX Sheet Metal</title>
      <script language="javaScript">
        abridged="false";
        displayConditions=new Array();
      </script>
      <link type="text/css" href="../css/main_styles.css" rel="stylesheet">
   </head>
   <body class="bodydocs" onload="top.pageLoader()" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
      <div class="title_topic3" id="xps10_pagetitle">Using sketches in NX Sheet Metal</div>
      <hr noshade="true">
      <p class="para_topic">Many features in NX Sheet Metal use sketches as part of their construction geometry. In most cases, you can either use a pre-existing sketch or create one within the feature itself. It is important to understand the differences between these two methods, and how to use and access sketches within NX Sheet Metal features.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Sketch buttons in the dialog boxes</div>
      <p class="para_division">In the dialog for each sketch-based feature, you see two icons that can be used for sketches. The <b class="uiTerm">Sketch Section</b> button&nbsp;<img align="bottom" src="graphics/sketcher_icon.gif" border="0">&nbsp; lets you create a new sketch as part of the feature. The <b class="uiTerm">Curve</b> button &nbsp;<img align="bottom" src="graphics/curve_select_icon.gif" border="0">&nbsp;lets you select a previously-created sketch from the graphics window to use as the feature contour.
      </p>
      <div class="title_division">Internal and external sketches</div>
      <p class="para_division">Choosing between an internal and external sketch for a feature depends on whether you plan to reuse the sketch for other features. A sketch created from within a feature becomes part of it and is not available for use by other features. The feature that contains the sketch is the only one shown in the feature tree, and you must edit that feature to have access to the sketch. In the following figure, the <b class="uiTerm">Tab</b> feature is based on an internal sketch, which is therefore not visible in the feature tree.
      </p>
      <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
         <colgroup span="1">
            <col span="1" width="900">
         </colgroup>
         <tbody>
            <tr>
               <td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
                  <p class="para_td"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnav_mod_history.gif" border="0">Model History<br><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnav_csys.gif" border="0">Datum Coordinate System (0)<br><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnavtab.gif" border="0">SB Tab (1)<br></p>
               </td>
            </tr>
         </tbody>
      </table><br><p class="para_division">If you need to use the same sketch to construct multiple features, create the sketch using the Sketcher alone, and then select the pre-existing sketch when you create your feature. This keeps the original sketch in the feature tree, and it can be referenced by other features, as shown in the following figure.</p>
      <p class="para_division"></p>
      <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
         <colgroup span="1">
            <col span="1" width="900">
         </colgroup>
         <tbody>
            <tr>
               <td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
                  <p class="para_td"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnav_mod_history.gif" border="0">Model History<br><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnav_csys.gif" border="0">Datum Coordinate System (0)<br><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnav_sketch.gif" border="0">Sketch (1) &ldquo;SKETCH_000&rdquo;<br><img align="bottom" src="graphics/partnavtab.gif" border="0">SB Tab (2)<br></p>
               </td>
            </tr>
         </tbody>
      </table><br><p class="para_division"> You can also convert an internal sketch to an internal one. In the <b class="uiTerm">Part Navigator</b>, pick the feature that contains the sketch, press the right mouse button and select <b class="uiTerm">Make Sketch External</b> from the menu.
      </p>
   </body>
</html>