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Sketch points

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    Procedures | References

    Points can be either sketch points or center points. On the Sketch tab, Format panel, click Center Point to switch the point style between sketch point and center (default).

    In the graphics window, sketch points appear as dots. Center points appear as cross-hair symbols.

     
    		 

    You can delete center points and sketch points. If the point is used in a feature, and you created features whose geometry depends on the feature, the dependent features are either modified or deleted.

    What are sketch points?

    In a 2D sketch, points are placed on the sketch plane. You can dimension or constrain the points to other geometry within the sketch.

    Characteristics of points in 2D sketches

    • Sketch points are created without constraints. Use constraint commands to add constraints as needed.
    • Sketch points are used as construction commands to help position sketched geometry .
    • A sketch point is automatically created on a constrained midpoint.
    • Sketch points are deleted when the coincident geometry (line, spline) is deleted.
    • When sketching, you can snap automatically to midpoints of lines, creating a constraint to the midpoint.

    Characteristics of points in 3D sketches

    • With the points connected by lines, tangent corner bends are created automatically if Auto-bend with 3D line creation is selected on the Tools tab Options panel Application OptionsSketch tab.
    • The 3D triad displays so you can click a plane to specify a sketch plane. Like points in 2D sketches, you can apply constraints and dimensions.
    • Points are placed in 3D space according to the current view plane, or you can place points by selecting vertices of existing geometry.
    • You can dimension or constrain points to other geometry in the sketch, or constrain them to other sketches or existing model geometry.

    What are center points?

    Center points position hole features. To position center points precisely, right-click to snap to midpoints, center points, or intersections of existing geometry.

    Center points are maintained when the coincident geometry (line, spline) is deleted. For example, when a spline that passes through several center points is deleted, the center points remain. Sketch points are not maintained when coincident geometry is deleted

    When creating a hole feature, you can click to place a center point, and then click edges and enter offset distances to position the hole.

    Import points into sketches

     

    You can import points from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet into a 2D sketch, 3D sketch, or drawing sketch. Use points to represent items such as inspection points, locations for spot welds, and points on a spline.

     

    You can select to have splines or lines automatically created to fit the imported points.

    Imported points are not associative with the source file. Changes to the source file after the import operation do not affect the Inventor geometry.

    If the spreadsheet contains Z-axis values, only X and Y values are imported into a 2D sketch.

    Format required for imported points:

    • Center points are not deleted when the coincident curve is deleted. Sketch points are deleted when the curve is deleted.
    • The table of points must be the first worksheet in the file.
    • The table always starts in cell A1.
    • If the first cell (A1) contains a unit of measure, it is applied to all points in the spreadsheet. If no units are specified, the default file units are used.
    • Columns must be defined in this order: Column A is the X coordinate, Column B is the Y coordinate, and Column C is the Z coordinate.
    • Cells can contain a formula that calculates to a numeric value.
    • Points correspond to the spreadsheet rows. The first imported point corresponds to the first row of coordinates, and so on. If a spline or line is created automatically, it begins at the first point and passes through the other points based on their order of import.

    The 3D sketch that holds imported points bears the same name as the layer or group where the points are located in the neutral STEP or IGES file. If points in the neutral file contain no layer or group information, the 3D sketch name is the system default name, such as Sketch1, and so on.

    NoteYou cannot duplicate names for items in the browser tree within one part document. To resolve name conflicts, the 3D sketch uses the group or layer name with a prefix of "3D." For example: "MyLayer" is a base solid name. When points are present in the layer, the system generates a new 3D sketch, "3D MyLayer," to contain the 3D sketch points.

    Procedures

    Create center points or sketch points in 2D and 3D sketches

     
    		 
    NoteAlternatively, import points from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to create center points or sketch points (see Sketch points).

    To begin, create a 2D or 3D sketch. In an empty file, the sketch plane is preset and you can start to place points.

    1. On the ribbonSketch tab Draw panel , click Point.
    2. Click in the graphics window to place points.

      If appropriate, switch between creation of sketch point and center points using the Center Point switch on the Sketch tab, Format panel.

    3. To position a point on existing geometry precisely, right-click and do one of the following:
      • Select Midpoint and click a line or curve.
      • Select Center and click a circle or ellipse.
      • Select Intersection and click two intersecting elements.

      To constrain a point to existing geometry, move the cursor over the geometry until the coincident symbol appears.

    Move a 3D sketch point.

    1. right-click a point, and select 3D Move/Rotate.
    2. Enter X, Y, and Z coordinates to reposition the point in space.

    Import points into sketches

    1. On the ribbonSketch tabFormat panel, click Center Pointto import the points as center points. Otherwise, the points are imported as sketch points.
    2. On the ribbonSketch tabInsert panel, click Points to import the points as sketch points, or Center Point to import the points as center points.
    3. If necessary to create a spline or line through the imported points, click Options, select the appropriate connectivity, and then click OK.
    4. In the Open dialog box, browse to the folder where the file that contains the import points is located.
    5. Open the file.

    Import points through STEP and IGES

    1. On the Quick Access toolbar, click Open. In the Files of type list, select STEP Files (*.stp;*.ste;*.step) or IGES Files (*.igs;*.ige;*.iges).
    2. Select a file to open, and click Options. The Import Options dialog box displays.
    3. In the Import Options dialog box, in the Entities to Import section, ensure that Points is selected.
    4. Set the remaining options as needed. See Import STEP or IGES options for a description of settings in the Import Options dialog box.
    5. In the Import Options dialog box, click OK. In the Open dialog box, click Open.

      The system adds a 3D sketch to hold the imported points.

    Import points through DWG

    Import points upon translation when you open a DWG file. For more information, see Import DWG File Options.

    Delete points

    1. In the browser, double-click the Sketch icon to activate the sketch.
    2. Click a center point or sketch point to delete.
    3. Press Delete, or right-click and select Delete.

    References

    Points

    Positions points in the graphics window.

    Access:

    		Ribbon: Sketch tab Draw panel Point

    Center Point

    Create hole centers for hole features. The Hole feature automatically selects a hole center point in a 2D sketch.

    Sketch Point

    Create a construction point to help position sketch geometry .

    Connection point grip

    In drawing sketches, creates a connection handle to snap together sketch symbols, title blocks, and drawing borders.

    Import Points: File Open Options

    Sets options to import points without or with connections.

    Access:

    		Ribbon: Sketch tab Insert panel Points . In the Open dialog box, click Options.

    Create points

    Import points only.

    Create lines

    Import points and connect them with lines.

    Create spline

    		Import points and connect them with a spline.
    NoteFor 3D sketches with the points connected by lines, tangent corner bends are created automatically if Auto-bend with 3D line creation is selected on the Tools tab Options panel Application OptionsSketch tab.

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