Tutorial: Basic Sketching

Create a basic sketch.

In this lesson, you will learn how to:
  • Create and dimension a global sketch
  • Extrude a sketch
  • Sketch on the face of a model
  • Apply planar symmetry
  • Trim an object

Create and Dimension a Global Sketch

  1. Start Inspire Studio. Or if it is already open, click the New model tool on the File icon.


  2. On the File menu, click the Preferences button.
  3. Under Inspire Studio > Units, for Length, select mm.
  4. Click the Save as Defaults button. Click Apply, then OK to close.


  5. On the ribbon, click the Sketching tab.
  6. Click the Line icon.


  7. Click the Right sketch plane.


    The view automatically aligns orthographically.
  8. Move the mouse pointer near the global center until it snaps. You should see a coincident snap icon. Click to insert the first point.


  9. Move the mouse cursor along the z-axis.
    A text box appears to input the length.


  10. Enter 20, and press Enter.
    Note: The value that you enter in the text box creates a true sketch. You can confirm the value once you add dimensions.
  11. Complete the sketch according to this video:
  12. Dimension the sketch according to this video:
  13. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.
  14. Save the file as Level1_Tutorial1.

Extrude a Sketch

  1. In the view controls, click the Home icon to return to the default orthographic view.
  2. Press F to fit the sketch in the view.
  3. Open the Extrude tool:
    • On the Surfaces tab, click the Extrude icon.
    • While holding down Alt, right-click to open the tool belt, and then click the Extrude icon.
  4. Modify the sketch curve:
    1. Click the sketch curve in the modeling window.
      By default, the sketch curve is extruded according to the sketch dimensions.
    2. Change the extrusion value to 10 mm.
    3. In the guide bar, select Caps.
  5. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.

Sketch on the Face of a Model

  1. To sketch on the face of an object, select a sketch tool from the ribbon and click a face on the model.
  2. Sketch on the face according to the video:
  3. Dimension the sketch.


    Tip: You may have to apply a horizontal constraint to the origin and first point (10 mm from the origin) to fully define this sketch.
  4. On the Surfaces tab, click the Extrude icon.
  5. Enter a value of 35 mm and add caps.


  6. Save the file.
  7. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.

Apply Planar Symmetry

  1. On the ribbon, click the Modify tab.
  2. In the Symmetry tool group, click the Planar Symmetry icon.
  3. Click the first extrusion. Reposition the symmetry line by dragging and snapping to the opposite side of the second extrusion, or enter an X value of 27.5 mm. In the guide bar, select Combine with inputs to join the two objects.
  4. Save the file.
  5. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.

Sketch on Face

  1. On the ribbon, click the Sketching tab.
  2. In the Rectangles tool group, click the Corner Rectangle icon.

Trim the Object

  1. On the ribbon, click the Modify tab.
  2. Click the Trim icon.
  3. Open the sketch from Step 4, Level1_Tutorial1. Select the two objects in the scene. Select the surfaces to remove, and then click the green check mark on the guide bar to complete the trim.
    Tip: All input objects in the trim tool are treated as a single body. Selecting objects that are not directly in the trim path is a trick to force the trim tool to perform a Boolean union at the end of the operation.
  4. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.