The way to Lock a Sketch in SOLIDWORKS

Whereas there isn’t a selected command to lock a sketch in SOLIDWORKS, there are a handful of strategies that may obtain this relying in your objective.

The very best methodology to lock SOLIDWORKS sketches comes all the way down to what you have to defend them for. Whether or not you wish to defend sketch geometry from unintended adjustments or standardize a sketch to your firm’s library, we’ll focus on strategies to get it accomplished.

Why Ought to You Lock SOLIDWORKS Sketches?

Everybody has a barely completely different workflow in SOLIDWORKS, however there normally comes a degree the place you wish to save sure components from being inadvertently edited. Early within the design, sure geometry, dimensions, and different info stands out as the foundation of what different options are constructed on.

Due to this fact, we should defend them from stray adjustments. Different instances, we could have to make use of imported components that can not be modified.  If you’re sharing recordsdata and collaborating, locking a sketch would possibly guarantee your colleague is aware of one thing is essential. There are lots of causes one would possibly want to guard a sketch towards adjustments.

4 Strategies to Lock a Sketch in SOLIDWORKS

Totally Outline a Sketch

In SOLIDWORKS, it’s best follow to completely outline all components inside a sketch earlier than making a characteristic. This implies making use of dimensions to all entities and options inside a sketch in order that nothing stays undefined.

As soon as a sketch is absolutely outlined, it is protected against being dragged round and by chance moved. With this methodology to lock a sketch, it’s protected till somebody actively adjustments a dimension worth inside a sketch.

The Make Fastened Command

One other strategy to locking a sketch could be to make use of the Make Fastened command. This command may be discovered by right-clicking when sketch components are highlighted and deciding on the command denoted with an anchor icon. As soon as the anchor icon is clicked, the highlighted components are frozen in place and absolutely outlined.

Locking a sketch with the Make Fastened command

With a view to lock a whole sketch, edit the sketch you want to lock, spotlight or choose all the weather throughout the sketch, right-click, and choose the anchor icon. This may flip the sketch components black, indicating they’re absolutely outlined and stuck.

The SOLIDWORKS Freeze Bar

The SOLIDWORKS Freeze Bar is a current addition to SOLIDWORKS performance. When enabled, the Freeze Bar seems as a yellow bar above the Function Tree in SOLIDWORKS. Dragging this freeze bar down into the characteristic tree protects something above it from being edited.

Dragging the SOLIDWORKS Freeze Bar to lock a sketch

When you click on and drag the Freeze Bar under the specified sketch to lock it, all the things previous the sketch shall be uneditable till the bar is rolled again to the highest.

To be taught extra concerning the Freeze Bar, assessment our video under.

Sketch Blocks

One other methodology of locking a sketch is to make it right into a sketch block. Blocks are grouped sketch components which are shielded from enhancing till you particularly hit the Edit Blocks command. As an extra profit to utilizing blocks, it can save you out blocks for later reference to be reused everytime you want them for different designs.

Turning a sketch right into a sketch block

To make a block, spotlight the group of entities you want to flip right into a block, and navigate to Instruments -> Blocks. On this menu, choose Make, and a immediate will seem to substantiate. These blocks may be saved right into a file in your laptop or utilized in a library for later reference.

Further Safety with Knowledge Administration Instruments

Whether or not you have to defend an present design ingredient, protect an imported characteristic, or achieve this for another purpose to lock a sketch, you need to use any of those 4 strategies that will help you to protect your work by locking it and making it protected.

Nevertheless, to guard whole designs and guarantee traceability for adjustments, it’s best to put money into a devoted information administration system. With a instrument like SOLIDWORKS PDM or 3DEXPERIENCE, you’ve gotten full management over components, assemblies, and drawings to revise, safe, and collaborate safely with out the danger of undesirable adjustments.

For extra greatest practices on securely sharing CAD information, watch our on-demand webinar right here.