SOLIDWORKS Tech Tip: Derived Sketches

Derives a sketch from another sketch that belongs to the same part, or derives a sketch from another sketch in the same assembly.

When you derive a sketch from an existing sketch, you are assured that the two sketches will retain the characteristics that they share in common. Changes that you make to the original sketch are reflected in the derived sketch.

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Things to know when using Derived Sketches:

  • If you delete a sketch from which a new sketch was derived, you are prompted that all derived sketches will automatically be underived. Click Yes or No.
  • You cannot add or delete sketch entities in a derived sketch. However, you can re-orient it with dimensions and geometric relations.
  • When you make changes to the original sketch, the derived sketch updates automatically.
  • To break the link between the derived sketch and its parent sketch, right-click the derived sketch in the FeatureManager design tree and select Underive. (After the link is broken, the derived sketch no longer updates when you change the original sketch.)

The video below shows how Derived Sketches are used in SOLIDWORKS:

Deriving Sketches in Parts

To derive a sketch from a sketch in the same part:

  1. Select the sketch from which you want to derive a new sketch.
  2. Hold the Ctrl key and click the face on which you want to place the new sketch.
  3. Click Insert > Derived Sketch.The sketch appears on the plane of the selected face, and the status line indicates that you are editing the sketch.
  4. Position the derived sketch by dragging and dimensioning it to the selected face. (The derived sketch is rigid and drags as a whole entity.)
  5. Exit the sketch.

Deriving Sketches in Assemblies

To derive a sketch from a sketch in the same assembly:

  1. Right-click the part on which you want to place a derived sketch.
  2. Select Edit Part.
  3. Select the sketch (in the same assembly) from which you want to derive a new sketch.
  4. Hold the Ctrl key and click the face on which you want to place the new sketch.
  5. Click Insert > Derived Sketch.

    The sketch appears on the plane of the selected face.

  6. Position the derived sketch by dragging and dimensioning it to the selected face. (The derived sketch is rigid and drags as a whole entity.)
  7. Exit the sketch.
  8. Click Edit Component Tool_Edit_Component_Assembly.gif on the Assembly toolbar.

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