What is the best workflow alternative to 3D sketching?

Lloyd_Dias

I have resorted to drawing triangles on one plane and extruding them to different lengths. So I get 'x/y' on the plane and 'z' on the extrude. Then create planes between points on edges of the triangles and create sketches on those planes and then use those sketches to create another set of planes to get the sketch I need for the '3d' line. This is the only way could get the bends on the tubes with proper bend radii. Can anyone suggest a better/quicker/shorter option?

EvanReese

Thanks for the shoutout @MichaelPascoe
In addition to the above, if you want to route straight sections with bends, consider combining the Routing Path one shown above with my 3D Points feature, which is pretty much the Freeform Spline feature with the spline stuff stripped out of it. Editing the 3D Points feature with "Final" turned on would let you make it pretty interactive. Here's an example.

MichaelPascoe

Try using some custom features. My favorite combination would probably be to get the points you need with Freeform Spline, then add the lines and radius corners using 3D Routing. Finally, make it a solid tube with Wire / Pipe Diameter.

Freeform Spline by @Evan_Reese
3D Routing by @John_P_Desilets
Wire / Pipe Diameter by @John_P_Desilets
3D Sketch by Morgan (edu)


https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8f5670ed0fb6d0c4ad797b24/w/65299037da37ffd7259d1caf/e/b954b44f61a9b7e31e1cbe1f

How to add a custom feature to your toolbar while in a specific custom features document:

How to add a custom feature to your toolbar while in your own document:

jake_delano19

Try using Projected Curves. In my example, I've drawn curves 1 and 2 as 2D sketches, but you can also use 3D splines, and then used the Projected Curve tool to project them to curve 3 that I've labeled.

EvanReese

Thanks for the shoutout @MichaelPascoe
In addition to the above, if you want to route straight sections with bends, consider combining the Routing Path one shown above with my 3D Points feature, which is pretty much the Freeform Spline feature with the spline stuff stripped out of it. Editing the 3D Points feature with "Final" turned on would let you make it pretty interactive. Here's an example.

Lloyd_Dias

Evan_Reese said:

Thanks for the shoutout @MichaelPascoe
In addition to the above, if you want to route straight sections with bends, consider combining the Routing Path one shown above with my 3D Points feature, which is pretty much the Freeform Spline feature with the spline stuff stripped out of it. Editing the 3D Points feature with "Final" turned on would let you make it pretty interactive. Here's an example.

This is brilliant! Thanks

John_P_Desilets

 I cannot take credit for those custom features. @kevin_o_toole_1 built the routing / wire custom feature.

MichaelPascoe

It's hard to tell who the feature creators are. All we can see are the document owners.