Is there a way to create a 3D plane surface in Onshape?

Tallis_Kirby

I need to draw a series of fabric roofs that are anchored at corners at different heights across their respective surfaces. I notice 3D planar drawing is an ongoing demand of Onshape users - as it is in practice. Has this need been resolved or does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you.

mahir

You can create a plane using either 3 points or a line/point combo. Once you have a plane, sketching a planer surface is trivial. How you create the points/lines is up to you, but a series of 2D sketches placed on offset planes should do the trick.

philip_thomas

If i have understood correctly, you are looking to create a planar surface (presumably bounded by a sketch).
If that is the case - @NeilCooke wrote a custom feature to do this - i am sure he will post a link in a few minutes

NeilCooke

?

NeilCooke

I think the OP is asking for 3D sketches?

philip_thomas

Yeah - its confusing - he said "3D" and "Planar" which are of course orthogonal!
I thought he wanted a bounded planar surface and i know you had solved this.
Lets see what he comes back with  

carl_von_ayres

If you are looking to do surface modeling [which it sounds to me] I would suggest watching the webinar below, its surprising how much surface modelling you can do using the surface extrude, surface loft, thicken, etc.

Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc14A-4mw30

Tallis_Kirby

Hi Folks... Thank you all for getting back to me so quickly!

I didn't have my notifications set so I've only just noticed the discussion had grown.

Sorry if you used the wrong terminology (3D and Planar)- the end result concept of a fabric roof in tension hopefully helps. Each corner is at a different height, and each edge is curved in three dimensions- making it at the very least time consuming and complex to construct in CAD.

I am currently looking into using surface modelling (thank you carl_von_ayres for the webinar link). I will try and see if it works. 

carl_von_ayres

Hi, I thought I would give this ago as its good practice for myself.  

Below is the link to the model which I assume is something similar to what you are after, the first is simple [you can set the heights individually], the second has a opening in the top and the third part starts to incorporate guide rails.

I am currently having problems matching the four sections up [so I can boolean them together],  I assume is due to how I based my sketches but someone with more knowledge of surface modelling could probably help you with this easily.
.
Link:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/2cae6b8bd07a88a2e2458fb0/w/997a68310515c46b08a51a8f/e/35e8da40a8b8977e1515184a 

Tallis_Kirby

Hi- quick correction: I meant to say "sorry if "I" used the wrong terminology"- no passive aggressive silliness intended-just careless typing... lol... 

billy2

(2D sketch) * 2 = 3D?



With 2 2D sketches can I create any geometry any where? I think so. 

Compound sketch defined:
-sketch on front plane defining 1 rotation


-sketch on this rotated face, rotation 2:


-sketch on this rotated face, rotation 3:


Add 3 translations:


That's 3 rotations & 3 translations. That's any where & any orientation.

So, instead of using one sketch to define geometry, use 2 sketches.

Look this is no substitution for a 3D sketch, but it does work and is fairly controllable.

wayne_schafer

This might work but a 3D sketch tool would be a whole lot better for us that do a lot of tube bending with compound angles.

lana

@wayne_sauder Please see helpful custom feature discussed here https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/7394/3d-sketch-custom-feature#latest