[MBD Logo] Creating a single component design
A Pro/DESKTOP Tutorial (Module 1)		 [Van]
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Creating a sketch for the body

[Figure 5]
Fig. 5. The sketch on the base workplane


To create a sketch on the default horizontal workplane

  1. Choose the Create Rectangle [Create Rectangle button] tool.

  2. Draw a rectangle on the workplane.

The size and position of your rectangle may be different to the one shown!

  1. From the File menu choose Save.

  2. Enter the file name ‘BODY’.

Adding constraints to the sketch

[Figure 6]
Fig. 6. The size of the sketch controlled by constraints

[Figure 7]
Fig. 7. The finished sketch for the body of the van


To constrain the size of the rectangle.

  1. Choose the Constrain Separation [Constrain Separation button] tool.

  2. Highlight an edge of the rectangle (as it changes from dark blue to pale blue, select this with a click the left mouse button).

  3. Select the opposite side of the rectangle, hold down the mouse button and drag to the side. A ‘separation constraint’ between the two lines is applied.

Once this constraint has been applied the only way to change the distance between the two lines (or it could be the size of an angle or the length of a line) is to change the size of the constraint.

  1. Repeat this operation for the distance between the other two sides of the rectangle.

  2. Choose the Select Constraints [Select Constraints button] tool.

Double clicking over a constraint brings up a dialogue box that allows the name and the length of the line to be changed.

  1. Change the constraints so that:
    • the length of the rectangle is 80mm.
    • the width is 40mm.

If a constraint line is highlight so that it is red it can be dragged to a new position by holding down the left mouse button.

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© CBI, 1999 Last Updated: 13/08/98