Stand-alone sketches

You use the Sketch module to create and manage sketches that are not associated with a feature; these sketches are called stand-alone sketches.

Related Topics
Managing stand-alone sketches
Using the Sketch module

A stand-alone sketch is stored in the model; like other objects in the model, such as parts and loads, a stand-alone sketch can be edited, copied, renamed, and deleted. To create a stand-alone sketch, click the sketch create tool in the Sketch module toolbox.

When you are using the Sketcher (for example, when you are sketching the profile of a solid extrusion in the Part module), you can save your work as a stand-alone sketch by clicking the sketch save tool in the Sketcher toolbox. Similarly, you can incorporate one stand-alone sketch in another sketch by clicking the sketch retrieve tool in the Sketcher toolbox. When you retrieve a stand-alone sketch, Abaqus/CAE does the following:

  • Positions the retrieved sketch so that its origin is coincident with the origin of the current sketch.

  • Resizes the viewport so that both the current sketch and the retrieved sketch are displayed.

  • Asks if you want to translate, rotate, mirror, or scale the retrieved sketch from the default size and position.