Real Applications for Sketch Picture

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SOLIDWORKS is full of awesome little tools that enable us to create…well, almost anything.  Too often, I find myself discussing these features with clients and usually ending the sentence with ”….too bad you’ll never use it”. So, I thought I would write about a practical application for a function that falls into this category. Sketch Picture!

I recently was required to procure new wingtips for a single engine aircraft. Incredibly, the sketch picture function in SOLIDWORKS allowed for a precise fit to the existing wing, without the use of a scanner. I have illustrated the process.

Plane at the shop getting prepped for paint and other mods.

 

The moment of truth. You haven’t lived until you actually have to cut the wingtip off a very expensive airplane.

 

We needed to “precisely” capture the new wing cross-section to fit the new tips correctly. Scanning was not an option for us.

 

Utilizing the imported sketch, we simply traced the profile, and offset it to create a flange we could mate to the existing cross section. This was then used as a cross section to generate the new tip.

 

So, the next time your situation prevents you from having access to a scanner, grab a pencil and paper and get to tracing.

 

By: Rob Stoklosa • Application Engineer • TPM

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TPM, Inc. is the Carolina’s largest 3D CAD provider and a leading technology company proud of its reputation of providing cutting-edge solutions to the engineering and design community for the past 40 years. Founded in 1973, TPM Inc. serves more than 3,000 customers across the Southeast each year. Inspired by our founder, Jerry Cooper, we are committed to offering our clients the best: 3D Design Software, 3D Printing and Scanning Options, Data and Document Management Solutions, Large-Format Graphics, Wide-Format Plotters and Office Equipment, and Reprographics.
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@TPM_Inc

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