Technique

When designing 3D parts consider the following techniques.

You can build shapes by starting with a block or cylinder the full size of your part and using recesses to remove material; or by starting with a more central shape and adding protrusions.

To make it easier to visualize how the six 2D views interrelate, go to the 3D view and use the View drop list to change views - you will see the part automatically rotate to the next view.

Consider drawing a temporary measurement line in one view between two items and cutting and pasting it to another view to achieve alignments.

Additional techniques are illustrated in the Video guides.

Sharp Inside Corners

Designs with sharp or nearly sharp inside corners may restrict manufacturing processes and effect pricing. If you need to fit a rectangular part into a rectangular recess, and can accept a slightly non-rectangular shape you can remove an arc of material at the corner:

Here's how:

1. Draw a circle of the desired corner radius - say .25".
2. Make 3 copies.
3. Drag the circles so that their top snap points snap to each corner of the rectangle.
4. Rotate each circle around the rectangle's corner the appropriate multiple of 45 degrees.
5. Select everything.
6. Line | Intersect.
7. Delete the interior segments.