Sketching a profile
Sketching is the manual foundation of parametric modeling. Here you will draw a constrained 2D profile and turn it into a 3D solid — the core loop behind most CAD features.
Before you start
- Completed Your first part, or comfortable in the workspace
- 1
Start a sketch
Choose the sketch tool and pick one of the origin planes to draw on. The view aligns to the plane so you are looking straight at your canvas.
- 2
Draw the profile
Use the rectangle and circle tools to rough out an L-shaped bracket profile. Do not worry about exact sizes yet — get the shape roughly right.
- 3
Add constraints
Apply horizontal and vertical constraints to the edges and a symmetric constraint where it belongs. The solver removes degrees of freedom as you go.
Tip: Fully constrained geometry stops shifting when you edit it later. The solver colors what is still free to move.
- 4
Dimension it
Add dimensional constraints for the real sizes — length, height, and wall width. Type exact values so the profile locks to the numbers you want.
- 5
Extrude
Exit the sketch and extrude the closed profile 10 mm into a solid. Your 2D profile is now a 3D part with the sketch still editable underneath.
What you built
A fully constrained bracket profile extruded into a solid — and the habit of constraining sketches so edits stay predictable.
Follow along in HelioCad
Open a workspace and build it as you read. It runs in your browser — no install required.
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