ellipse sketch on a plane

[jetpig1]

I am trying to design a ribbed body which is much like an airplane body. The problem is part of the cross sections contain a partial ellipse in the geometry, but I can't create a partial ellipse on any plane other than the standard (front/top/right) views. When I create a sketch on a plane, as soon as I define the plane, the ellipse and polygon sketch tools "grey out" and become non-functional.

Any ideas ? Am I under-defining my sketch plane ?

Geo

jetpigmfg@gmail.com

[Tomorrow_man]

You might be clicking the 3d sketch tool.
Click the ellipse tool first, you'll get a warning about not selecting a plane, then click on the plane or planar surface you wish to use.


TM

[mcphill]

You could also try copying an ellipse from a plane where you can draw it, and paste it on the the reference plane. Another option would be to sketch it somewhere, then use the "change sketch plane" option on the sketch itself.

You should be able to draw anything you want on a reference plane, though.

What version are you running?

[jetpig1]

Perhaps a bonehead newbie move, but I was not creating a reference plane FIRST. This enables me to set offset distance, and fully define the plane so I can put an ellipse on it. What I had been doing is just trying sketching, then selecting an already established 3dsketch with an offset distance.

Happy

[mcphill]

Perhaps a bonehead newbie move, but I was not creating a reference plane FIRST. This enables me to set offset distance, and fully define the plane so I can put an ellipse on it. What I had been doing is just trying sketching, then selecting an already established 3dsketch with an offset distance.

Happy

Ah. You do indeed need to make a reference plane first. You need to get used to creating reference planes, this is KEY to making the most of SW, IMO. All you need is to create offsets of lines and get three points on the right reference to create the plane, or spin or offset an existing plane, or a combination - get created, and get used to it!!! I have a model that has over 50 planes on it, it was key to getting the geometry exactly where I wanted it!

Hope you got this sorted out, and good luck!