PartDesign Pocket

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Revision as of 01:29, 12 November 2021 by Uwestoehr (talk | contribs) (next step to update)

PartDesign Pocket

Menu location
PartDesign → Create a substractive feature → Pocket
Workbenches
PartDesign
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
-
See also
PartDesign Pad

Description

The Pocket tool cuts out a solid by extruding a sketch (or a face of the solid) in a straight path and subtracting it from the solid.

Sketch profile (A) was mapped to the top face of base solid (B); result after pocketing through on the right.

Usage

  1. Select the sketch to be pocketed. Alternatively select a face on an existing solid.
  2. Press the Pocket button.
  3. Set the Pocket parameters, see the Options below.
  4. Click OK.

Options

When creating a pocket, the the Pocket parameters dialog will be shown. It offers the following settings:

Type

Type offers four different ways of specifying the length to which the pocket will be extruded:

Dimension

Enter a numeric value for the length of the pocket. The default direction for extrusion is into the support, but it can be changed by ticking the Reversed option. Extrusions occur by default normal to the defining sketch plane. This can be changed by specifying another Direction introduced in version 0.20. With the option Symmetric to plane the pocket will extend half of the given length to either side of the plane. Negative dimensions are not possible. Use the Reversed option instead.

Through all

The pocket will extrude through all objects in the extrusion direction. With the option Symmetric to plane the pad will cut through all material in both directions.
Note: For technical reasons, Through All is actually a 10 meter deep pocket. If you need deeper pockets, use the type Dimension.

To first

The pocket will extrude up to the first face of the support in the extrusion direction. In other words, it will cut through all material until it reaches an empty space.

Up to face

The pocket will extrude up to a face in the model that can be chosen by clicking on it.

Two dimensions

This allows to enter a second length in which the pocket should extend in the opposite direction (into the support). Again can be changed by ticking the Reversed option.

Length

Defines the length of the pocket. Multiple units can be used independently of the user's units preferences (m, cm, mm, nm, ft or ', in or ").

Direction

introduced in version 0.20

Direction/edge

You can select the direction of the extrusion:

  • Sketch normal The sketch is extruded along its normal
  • Select reference... The sketch is extruded along an edge of the 3D model. When this is method selected, you can click on any edge in the 3D model and it becomes the direction vector for the extrusion.
  • Custom direction The sketch is extruded along a direction that can be specified via vector values.

Show direction

If checked, the pocket direction will be shown. In case the pocket uses a Custom direction, it can be changed.

Length along sketch normal

If checked, the pocket length is measured along the sketch normal, otherwise along the custom direction.

Limitations

  • Use the type Dimension or Through All wherever possible because the other types sometimes give trouble when they are being patterned
  • Otherwise, the pocket feature has the same limitations as the pad feature.

Useful links

An example with the practice on the forum.