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Parametric Modeling
Create 2D sketches, surfaces, and solids with construction history and variables.
Sketching
Create and edit 2D parametric sketch geometry.
Introduction to Sketching
Learn about sketching basics including the sketch plane, legend, constraints, context menu options, and construction geometry.
Underdefined, Fully Defined, and Overconstrained Sketches
The Sketch Legend and Model Browser icons indicate whether a sketch curve is underdefined, fully defined, or overconstrained.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
New to Inspire PolyFoam? Learn the basics here.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire PolyFoam with our interactive tutorials.
Parametric Modeling
Create 2D sketches, surfaces, and solids with construction history and variables.
- Construction History
  View and edit the construction history of your model.
- Global References
  Global references are the global origin, axes, and planes shown in the modeling window. They can be helpful when creating and defining your model.
- Sketching
  Create and edit 2D parametric sketch geometry.
  - Introduction to Sketching
    Learn about sketching basics including the sketch plane, legend, constraints, context menu options, and construction geometry.
    - Sketch Plane
      A sketch plane can be a global plane, a user-created reference plane, or a planar face of an existing part.
    - Underdefined, Fully Defined, and Overconstrained Sketches
      The Sketch Legend and Model Browser icons indicate whether a sketch curve is underdefined, fully defined, or overconstrained.
    - Projected or Intersected Sketches
      The Sketch Legend indicates whether a sketch entity is Projected or Intersected.
    - Sketch Constraints
      Apply geometric relationships such as tangency and perpendicularity to sketch curves.
    - Sketch Context Menu Options
      Create a sketch imprint, remove constraints, align axes, convert sketches to construction geometry, and show or hide grids, points, constraints, construction lines, dimensions, or intersection curves.
    - Construction Geometry
      Construction geometry is used as a reference to line up or define other geometry.
    - Select a Coincident Sketch Entity
      Select a coincident sketch entity to make precise modifications.
  - New Sketch
    Start a new sketch (S) and select a sketch plane.
  - Project
    Project selected geometry onto the sketch plane as construction geometry.
  - Intersect
    Extract curves resulting from the intersection of the sketch plane with selected parts or surfaces.
  - Point/Lines
    Sketch and edit a point, line, polyline (L), or line-arc.
  - Rectangles
    Sketch and edit a rectangle (R).
  - Polygons
    Sketch and edit a parallelogram or a regular polygon.
  - Circles
    Sketch and edit a circle (C).
  - Ellipses
    Sketch and edit an ellipse or an elliptical arc.
  - Arcs
    Sketch and edit an arc (A).
  - Splines
    Sketch and edit a spline (S).
  - Dimension
    Use the Dimension tool (D) to define and/or constrain the dimensions of a sketch.
  - Image Plane
    Create an image plane that you can use as a background reference image, so you can trace lines and curves to start your design.
  - Transform
    Translate or rotate sketch entities.
  - Trim/Break
    Trim (B) or split a sketch curve.
  - Extend
    Extend or shorten an entity of a sketch curve.
  - Fillet
    Round the corners of 2D sketch curves to create fillets (F) with the same radius or different radii.
  - Offset/Mirror
    Offset (O) or mirror (M) a sketch curve.
  - Pattern
    Create a linear or circular pattern of sketch entities.
  - Export DXF/DWG
    Export the current sketch as a .dxf or .dwg file.
  - Break External Sketch References
    Break sketch constraints or relationships to other features.
- Geometry
  Create and modify parametric surfaces and solids.
Model Setup - Foaming Ribbon
Set up your foam part, nozzles, materials, tooling and process parameters prior to analysis.
Model Setup - Dispensing Ribbon
Set up your part, nozzles, materials, tooling and process parameters prior to analysis.
PolyFoam Analysis
Run an analysis to minimize defects and prevent manufacturing problems for a foam part design.
Dispensing Analysis
Run an analysis to minimize defects and prevent manufacturing problems for a fluid part design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? We have answers!

Underdefined, Fully Defined, and Overconstrained Sketches

The Sketch Legend and Model Browser icons indicate whether a sketch curve is underdefined, fully defined, or overconstrained.

Ideally, sketches should be fully defined before creating geometry from them.

A sketch entity is underdefined when its dimensions and/or position in the sketch plane have not been fully specified.
A sketch entity is overconstrained when one or more conflicting constraints have been applied.
Underdefined or overconstrained sketch entities may result in errors in downstream modeling operations.

Sketch Legend

Note: You can show or hide the Legend in the Preferences under Sketching > Show Legend or by right-clicking the workspace and selecting Show Legend.

Model Browser Icons

Underdefined
Fully Defined
Overconstrained