Sketcher alerts for self-intersections

The sketcher can now provide a notification about hard to see self-intersections. Self-intersecting geometry is normally undesirable in a sketch, and often the result of inaccurate added geometry or simple mistakes. Most Cimatron features, especially solid features, will reject such sketches. The notification allows you to address the problem immediately.

• Self-intersections are a normal part of creating sketch geometry, so the check will only happen when exiting or approving the sketch.

• If one or more self-intersections are found, there will be a warning.

• The pop-up notification offers the choice of exiting the sketch or staying in sketch mode to correct the issues.

• If you stay in the sketcher (answer No in the pop up notification), red X marks will indicate the problematic areas.

• This new safety check is controlled by a preference found on the existing General > Sketcher page. The default behavior is to have it on.

Self-intersections in sketcher are usually a mistake and are now indicated as a problem when exiting a sketch.

The self-intersection check is preference controlled and enabled by default.

Apply tangency with multiple selection

Geometrical constraints like parallelism, perpendicularity, and more play a big part in efficiently defining a sketch. Certain constraints can even be applied to many entities at once. We examined how multi-select worked in these cases, and were able to expand on what was offered, making the constraint process even easier.

• Multi-selection was previously only available prior to opening the constraint tool. Now multiple entities can be selected at any time.
• Tangency is now a condition that can be applied to many selected entities all at one time.

All of the selected end to end geometry can be constrained tangent with a single click.
The image on the left shows the sketch before applying the tangency constraint.
The image on the right shows the same sketch after tangency is applied.

Saved sketches remember dimensional formulas

One of the nice options found in the sketcher is the ability to save a sketch. This allows it to be recalled later, in any file, and saves the trouble of recreating common geometry from scratch. In effect it functions as a simple 2D catalog of shapes.

With Cimatron 2026, saving sketches becomes even more powerful because many types of dimensional relations will now be saved along with the sketch.

• A formula created to another dimension in the same sketch will be saved and recreated when the sketch is used.
• A formula linked to a line in the Setup table will be recreated when the sketch is used. This ability is based on the setup group name and row name, so it must find an exactly spelled match. If not, the sketch will create its own new row in the Setup table.

By preserving the dimensional formulas, saved sketches can now further enhance automation, meaning one sketch can be used in a far greater range of situations.

This saved carrier sketch contains several dimensional relations. Some internal and some to a Setup table group.

After placement, dimensional relations within
the sketch are still intact.

After placement, dimensional links to the
‎Setup area have been re-linked.

Normal line in sketcher

A popular way to create geometry in Sketcher is to select the entity type and then use the right mouse button list to pre-select a geometric condition like parallel, tangent, or normal. In an effort to make each sketcher tool behave in a consistent manner, we’ve enhanced how drawing a line uses its geometric reference and endpoint reference.

When adding a constraint, after selecting a start point, the start point is kept and you may now select the next point.

In Cimatron 2026 it is possible to draw a line normal from its endpoint source