Available in: Part Studio

Create ribs in parts at multiple locations based on a sketch.

Ribs create thin-walled support structures commonly used in plastic part design, as well as cast, forged, and welded parts.

Start a new Rib feature.

Select sketch entities for the rib centerlines.

Select the parts to include. The selected parts define the target for the rib feature, the part that receives the added rib material, and that sketch extensions aim to intersect.

Check Merge with all to create a single part. Uncheck to create individual parts.

The Rib extrusion direction can either be Parallel to the sketch plane, or Normal to the sketch plane, making the rib perpendicular to the sketch.

Enter a thickness.

Check Draft to apply a taper to both sides of the rib. Enter a Draft angle. Click the Opposite direction arrow to reverse the direction.

Check Extend profiles to grow the selected sketch entities until they intersect the part, enabling rib creation without editing the sketch. Use this option when the rib centerline stops short of a face or when the sketch lies just outside the part.

  1. Click the Rib icon ().

    Rib dialog

  2. Select the sketch curves from which to create ribs.

    Example of selecting sketch curves from which to create ribs

  3. Select the parts to incorporate the ribs.
  4. Specify the desired thickness of the rib.

    Example of Step 4 of creating a Rib, specifying the thickness of the rib

  5. Indicate how to extend the rib: normal (perpendicular) to the rib sketch plane, or parallel to the sketch plane. Use the directional arrows Opposite direction Arrow icon to flip the direction, if necessary.

    6. The rib must be entirely within the bounds of the part or the operation will fail.

    Example creating a Rib, indicating how to extend the rib

    Example creating a Rib, indicating how to extend the rib

  6. Check Draft to apply a taper to both sides of the rib. Specify the degree in the Draft angle field. Click the Opposite direction icon () to reverse the direction of the draft.

    Rib example with draft applied

  7. In the case of sketch curves that do not intersect with the part, select Extend profiles to part to extend the sketch curve to the part. Lines are extended, arcs are extended by straight lines from the ends of the arc:

    Example of sketch curve

  8. Use Merge ribs to add the ribs to the existing part. Uncheck this box to create individual new parts of the ribs.

    Example of using Merge to add the ribs to an existing part

  9. Click the Checkmark icon (Accept checkmark icon).

Extend the rib normal to the sketch plane:

Example of a Rib normal to sketch plane

Extend the rib parallel to the sketch plane:

Example of a Rib parallel to the sketch plane

Extends the sketch profile to the part edge:

Example of a Rib that extends the sketch profile to the part edge

Merges the ribs with the part and with other intersecting:

Example of merging the Ribs with the part and with other intersecting parts

Example of merging the Ribs with the part and with other intersecting parts