Changing sketch plane

[Brian]

I know how to change the sketch plane if it's in the same direction, but I can't figure out how to switch it if it changes direction.

For instance, say I draw a circle in the x-y plane, and I extrude it so that it becomes a cylinder that's height is in the z direction. I can change the sketch plane to the top of the cylinder if I want. THe sketch plane would still be x-y, but at a different elevation in the z-direction.

What I don't know how to do is change the sketch plane to the y-z plane, or better yet maybe even something like y' - z' plane (the plane is not completely in the y - z, but a little bit diagonal). Is this possible? I went through a bunch of the tutorials that came with the program, but none of them addressed my question.

[JD Mather]

Expand the Origin folder in the browser so that you can see the base workplanes.
Expand your cylindrical extrusion feature so that you can see the sketch in the browser.
Right click on the sketch and select Redefine.
Click on the desired workplane in the browser.

You might want to go through these tutorials.
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2006/MA13-3%20Mather.pdf

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2007/MA105-1L%20Mather.pdf

[Brian]

Thanks again JD. You truly are an expert!

I'll give those tutorials a look right now.

[JD Mather]

Here is another good tutorial.
http://www.mcadforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8698

[Mr T]

Always, always, always start your sketch using the origin planes as later on life is soooo much simpler.

Nick

[JD Mather]

Always, always, always

Well there are always exceptions - creating punch tools, projected flat pattern in sheetmetal sketch, iFeatures in general...
But yes, especially for beginners, bet in the habit of using the origing geometry for best advantage later on.