NX | Tips and Tricks | Sketch Checker

Welcome back to the NX™ software Tips and Tricks series, and our first blog of 2025! If you’re new to the Tips and Tricks series, you can expect to find hidden workflow gems that you may not know about when using NX. Our focus will be on the December 2024 release of NX, but expect to see blogs from the previous release too in the coming weeks!
We’ll be covering a range of new features throughout the first half of the year, so keep checking back on a weekly basis to see new blog updates.
In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at the Sketch Checker within NX. The Sketch Checking tool is a sketch relations integrity checking tool, making it easier for you to define and correct sketch relations, dimensions and their intended behavior at the source.
This blog will be in two parts. You’ll get to see how to setup the Sketch Checker, whilst also seeing an optimal way to setup the new tool for your own workflows.
Throughout this blog, our focus will be on an oil channel, already based on existing sketch geometry. We’ll be using the Sketch Checking tool in context with this particular oil channel.

Part One: Setup
Sketch Checking tool initial settings
The first place to start is making sure everything is set correctly within the Sketch Checking tool settings. It’s always significantly easier to define and correct sketch relations, dimensions and intended behavior at the source than re-visit it later. Think of the spell checker in a word document; the Sketch Checking tool works in exactly the same way.
Accessing the Sketch Checking tool is straightforward. You can find the tool located on the ribbon bar. Once selected, a dialog box will appear.

These dialog box options include Orthogonal, Concentrical, Connected and Tangent to name a few. Checks can also be ran based on Display Size or Model Size; Display Size will take the measured screen distance and Zoom Scale into consideration, whilst Model Size measures in relation to the model tolerance and independent from the Zoom Scale.
Generally speaking, we recommend using the Model option, but in some instances, Zoom Level can also be a handy alternative. Other Sketch Check settings that you can configure are Distance Checks, Angular Checks, Tiny Curves Checks and Tangent at Vertex Checks.
In addition, you can choose to execute the Sketch Check when exiting the Sketch Task Environment if the tool is not toggled on and active. This is a good option as it can work as a reminder to the user if obvious sketch relations are missing.
When you start to run your checks during your workflow, the feature may pick up on relationships that aren’t considered as issues. Manually ignored issues if previously added can be reset, if you want to add them to the check again, make sure to check the ‘Reset All Ignored Checking Results’

Setting the stage
We’ll start by creating a new sketch profile for the oil channel which is associated with already existing sketch geometry. The profile will be a slot shape, and we’ll do this twice using two scenarios to create the sketch profile. Why? So that we can demonstrate the benefit of having the Sketch Checking tool toggled on and active during the sketch creation process.
We’ll intentionally create issues within the sketch profile so that you can see the benefits of the Sketch Checking tool.
Scenario One
In the first scenario, we’ll create the profile curves first, and then switch the Sketch Checking tool on to study potentially issues and the amount of them. You’ll get to see this scenario for the first video within this blog.
Scenario Two
In scenario two, we’ll start by having the Sketch Checking tool toggled on whilst creating the sketch profile. This will allow us to see how to correct issues at source for a fully defined and functional sketch. It’s an approach which we’d typically recommend when create large complex sketch profiles.
Using the Sketch checking tool for scenario one
Let’s go ahead and start scenario one. As stated previously, we’re going to add some intentional issues to the sketch profile. For this use case, we’ll start by including the points from the initial sketch defining the position of the inlet and exit of the oil channel. Next, we’ll create the circle around the inlet and copy to the outlet position. We want the center curve represented, so a line is created from the approximate center. Finally, the outer lines are added to form a slot shape.
You’ll notice the relations issues are identified on screen as Visual Tags as well as listed as issues within the Sketch Navigator. It doesn’t matter your preference; you can interact with the issues on screen or within the Navigator.

It’s important to point out that for this use case, there are a lot of issues to deal with at the same time. If you need to work on a more complex sketch, manually solving the issues may take quite a bit of time to rectify. This is where the power of the second scenario comes into play; ensuring the Sketch Checker tool is enabled right at the start of the sketch creation process.
Part Two: Demonstration
Sketch Checking tool best practices
To demonstrate the effectiveness of the second scenario for this use case, we’ll get rid of the curves from the first scenario. Make sure the Sketch Checking tool has been toggled on; after all, that is the basis for scenario two! Then, the process is the same; the two points for the inlet and the outlet defined in an already existing sketch, and the circle for the inlet created.
Only this time, with the Sketch Checking tool activated, the issues are instantaneously flagged on screen and within the Issues column in the Sketch Navigator. In this instance, we can see an ‘Almost Concentric Issue, which means that the central point of the circle is almost the same as the center point for the inlet of the oil channel.
Dependent on your use case, you may see other issues flagged at this point. It doesn’t matter which issue you see, you’ll always have the following options once right mouse button clicking the issue tag:
- Correct the issue
- Ignore the issue
- This option will be remembered, and the issue won’t be reported again. There could be situations where you might want to ignore an issue. You can always reset the Ignored Sketch Relations for the Sketch Checking tool in the Checking settings
- De-activate the specific check
- You can always re-activate the specific check again in the Checking Settings if required.
It’s also important to point out that you can review the details of each issue within the Issues Column of the Sketch Navigator. Within the options, you’ll be able to expand and assess selected options and rectify issues by selecting Correct Issue within the Visual Tag.
There will be instances where you may need to manually add sketch relations on top of suggestions from the Sketch Checker. That is absolutely possible! Go ahead and add the relations, and the Sketch Checker will continuously update and adapt to the new sketch profile.
TOP TIP
To speed up your workflow for clear issues, you can double click in the Visual Tag to correct an issue
As mentioned previously, the Visual Tag can display different issues dependent on the problem at hand. We’ve only showed you a snippet of scenario with the Sketch Relation turned on from the start of the sketch creation process. To get a flavor of the different issues that are displayed, take a look at the full demonstration to see these other issues in action.