How Do I Change the Linetype in SolidWorks?

Changing the linetype in SolidWorks can help you enhance the visual representation of your designs and make them stand out. Whether you want to create dashed lines, centerlines, or any other type of line style, SolidWorks provides you with the flexibility to customize linetypes according to your requirements.

Changing Linetype in SolidWorks

To change the linetype in SolidWorks, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Select the Line or Sketch Entity

First, select the line or sketch entity that you want to modify. You can do this by clicking on the line or sketch entity in your design.

Step 2: Accessing Line Format Properties

Once you have selected the line or sketch entity, go to the “Line Format” toolbar located at the top of the SolidWorks window. If you can’t see this toolbar, you can enable it by going to “View” > “Toolbars” > “Line Format”.

Step 3: Choose Linetype

In the “Line Format” toolbar, click on the drop-down menu next to “Linetype”. Here, you will find a list of pre-defined linetypes that you can choose from. These include solid lines, dashed lines, centerlines, phantom lines, and more.

Pro Tip:

  • Bold text: To make your design elements more prominent and visually appealing.
  • Underlined text: To emphasize important points or instructions.
  • Bold text: To highlight keywords or key concepts.

Step 4: Customizing Linetypes

If none of the pre-defined linetypes suit your needs, SolidWorks also allows you to create custom linetypes. To do this, click on the “More” button in the “Line Format” toolbar. This will open the “Line Format Manager” window.

In the “Line Format Manager” window, click on the “New” button to create a new linetype. Here, you can specify the pattern, scale, and other properties of your custom linetype.

  • Underlined text: To differentiate between steps and pro tips.
  • Bold text: To draw attention to important details or suggestions.

Step 5: Applying Linetype

After selecting or creating your desired linetype, click on the line or sketch entity again to apply the changes. The line will now be displayed with the new linetype.

Changing the linetype in SolidWorks is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your designs and make them more visually appealing. By following these steps and experimenting with different linetypes, you can create drawings that effectively communicate your design intent.

Remember to save your work regularly and have fun exploring different linetype options in SolidWorks!

In Conclusion

In this article, we discussed how to change the linetype in SolidWorks. We covered selecting line or sketch entities, accessing line format properties, choosing pre-defined linetypes, customizing linetypes, and applying them to your designs.

By utilizing these techniques, you can add visual interest and clarity to your SolidWorks drawings.