In this tutorial, we will learn how to break section views in SolidWorks. Breaking a section view is a useful technique that allows us to display hidden details in a specific area of an object. By breaking the section view, we can provide a more detailed representation of the internal features or complex geometries.
Step 1: Creating a Section View
To begin with, let’s create a section view in SolidWorks. Open your desired model in SolidWorks and navigate to the “View Layout” tab. Click on the “Section View” button to create a new section view.
In the Section View PropertyManager, select the desired orientation and position for your section plane. You can use the arrow keys or drag the manipulator handles to position it accurately.
Note: It’s important to position the section plane properly so that it intersects with the area you want to break.
Step 2: Breaking the Section View
Once you have created the section view, it’s time to break it to reveal hidden details. Right-click on the section view and select “Properties” from the context menu.
In the Section View Properties dialog box, navigate to the “Break Line” tab. Here, you can enable or disable breaking for each edge individually by checking or unchecking the corresponding checkboxes.
- Breaking Straight Edges:
- To break straight edges, click on them one by one using your left mouse button. A break symbol will appear at each selected edge.
- If you want to remove a break symbol from an edge, simply click on it again.
- You can also use Ctrl+click or Shift+click to select multiple edges for breaking or removing breaks.
- Breaking Curved Edges:
- Breaking curved edges is slightly different.
To break a curved edge, click on the start point of the curve, then click on the end point. SolidWorks will automatically create a break symbol along the curved edge.
- If you want to remove a break symbol from a curved edge, simply click on it again.
Step 3: Adjusting Break Line Properties
After breaking the section view, you can further customize the appearance of the break lines. In the Section View Properties dialog box, navigate to the “Break Line” tab and adjust the following properties:
- Break Gap Size: This property controls the size of the gap between broken entities. Increase or decrease this value to change the gap size.
- Break Symbol Length: This property determines the length of each break symbol.
You can make them longer or shorter based on your preference.
- Break Symbol Angle: Use this property to adjust the angle of each break symbol. By default, it aligns with the section view orientation, but you can modify it as needed.
Step 4: Updating and Hiding/Showing Breaks
If you make any changes to your model that affect the section view (e.g., modifying geometry), you need to update it to reflect those changes. Right-click on the section view and select “Update” from the context menu.
Sometimes, you may want to hide or show specific breaks without deleting them entirely. To do this, right-click on the section view and select “Properties.” In the Section View Properties dialog box, navigate to the “Break Line” tab and check or uncheck the checkboxes for each edge accordingly.
Conclusion
Breaking section views in SolidWorks is a powerful technique to showcase hidden details within a specific area of an object. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily create and customize section views with break lines. Remember to position your section plane accurately and adjust break line properties as needed for optimal results.