How Do You Do a Partial View in SolidWorks?

When working with SolidWorks, there may be times when you need to create a partial view of your model. This can be useful when you want to highlight a specific area or component of your design. In this tutorial, we will walk through the steps of how to do a partial view in SolidWorks.

Step 1: Open your model

First, open your model in SolidWorks. Make sure you have the necessary permissions to edit the model.

Step 2: Activate the Section View tool

To begin creating a partial view, you need to activate the Section View tool. This can be done by going to the View menu and selecting Section View, or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S.

TIP:

If you don’t see the Section View tool in your toolbar, you can customize it by right-clicking on an empty space in the toolbar area and selecting Customize. Then, drag and drop the Section View icon onto your toolbar.

Step 3: Define the section plane

After activating the Section View tool, you will need to define the section plane. This is where you will slice through your model to create the partial view.

To define the section plane:

  • Select a sketch entity or reference geometry as your section plane.
  • Adjust the position and orientation of the section plane as desired.
  • TIP: You can also use temporary axis lines or planes as your section plane.

Step 4: Customize section view settings

Once you have defined your section plane, it’s time to customize the settings of your partial view.

To customize section view settings:

  • Click on the Section View PropertyManager to access the customization options.
  • Adjust settings such as depth, offset, and display style to achieve the desired partial view.
  • TIP: Experiment with different settings to find the best representation of your model.

Step 5: Apply and save your partial view

After customizing the section view settings, you can apply it to your model. This will create a partial view that showcases the selected area or component.

To apply and save your partial view:

  • Click on the green checkmark or press Enter to apply the section view.
  • TIP: You can save your partial view for future use by clicking on the Save button in the Section View PropertyManager.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating a partial view in SolidWorks is a straightforward process that allows you to highlight specific areas or components of your model. By following these steps and customizing the section view settings, you can effectively communicate your design intent to others. So go ahead and give it a try!