Have you ever wondered how to make a plane perpendicular in SolidWorks? Well, you’re in luck!
In this tutorial, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of achieving this. So let’s dive right in and get started!
Step 1: Open SolidWorks
If you haven’t done so already, launch SolidWorks on your computer. Once the software is up and running, create a new part or open an existing one where you want to make a plane perpendicular.
Step 2: Select the Plane
In order to make a plane perpendicular, we first need to select the plane that we want to modify. To do this, navigate to the “FeatureManager Design Tree” on the left side of the screen and expand the tree until you find the desired plane.
Note:
If you can’t find the “FeatureManager Design Tree”, go to the “View” tab at the top of the screen and enable it by checking the box next to “FeatureManager”.
Step 3: Modify Plane
Once you have selected the desired plane, right-click on it and choose “Edit Plane” from the context menu. This will open up a dialog box where we can modify various properties of the selected plane.
Step 4: Perpendicular Orientation
In order to make the selected plane perpendicular, locate the section called “Orientation” within the “Edit Plane” dialog box. Here, you will see three options: Parallel, Perpendicular, and Tangent.
- Parallel: This option allows you to set a parallel orientation for your plane.
- Perpendicular: This is the option we are interested in. By selecting this, we can make the plane perpendicular to another reference entity.
- Tangent: This option is used to set the plane tangent to a specified curve or surface.
Step 5: Select Reference Entity
After choosing the “Perpendicular” option, SolidWorks will prompt you to select a reference entity. This can be an existing edge, surface, or any other suitable geometry that will serve as a reference for making the plane perpendicular.
Note:
Make sure to choose your reference entity carefully as it will determine the orientation of the plane. If you’re unsure which entity to select, consult your design requirements or experiment with different options until you achieve the desired result.
Step 6: Confirm and Apply Changes
Once you have selected a reference entity, click on the “Apply” button within the “Edit Plane” dialog box. SolidWorks will then calculate and update the orientation of your selected plane to be perpendicular based on your chosen reference entity.
Step 7: Verify Perpendicularity
To ensure that your plane is now perpendicular, you can use SolidWorks’ measurement tools. Simply select two edges or surfaces on your modified plane and check their angle relationship in the “PropertyManager”.
If it reads “90 degrees”, congratulations! You have successfully made your plane perpendicular!
In conclusion, making a plane perpendicular in SolidWorks is a straightforward process that involves selecting the desired plane, editing its properties, choosing a reference entity, and applying changes. Remember to verify perpendicularity using measurement tools to ensure accuracy in your design.
Now that you know how to make a plane perpendicular in SolidWorks, go ahead and incorporate this knowledge into your designs. Happy modeling!