How Do You Show Planes in SolidWorks?

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In this tutorial, we will learn how to show planes in SolidWorks. Planes are essential for creating sketches and features in SolidWorks.

By default, SolidWorks displays three standard planes: the Front Plane, the Right Plane, and the Top Plane. However, there may be instances when you need to show additional planes or hide existing ones. Let’s explore how to do that.

Showing Standard Planes

To show the standard planes in SolidWorks:

  • Step 1: Open a new or existing part, assembly, or drawing document.
  • Step 2: In the FeatureManager Design Tree, expand the Origin folder.
  • Step 3: Right-click on any of the standard plane names – Front Plane, Right Plane, or Top Plane – and select Show/Hide.

Show Additional Planes

If you need to display additional planes in your SolidWorks workspace, follow these steps:

Show Temporary Axes

Sometimes it’s helpful to display temporary axes before showing additional planes. To show temporary axes:

  • Step 1: Click on the Show/Hide Temporary Axes icon located on the Sketch toolbar.
  • Step 2: Select the entity where you want to display temporary axes.

Show Reference Planes

To create reference planes in SolidWorks:

  • Step 1: Click on the New Reference Plane icon located on the Features toolbar.
  • Step 2: Specify the desired position, orientation, and dimensions for the new reference plane in the PropertyManager.
  • Step 3: Click OK to create the reference plane.

Show Derived Planes

If you need to create a plane derived from existing geometry:

  • Step 1: Click on the New Plane by Reference/Offset icon located on the Features toolbar.
  • Step 2: Select a reference plane or planar face to define the orientation of the new derived plane.
  • Step 3: Specify an offset distance or angle if required.
  • Step 4: Click OK.

Hiding Planes

If you want to hide any planes in SolidWorks, simply right-click on the plane’s name in the FeatureManager Design Tree and select Show/Hide.

To conclude, showing planes in SolidWorks is crucial for creating sketches and features. By following these steps, you can easily show standard planes, as well as create additional reference or derived planes.

Remember that you can always hide planes when they are not needed. Happy modeling!