A Comprehensive Overview of Drawing Views and Angle of Projection in SolidWorks

Model View Generation

Model views serve as the building blocks for all other types of views in SolidWorks. They provide a clear representation of the 3D model in 2D form on a drawing sheet. To create a model view in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

1. Open a New Drawing

Start by launching SolidWorks and opening a new drawing document. This is where you'll assemble your drawing views.

2. Insert Model

After you've created a new drawing, go to the "View" tab in the command manager and select "Model View." This action prompts you to choose the part or assembly you want to create a view of. You can select the component from your assembly or part file in your project.

3. Place View

Once you've selected the model or assembly, you can click to place the view on the drawing sheet. This view typically represents the default orientation of the object and is essential for understanding the basic structure of the part or assembly.

Projected Views

Projected views are used to show the object from different angles or orientations, enhancing the clarity and comprehensiveness of your drawing. To create a projected view in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

1. Create a Model View

To start generating a projected view, you'll need to begin with the base model view, which you've created as described in the previous section.

2. Select the Model View

After creating the model view, click on the model view you want to project. SolidWorks will recognize this as the base view from which the projection will be generated.

3. Go to "View Layout" and Choose "Projected View"

In the "View Layout" options in the command manager, select "Projected View." This action tells SolidWorks that you want to project the chosen model view onto the drawing sheet.

4. Position the Projected View

Click on the drawing sheet where you want to position the projected view. SolidWorks will automatically project the selected model view from the base view's orientation onto the drawing sheet. This gives you a clear representation of the object from a different angle, providing a more comprehensive view for your engineering drawings.

Inserting Standard 3 Views

Standard 3 views, also known as first-angle or third-angle orthographic projections, are crucial in engineering drawings for representing an object's fundamental views: the front, top, and right side views. These views serve as the basis for communicating design intent. To insert these standard 3 views in SolidWorks:

1. Create a Model View

Just as with projected views, you'll start by inserting a model view on your drawing sheet.

2. Go to "View Layout" and Choose "3 View"

In the "View Layout" options, select "3 View." This command tells SolidWorks that you want to create the standard three views, comprising the front, top, and right side views.

3. SolidWorks Will Automatically Generate Views

Upon selecting the "3 View" option, SolidWorks will automatically create and position the front, top, and right side views on your drawing sheet based on the orientation of the original model view.

These standard 3 views are critical because they provide a consistent and universally understood representation of the object, ensuring that anyone viewing the drawing can quickly grasp its design and dimensions.

Generating views in SolidWorks is a vital skill for engineers and designers, as it forms the foundation of clear and comprehensive engineering drawings. Model views, projected views, and standard 3 views are essential components of this process, each serving a specific purpose in conveying design intent and technical details. Whether you're creating basic representations or projecting views to provide a more detailed perspective, SolidWorks offers the tools and flexibility needed to produce professional and accurate engineering drawings.

View Creation Relative to Model

SolidWorks provides flexibility in creating views relative to the model. You can easily manipulate the orientation and position of your views. Here's how:

1. Create a Model View: Start with a model view.
2. **Use the "View Orientation" or "View Palette" tool to change the orientation and position of the view as desired.
3. Click to place the modified view on the drawing sheet.

Inserting Predefined Views

SolidWorks also offers a library of predefined views for common applications. These views can save you time and effort. Here's how to insert predefined views:

1. Create a Model View: Begin with a model view.
2. Go to "View Layout" and choose "Predefined Views."
3. Select the predefined view you need from the library.
4. Place the selected view on the drawing sheet.

Auxiliary Views

Auxiliary views are used to show features that are not parallel to the standard orthographic planes. To insert an auxiliary view:

1. Create a Model View: Start with a model view.
2. Go to "View Layout" and choose "Auxiliary View."
3. **Select the face or edge around which you want to create the auxiliary view.
4. Position the auxiliary view on the drawing sheet.

Detailed Views

Detailed views allow you to zoom in on specific regions of your model. To create a detailed view:

1. Create a Model View: Begin with a model view.
2. Go to "View Layout" and choose "Detail View."
3. **Draw a circle around the area you want to detail.
4. Position the detailed view on the drawing sheet.

Crop View

Cropping a view is useful when you want to focus on a specific portion of the model. Here's how to crop a view in SolidWorks:

1. Create a Model View: Start with a model view.
2. Go to "View Layout" and choose "Crop View."
3. **Define a boundary by drawing a closed shape around the area you want to keep.
4. The cropped view is then placed on the drawing sheet.

Broken-Out Section

A broken-out section view is a section that is not a straight cut but is "broken" to avoid certain features. To create a broken-out section view:

• Create a Model View: Begin with a model view.
• Go to "View Layout" and choose "Broken-Out Section."
• **Define the closed shape that represents the broken-out section. You can drag the handles to adjust the shape.
• Place the broken-out section view on the drawing sheet.

Broken Views

Broken views are used to display an object that does not fit entirely within the drawing sheet. To create a broken view:

• Create a Model View: Start with a model view.
• Go to "View Layout" and choose "Broken View."
• **Define a cutting line that represents the break in the view.
• Place the broken view on the drawing sheet.

Section View

Section views are used to show the internal details of a part or assembly. To insert a section view:

1. Create a Model View: Begin with a model view.
2. Go to "View Layout" and choose "Section View."
3. **Define a cutting line by selecting the points where you want the section to begin and end.
4. Position the section view on the drawing sheet.

Alternate Position View

Alternate position views are used to show an object in multiple positions or configurations. To insert an alternate position view:

1. Create a Model View: Start with a model view.
2. Go to "View Layout" and choose "Alternate Position View."
3. **Select the configuration you want to display from the available options.
4. Place the alternate position view on the drawing sheet.

Drawing Properties

Drawing properties are essential for maintaining consistency and standards in your engineering drawings. SolidWorks allows you to set various drawing properties, including title blocks, annotations, and custom properties, to streamline the drawing process.

To set drawing properties in SolidWorks:

• Go to "File" and select "Properties."
• **Navigate to the "Document Properties" tab, where you can configure settings for your drawing, including units, line fonts, and annotations.
• You can also set custom properties for your drawing, such as part numbers, materials, and descriptions.
• Apply these properties to your drawing sheet to maintain consistency across your project.

Angle of Projection in SolidWorks

The angle of projection in SolidWorks refers to the orientation or angle at which a view is projected onto a drawing sheet. Understanding the angle of projection is crucial for creating accurate and consistent engineering drawings.

In SolidWorks, there are two primary angles of projection:

1. First Angle Projection: In this system, the object is positioned between the viewer and the drawing sheet. The front view is closest to the viewer, and the other views are projected behind it.
2. Third Angle Projection: In this system, the object is placed behind the drawing sheet, with the front view farthest from the viewer and the other views projected in front of it.

To set the angle of projection in SolidWorks:

1. Go to "Tools" and select "Options."
2. Navigate to the "System Options" and choose "Drawings."
3. **Select either "First Angle" or "Third Angle" projection according to your drawing standards and region.

Understanding the angle of projection and ensuring consistency in its application is vital for clear and unambiguous engineering drawings.

Conclusion

Creating precise and comprehensive engineering drawings in SolidWorks is an essential skill for students and professionals alike. With a solid understanding of the various view creation techniques and the angle of projection, you can produce drawings that accurately represent your design intent and facilitate effective communication in the world of engineering.

Whether you are generating model views, projecting views, inserting standard 3 views, or working with auxiliary views, detailed views, crop views, broken-out sections, broken views, section views, or alternate position views, SolidWorks provides the tools and flexibility needed to bring your design to life on paper.