How to Eliminate 2D Drawings with SOLIDWORKS MBD – Part 3

In Part 3, we will be discussing the options for creating 3D views. Creating 3D views have a number of advantages, from modeling productivity, to final output. Let's start by getting familiar with the 3D view menu.

You can access the menu located on the bottom tab.

Simply select the option to capture a 3D view.

You will now have options for what you want to capture:

In the PropertyManager, you will have the following options:

In 3D View Name, type a name.

Under Configuration, select a model configuration.

By default, the current configuration in the graphics area will be saved in the 3D view.

Under Display state, select a display state.

By default, the current display state in the graphics area will be saved in the 3D view.

Under Annotation Views, select the annotation views to include.

-You will now have a saved view that you can come back to at any time.

Model Break Views:

You can add breaks to models using the Model Break View tool. Model break views are saved as configurations.

Model break views, also known as broken views or interrupted views, are helpful when you need to shorten model components, especially for technical documentation and marketing purposes.

The break views use traditional break shapes, including pipe breaks, zig-zag breaks, and straight breaks. You use two planes to define each break. Alignment controls let you make multiple cuts in multiple directions.

To Create a break view either select it form Insert > Model Break view or off of the MDB menu.

This will give you the break planes and option on how you would like to preform your break.

In the PropertyManager, under Alignment: Choose the plane and rotation angle for the break.

You can also select a plane, planar face, cylindrical face, linear edge, or axis to determine the plane orientation. If you select a cylindrical face, linear edge, or axis, the default plane for the break is normal to the cylinder, linear edge, or axis. To see the effect of your choices, select Preview.

Optionally, specify an X Angle or Y Angle to rotate the break planes.

In the graphics area, use the handles to move the red and green planes to adjust the amount of material removed by the break.

You can also specify the Break Size in the PropertyManager.

In the PropertyManager, under Model Break Steps, click Apply to create the first break step.

A break appears where you placed the break lines.

After you create a break step, you can modify it by clicking on it.

To add a second break step, under Model Break Steps, click Add Step.

Repeat steps 2 through 4 to specify the details of the second break step.

To specify the style of the break pattern, in the PropertyManager: Click the Styles tab.

After the Break vie w has been created, you can toggle this on or off from the feature manager, along with modifying and of the break steps you have created.

-Of course, you can capture break views the same way you capture any 3D view.

We hope this series gives you some good insight to the new SOLIDWORKS MBD product.  Please check back to the CATI Blog as the Dedicated Support Team will continue posting new series of articles every month that go further into the details of many of the SOLIDWORKS tools. All of these articles will be stored in the category of Daily Dose…..of SOLIDWORKS Support and links to each article with their release date are listed below:

• How to Eliminate 2D Drawings with SOLIDWORKS MBD – Part 1 (Bryan Pawlak 3/2/15)
• How to Eliminate 2D Drawings with SOLIDWORKS MBD – Part 2 (John Van Engen 3/3/15)
• How to Eliminate 2D Drawings with SOLIDWORKS MBD – Part 3 (Blake Cokinis 3/4/15)
• How to Eliminate 2D Drawings with SOLIDWORKS MBD – Part 4 (Neil Bucalo 3/5/15)

Blake Cokinis
Sr. Support Product Specialist
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.