Using Detail and Section Views to Add Intelligence to SOLIDWORKS Drawings

Detail and section views are commonly used in SOLIDWORKS drawings and are an easy way to communicate important details. These view types rely on a parent drawing view, and they generate linework based on the region to magnify or a section cutting line.

Of course, when the model changes, the drawing views update. However, significant design changes can cause undesirable or unpredictable updates to detail and section views.

Why Intelligent Drawings are Important

It is critical that these views remain focused on their area of interest, and often this requires extra manual work, moving or resizing the detail circle or section line. With just a few steps, we can easily control the size and location of detail and section views. This technique ensures that when the design changes, the views will update as expected.

What Happens When Drawing Views Break?

We can demonstrate the problem with this drawing of a configured model. Switching to a different configuration changes the tool length and width, but the detail circle and section line stay behind and are no longer focused on the area of interest.

Switching to the Short configuration breaks the detail view because the detail circle is no longer focused on the area of interest.

A broken detail view after model changes

Similarly, switching to the Long-Wide configuration breaks the section view because the section line no longer spans the handle. We even get a warning dialog!

Warning message showing a broken section view after model changes

Adding Intelligence to Detail Views

We make the detail view more intelligent by controlling the size and location of the detail circle sketch.

To control the detail circle sketch, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the detail circle.
2. Select Edit Sketch.
3. Use normal sketch relations and dimensions to define the location fully.

Editing the detail view sketch

In our example, we will place a coincident relation between the center of the circle and the center of the hole. Additionally, a 9 mm offset dimension is added so that, as the handle grows, the sketch grows as well.

Fully defining the detail view circle sketch

Adding Intelligence to Section Views

We can make the section view smarter in a similar way to detail views. By controlling the size and location of the section line sketch, section view updates are accurate and predictable.

To control the section line sketch, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the section line.
2. Select Edit Sketch.
   

   Editing the section line sketch

3. Use normal sketch relations and dimensions to define the location fully.

In our example, we will place three dimensions to control the location of the section line. This ensures that any model changes will also move the section line.

Three dimensions lock the position of the section line

Hiding the Controlling Dimensions

The detail and section views will now update properly, but there is still one more thing that must be done: hide the dimensions. Obviously, we don’t want these control dimensions showing in our drawing, and it is a simple process to hide them with a right-click.

Hiding dimensions from the right-click menu

If ever you need to edit the dimensions, you can access them again from the pull-down menu: View -> Hide/Show -> Annotations. Hidden annotations are now displayed in grey and, if selected, will return to the show state for editing.

Superior Intelligence in SOLIDWORKS Drawings

With a few steps, the detail circle and section line in SOLIDWORKS drawings have been edited and made more intelligent. These techniques can also be used with non-circular detail regions and complex jogged section lines. When the parent SOLIDWORKS drawing view changes, they will maintain their detailing intent and remain focused on the important line work.

To learn more ways to improve your SOLIDWORKS drawings, register for an upcoming training class here.