SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [215]
FIGURE 15.18
Using the Section Scope
The recommended workflow is to initiate the function from the toolbar, use the spline to create the closed loop, and to not pre-draw a loop. This makes everything flow more smoothly, and you create the view surprisingly quickly. If you must use a sketch tool other than the spline, then you must pre-draw it. Even if you simply change sketch tools when the Broken-out Section View automatically activates the spline, because the workflow has been broken, creating the closed loop does not automatically display the Section Scope interface.
Selecting the depth
After you make the Section Scope selections, the next step is to set the depth of the cut. You can do this in one of several ways. Broken-out Section Views are usually applied to the center of a hole if available, or in other ways that show the view as cleanly as possible. If you know the depth of the cut that you want to make, then you can type it in as a distance value. Of course, that raises the question “Distance from what?” to which the answer seems to be “from the geometry in the view that would come the farthest out of the screen toward the user.” Users most often choose the distance when it does not matter exactly how deep the cut goes or exactly where it cuts, but it gives a relative position.
In situations when you want to cut to the center of a particular feature or up to an edge, it is far easier and less bothersome to simply select the geometry from a drawing view. For example, Figure 15.19 shows the PropertyManager interface where the depth of the cut is set. In this example, the edge of the shaft in the view to the right has been selected. This tells SolidWorks that the cut should go to the center of the shaft. Another possibility is to show the temporary axes, as shown in Figure 15.19, and to select an axis through the center of the shaft.
FIGURE 15.19
Setting the depth of the Broken-out Section View
Editing the view
At this point the view is finished. Now you may choose to edit the view in some way, such as by changing the sketch, the depth, the section scope, and so on. Figure 15.20 shows how the Broken-out Section View is positioned in the Drawing FeatureManager. It is listed as a modification to an existing drawing view. The Broken-out Section RMB menu is also shown. Selecting Edit Definition displays the PropertyManager, shown in Figure 15.19. Selecting Edit Sketch enables you to change the section spline shape. Selecting Properties displays the dialog box shown to the right in Figure 15.20. This contains options for the underlying original view as well as the broken-out section modification to the original view. Only the Section Scope tab is added by the Broken-out Section View. The rest of the options are for normal view properties.
Using a Break View
Break Views are typically used to display parts that are very long in one dimension on a drawing in such a way that you can see both ends or other important features. You can break views more than once in the same direction, or even in opposite directions. Figure 15.21 shows the full view of a part and a view that was broken twice. Notice that the dimensions are correct, and any dimension that includes a broken length has a special dimension line.
FIGURE 15.20
Editing the Broken-out Section View
FIGURE 15.21
Dimensions on a Break View
The PropertyManager in Figure 15.18 shows a bit of a discrepancy in terminology. Using “Break” as the name of the view seems a little awkward, and I much prefer it as “Broken View,” as it is shown here in the PropertyManager. It is inconsistent, but you get the idea anyway.
To create a Break View, click the Break toolbar button on the Drawings toolbar, or choose it at Insert⇒Drawing View⇒Break. You need to place break lines in pairs, and you can choose from one of four break symbol styles, as shown in Figure 15.22. You can change the style from the RMB menu or from the PropertyManager.
The Broken View PropertyManager also enables you to set the gap size and the style of the break.