SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [79]
• Tangency. Surfaces are tangent across an edge but have different radius of curvature on either side of the edge (non-curvature continuous). This condition exists when stripes line up across an edge, but the stripe is not tangent across the edge.
• Curvature continuity. Surfaces on either side of an edge are tangent and match in radius of curvature. Zebra Stripes are smooth and tangent across the edge.
Figure 5.8
Zebra Stripes
In Figure 5.8, the Zebra Stripes in example A do not match across the edge labeled A at all. This is clearly the non-tangent, contact-only case. Example B shows that the stripes match in position going across the indicated edge, but they change direction immediately. This is the tangent case. Example C shows the stripes flowing smoothly across the edge. This is the curvature continuous case.
You can use the remaining icons in the View toolbar to toggle the display of various types of entities from reference geometry to sketches.
Tip
Consider using hotkeys to toggle the display of your favorite items to hide and show. I use T for Temporary Axes, P for Planes, R for Origins, and so on.
View Orientation
You can activate the View Orientation box by pressing the spacebar. View Orientation, shown in Figure 5.9, keeps all named views, saved section views, and standard views. Tools in the box also enable you to update standard views to the current view or to reset standard views to their defaults. Be aware that a toolbar button on the View toolbar is also called View Orientation.
FIGURE 5.9
The View Orientation dialog box
The Standard Views flyout is called either Standard Views or View Orientation, depending on where you see it. The View Orientation dialog box contains the following controls:
• Push Pin. Keeps the dialog box active.
• New View. Creates a new custom-named view.
• Update Standard Views. Sets the current view to be the new Front view; all other views update relative to this change. This also updates any associated drawing views, but does not move any geometry or change plane orientation.
• Reset Standard Views. Resets the standard views so that the Front view looks normal to the Front plane (Plane1, XY plane).
• Previous View (undo view change). You can access this tool by pressing the default hotkey Shift+Ctrl+Z.
The Standard Views toolbar
I have already mentioned the Standard Views flyout on the View toolbar, but here I describe the tools it contains in detail. Figure 5.10 shows the Standard Views toolbar in its default configuration.
By default, the Standard Views toolbar contains the View Orientation button, a tool from the View toolbar. The View Orientation button is discussed in detail earlier in this section.
FIGURE 5.10
The Standard Views toolbar
Normal To has three modes of operation:
• First Mode. Click a plane, planar face, or 2D sketch. When you click Normal To, the view reorients normal to the selected plane, face, or sketch and zooms to fit the model in the view. This method is shown in Figure 5.11.
Figure 5.11
The result of using Normal To on the end rib angled face
• Second Mode. Click Normal To a second time. The view rotates 180° to display the opposite direction.
• Third Mode. After making the first selection, Ctrl+select another planar entity. The view is normal to the first selection, and the second selection is rotated to the top. This method is shown in Figure 5.12.
Figure 5.12
Using Normal To with Second Selection to define the top
Annotation views
Annotation views enable you to group annotations that were made in the 3D model into views that will be used on the drawing. They are collected under the Annotations folder in the FeatureManager for parts and assemblies. Annotation views can be created either automatically, when 3D annotations are added, or manually. An Unassigned Items annotation view acts as a catchall for annotations that are not assigned to any particular views. In the 3D model, you can use the views to reorient the model and display annotations.