10. In the Appearance panel, move the Transparency slider to the right, and watch the part become transparent.

11. To prevent the Appearance window from closing after every change, click the pushpin at the top of the window.

12. Click the green check mark icon to accept the changes; note that with the pushpin icon selected, the window remains available.

13. Expand the flyout FeatureManager in the upper-left corner of the graphics window, as shown in Figure 5.38, so that all the features in the part are visible.

Figure 5.38

The flyout FeatureManager

14. Select the features Extrude1, Fillet7, and Fillet6 from the FeatureManager so that they are displayed in the Selection list of the Appearances window. Select a color from the BibleColors swatch palette that you have just created.

15. Click the check mark icon to accept the changes and clear the Selection list.

16. Select the inside face of the large cylindrical hole through the part and assign a separate color to the face.

17. Click the check mark icon to accept the changes, and click the red X icon to exit the command.

18. Expand the Display pane (upper-right area of the FeatureManager). You should see color and transparency symbols for the overall part, and color symbols for three features. There is no indication of the face color that is applied.

19. Remove the colors. Open the Appearances window again, re-select the three features (Extrude1, Fillet7, and Fillet6), and click the Remove Color button below the Selection list. Do the same with the colored face. Return the part transparency to fully opaque.

20. Click the check mark icon to accept the changes.

21. Change the edge display to Shaded (without edges). Then change to a Wireframe mode. Finally, change back to Shaded with Edges.

22. Choose View⇒Display⇒Tangent Edges as Phantom. Figure 5.39 shows the difference between Tangent Edges Visible, as Phantom, and Removed settings.

Tip

Using the Tangent Edges as Phantom setting is a quick and easy way to look at a model to determine whether face transitions are tangent. It does not help to distinguish between tangency and curvature continuity; you need to use Zebra Stripes for that.

23. Switch back to Shaded display.

24. If you do not have a RealView-capable computer, then skip this step. Ensure that the RealView button in the View toolbar is depressed. Click the Appearances/Scenes tab on the Task Pane to the right of the graphics window. Expand Appearances⇒Metal⇒Steel; then in the lower pane, scroll down to the Cast Carbon Steel appearance.

25. Turn the part over, select the bottom face, and drag and drop the appearance from the Task Pane. Apply the appearance just to the bottom face using the popup toolbar that appears. The rest of the part should retain the semi-reflective surface, as shown in Figure 5.40. Click the check mark icon to accept the change.

Figure 5.39

Tangent Edge display settings for a shaded model

Figure 5.40

Applying an appearance to a face

26. Click the Section View button on the View toolbar. Drag the arrows in the middle of the section plane back and forth with the cursor to move the section dynamically through the part, as shown in Figure 5.41.

Figure 5.41

A section view

27. Select the check box next to the Section 2 panel name and create a second section that is perpendicular to the first.

28. Click the green check mark icon to accept the section. Notice that while in the Section View PropertyManager, the RealView material does not display, but once you close the dialog box, RealView returns.

Summary

Visualization is a key function of the SolidWorks software. It can either be an end to itself if you are showing a design to a vendor or client or it can be a means to an end if you are using