Coordinate Systems
SolidWorks uses a system of coordinate systems with origins. A part document contains an original origin. Whenever you select a plane or face and open a sketch, an origin is created in alignment with the plane or face. An origin can be used as an anchor for the sketch entities, and it helps orient perspective of the axes. A three-dimensional reference triad orients you to the X, Y, and Z directions in part and assembly documents.
Part origin (one in each part document)
|

|
Sketch origin (one for each new sketch)
|

|
Inferencing to an assembly origin (isometric orientation)
|

|
Reference triad in part and assembly documents
|

|
Related SolidWorks Topics
SolidWorks Help: Coordinate System
SolidWorks Help: Coordinate System - 3D Sketching
SolidWorks Help: Origin
SolidWorks Help: Working in a Sketch