Creating Cutting Planes

To display the internal parts of a model, you can create section views by adding cut planes.

You can manipulate cut planes using the standard move controls. You can use multiple cut planes to further dissect your model. There is no limit.

In SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional, you can also animate the effect of cut planes the same way that you animate a model.

To create section views:

  1. In the Palette, on the Models tab, click Add and click New Cutting Plane.
    You can also create a cutting plane by clicking Project > Models > New Cutting Plane.
    The cutting plane appears in the Viewport as a faint, mostly transparent plane that automatically stretches across your entire model.

  2. In the Model tree, select the cut plane.
    The cut plane parameters are listed on the General subtab.
  3. Type a Name for the plane.
    Optionally, you can also cap the geometry that the cut plane slices. Select Display Cut Plane Caps and specify a Cap Color.
  4. On the Transform subtab, use the Rotate and Transform options to modify the plane's orientation.
    • To reverse the plane, click Flip.

    • To rotate the plane 90º, click one of the Rotate options.

    • To tip the plane, under Transform, change one or more of the Rotation XYZ values.

    You can also use the transform handle to modify the position of the plane. To enable the handle, right-click the cut plane in the Model Set and click Manipulate > Move.
    .

  5. To add an additional cutting plane, click New Cutting Plane.
  6. Select the second plane and use the same controls to manipulate it.
  7. To hide or show a cut plane, on the Models tab, do one of the following:
    • In the Model tree, right-click the cut plane and click Hide Cutting Plane or Show Cutting Plane.
    • On the General subtab, select or clear Visible.
  8. To remove a cut plane, in the Model Set, right-click the cut plane and click Delete.
You can also animate these cut planes as well in SOILIDWORKS Visualize Professional.

Cut planes affect all geometry in a scene. They cannot be applied to only specific parts, groups, or models.