Setting Up the Planes

To create a loft, you begin by sketching the profiles on faces or planes. You can use existing faces and planes, or create new planes.

1. Click New on the Standard toolbar and create a new part.
   The planes in a SOLIDWORKS model are not always visible. However, you can display them. For this lesson, it is helpful to display the Front plane.
2. Click View > Hide/Show and verify that Planes is selected.
3. Right-click Front Plane in the FeatureManager design tree and select Show .
   The Front Plane appears in the graphics area.
4. With the Front Plane still selected, click Plane on the Reference Geometry toolbar.
   The Plane PropertyManager appears. A preview of the new plane appears in the graphics area. Under First Reference, Front Plane is listed in the First Reference box.
5. Set Offset distance to 25 and click .
   A new plane, Plane1, is created in front of the Front Plane.

   The planes used in a loft do not have to be parallel, but they are for this lesson.