2D Drafting Overview

This overview lists typical 2D drafting tasks and applicable SOLIDWORKS solutions. The tasks and solutions show how to create the following drawing.



See how to create this drawing from a 3D model.

Detailing and annotation tools are not used in this overview. For a step-by-step tutorial that highlights the SOLIDWORKS detailing and annotation tools, see the Advanced Drawings tutorial by clicking > Tutorials > All SOLIDWORKS Tutorials.

Task Categories

Creating a Front View

Tasks Solutions
Create the horizontal edges of the drawing view. Sketch the bottom horizontal line with Line and use Offset Entities to create additional edges.

Create the vertical edges of the drawing view. Sketch a symmetry line with Centerline and use Offset Entities to offset the centerline bidirectionally.

Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the corner and power trim options.
Corner Power trim: click-click method
Video: Trimming Corners With Trim Entities Video: Using Power Trim Click-Click Method
Power trim: drag method
Video: Using Power Trim Drag Method
Change line styles to indicate hidden holes. Use Line Style to change lines from solid to dashed.
Return to task categories

Creating a Top View by Projecting a Front View

Before (front view) After (front and top views)
Tasks Solutions
Align the top view with the front view. Sketch vertical infinite lines as projection lines with Line .

Video: Sketching Vertical Infinite Lines as Projection Lines
Create the horizontal edges of the drawing view. Sketch a horizontal symmetry line with Centerline to define the middle of the drawing view. Offset the centerline with Offset Entities to create additional edges of the drawing view.

Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the trim away outside, corner, and power trim options.
Trim away outside Corner
Power trim

Video: Trimming Away Outside Entities
Create a hole in the center of the drawing. Use Circle and Midpoint Snap to create a hole that snaps to the center of the drawing.

Video: Sketching a Circle that Snaps to the Center of the Drawing

Midpoint snap
Circle
Delete excess lines. Ctrl + select multiple lines and press Delete.

Change line styles to indicate hidden holes. Use Line Style to change lines from solid to dashed.

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Creating a Right View by Projecting a Front and Top View

Before (front and top views) After (front, top, and right views)
Tasks Solutions
Align the right view with the front and top views. Use horizontal infinite lines as projection lines.

Create the vertical edges of the drawing view. Rotate the projection lines (from the top view) -90° with Rotate Entities .

Video: Rotating Entities
Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the trim away outside, power trim, and corner options.
Trim away outside Power trim Corner
Change line styles to indicate hidden holes. Use Line Style to change lines from solid to dashed.
Return to task categories

Adding a Slot to the Top View

Before (top view) After (top view)
Tasks Solutions
Center the slot in the view. Use Centerline to create horizontal and vertical construction lines.

Create the horizontal edges of the slot. Use Offset Entities to offset the centerlines.

Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the power trim option.

Create an arc to enclose the slot. Use Tangent Arc .

Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the power trim option.

Create a symmetric slot on the opposite side of the drawing view. Delete the vertical edge of the opposite side of the drawing view (to create a space for the slot), then use Mirror Entities to mirror the slot.

Video: Mirroring Entities
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Projecting the Slot to the Front and Right Views

Before (front, top, and right views)
After (front, top, and right views)
Tasks Solutions
Align the slot from the top view with the front view. Use vertical infinite lines as projection lines.

Change line styles to indicate hidden slots. Use Line Style to change lines from solid to dashed.

Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the power trim option.
Align the slot from the top view with the right view. Sketch horizontal infinite lines as projection lines, then rotate the lines -90° with Rotate Entities .

Video: Rotating Projection Lines
Delete excess sketch entities. Use Trim Entities with the power trim option.

Return to task categories

Creating a Section View from the Front View

Before (front view) After (section view)
Tasks Solutions
Delete the extra line in the drawing view to create a cross-section. Use Trim Entities with the power trim option.
Change line styles so that hidden holes and slots show. Use Line Style to change lines from solid to dashed.
Create a hatch pattern to indicate solid areas of the drawing view. Use Area Hatch/Fill to apply crosshatch sections.

Video: Applying Crosshatch Sections

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Create a Drawing from a 3D Model

With a 3D model, you can create the same drawing in two steps.



Tasks Solutions
Create front, top, and right views. In a new drawing sheet, with the Drawing Toolbar displayed, select Standard 3 View and browse for the part document in the Standard 3 View PropertyManager.
Create a section view. In the drawing document, use the Section View tool to create a section view from the top view. Cross-hatching is automatically applied to section views.