Section Views in Models

In a section view in a part or assembly document, the model is displayed as if cut by planes and faces that you specify, to show the internal construction of the model.

You can:
  • Select bodies or components to include in or exclude from section views.
  • Toggle the view off and on. The section view state is retained, even when you save and reopen the document.
  • Show or hide a section cap. If you show a section cap, you can choose whether it displays with its own color.
  • Select the faces, edges, and vertices created by a section view.
  • Select one or more zones formed by the bounding box created by the selected section planes or faces and the bounding box of the model.
  • Save the section view as a named view in the part or assembly document or as an annotation view for use in drawing documents.
You can also create section views in drawings.
You cannot apply a section view to a mesh body.
Zebra stripes are not available with an active section view.

To create a section view:

  1. In a part or assembly document, click Section View (View toolbar) or View > Display > Section View.
  2. In the Section View PropertyManager, under Section Method, select one of the following:
    Option Description
    Planar Define a section view by selecting one, two, or three planes or planar faces.
    Zonal Define a section view by selecting one or more zones. Zones are defined by the intersection of the selected plane or face and the bounding box of the model. Use Zonal to create section views where multiple areas of the model are cut away.
  3. In the Section View PropertyManager, under Section Option, select how the section offset is calculated:
    • Reference Plane

      Values are calculated normal to the currently-oriented section plane.

    • Selected Plane

      Values are calculated normal to the plane you select in Section 1.

  4. Under Section 1, do one of the following:
    • Click Front , Top , or Right to specify the section view plane, then specify the offset distance and rotation.
      If the section method is Zonal, you cannot reverse the section direction.
    • Click Plane about axis to create a section view that rotates about a cylindrical entity.
      Plane about axis is available only in Section 1.
      1. For Select edge or axis , select an axis, temporary axis, hole, or cylindrical face or edge.
        You do not have to constrain the section view to a secondary point, such as a vertex. You can click Reverse Section Direction to flip the section view across the created plane.
      2. Optionally, for Select vertex or point , select a vertex or point through which the section view plane starts.
      3. For Rotate plane along axis , specify the rotation angle of the section view plane about the axis, starting from the selected vertex or point. You can also drag the handle to specify the rotation.
  5. To section the model with additional planes or faces, select Section 2 and Section 3 and set the properties.
    Section 3 is unavailable until Section 2 has been selected.
  6. Click Selected bodies or Selected components to create a section view of a part or an assembly, respectively.
  7. Under Selected components, select one of the following:
    Option Description
    Exclude selected Enable selection plane The selected bodies or components are not sectioned. All other bodies or components are sectioned.
    Include selected The selected bodies or components are sectioned. Other bodies or components are not sectioned.
  8. Select.
    A selection plane appears to help you select components that are not visible in the model or in the sectioned area. The triad, in the center of the selection plane, controls the position and angle of the selection plane.
  9. Drag the center ball of the triad to view hidden components.
  10. If you selected Zonal under Section Method, in the graphics area, select one or more intersection zones.
  11. Click Preview Enable selection to show the graphics-only preview of the section based on the section plane location and the components or bodies that you select.
    Preview hides the section plane, reference plane and face outlines, and the selection plane.
  12. Click PM_OK.gif.
    To return the model to full view, click Section View tool_Section_View.gif again.
To edit the section view, right-click in the graphics area and select Section View Properties.