How do I add a custom view to a drawing in Solidworks?

To add a custom view to a drawing in Solidworks, you essentially create and then save a specific orientation of your model which can then be inserted into a drawing. Here's how:

Creating the Custom View:

1. Open the Model: Start by opening the 3D model you wish to create a custom view from.

2. Orient the Model: Use the Rotate, Zoom, and Pan commands to orient your model to the precise view you want to save. You can find these tools in the Heads-up View toolbar. Press the spacebar to quickly access the Orientation dialog box.

3. Save the Orientation:

   • Press the spacebar to open the Orientation dialog box. This will display a window with different view options.
   • Click the "New View" icon (usually a small plus sign or a page icon).
   • Type a descriptive name for your custom view in the dialog box. This name will appear in the view selection list when you insert drawing views.
   • Click OK to save the new view.

Adding the Custom View to a Drawing:

1. Open or Create a Drawing: Open the existing drawing you want to add the custom view to, or create a new drawing from your model.

2. Insert a Model View:

   • Go to the "Drawing" tab in the CommandManager.
   • Click on "Model View."
   • Select the model that you just created a custom view for.

3. Select the Custom View:

   • In the Model View PropertyManager (located on the left side of the screen), look for the "Orientation" section.
   • From the "Orientation" dropdown menu, select the custom view you saved earlier. The name you gave the view should appear in the list.

4. Position the View: Click in the drawing sheet to place the custom view.

5. Adjust as Needed: You can then adjust the scale, display style, and other properties of the view within the PropertyManager.

Alternative Method using 3D Drawing View:

While less common, you can use the 3D Drawing View tool to create the desired view from another existing model view within the drawing. This is useful for creating dependent views. You still manipulate the model's orientation using Rotate, Zoom, and Pan.

Key Considerations:

• Meaningful Names: Use clear and descriptive names for your custom views to easily identify them later. For example, "Isometric View - Front Right" is more helpful than "View 1".
• Drawing Standard: Always check which drawing standard is being used to check if you are following it correctly

By following these steps, you can easily add and utilize custom views in your Solidworks drawings, enhancing your documentation process and accurately representing your designs.