How to Make a Section View in SOLIDWORKS

A section view in SOLIDWORKS cuts through a part or assembly so internal features can be seen more clearly. Section views are useful in both models and drawings when hidden geometry, wall thickness, holes, ribs, or internal parts need to be inspected.

Use section view in the model

In a part or assembly, the Section View tool lets you cut the display using a plane, face, or reference direction. This does not remove material from the model; it only changes what you see on screen.

Model section views are helpful for checking interference, wall thickness, internal details, and whether a design is built the way you expect.

They are also useful during design reviews because you can inspect internal geometry without creating a permanent cut feature. Turn the section view off when you are done to return to the normal model display.

Select the section plane

Choose a plane, face, or direction that cuts through the area you need to inspect. The Front, Top, and Right planes are common choices, but custom planes can be better for angled or offset features.

Move or offset the section as needed until the important geometry is visible. A small change in section position can make the view much easier to understand.

For assemblies, use section views to confirm that components clear each other and that hidden parts are located correctly. This is faster than relying only on transparent display or hidden-line views.

Create a drawing section view

In a drawing, use the Section View command and draw the cutting line through an existing view. SOLIDWORKS creates a new projected view that shows the cut geometry with section hatching.

Place the section view where it is easy to read and label it clearly. The cutting line and section label should make the view direction obvious.

Use aligned, offset, or half section views when the part geometry calls for them. The right section style can show important internal details while keeping the drawing clean.

Control hatching and components

Drawing section views may show hatch patterns for cut parts. Check that hatching is readable and that adjacent parts do not use confusingly similar patterns. In assemblies, decide which components should be sectioned and which should remain uncut.

Fasteners, shafts, ribs, and standard components may have special section-view conventions depending on the drawing standard being used.

If a component should not be sectioned, adjust the drawing view settings rather than accepting a confusing result. Clear section behavior helps the reader understand what is actually being cut.

Dimension section views carefully

Use section views to dimension internal features that are not clear in outside views. Avoid adding duplicate or unnecessary dimensions. The section view should clarify the design, not make the drawing crowded.

If a section view is used for manufacturing or inspection, confirm that the cut location shows the true feature shape and not a misleading slice through angled geometry.

Use notes when a section view is meant only to clarify internal construction. This helps prevent a reader from interpreting the view as a separate machining operation.

Troubleshooting

If a section view does not show the expected geometry, check the cutting plane or cutting line direction. If hatching is messy, adjust hatch settings or simplify the view. If assembly components disappear unexpectedly, review component section scope.

Before releasing a drawing, review the section view at normal print size. It should make internal geometry easier to understand for manufacturing, inspection, or assembly.

Use section views when they answer a real drawing question. A clean section view can replace several confusing hidden-line dimensions.

If hidden lines make a view hard to read, a section view is often the better option. It can show internal shoulders, bores, and wall thickness directly instead of forcing the reader to decode overlapping dashed lines.