How to Do an Auxiliary View in SOLIDWORKS

An auxiliary view in SOLIDWORKS shows a surface or feature from a direction that is not aligned with the standard front, top, right, or isometric views. It is useful when an angled face needs to be shown true size in a drawing.

When to use an auxiliary view

Use an auxiliary view when a normal drawing view does not show the real shape of an angled feature. Holes, slots, bosses, and angled faces can look distorted in standard orthographic views. An auxiliary view looks perpendicular to that angled direction so the geometry can be dimensioned more clearly.

This is especially helpful for machined parts, brackets, castings, and sheet metal parts where angled features need accurate dimensions or inspection references.

Without an auxiliary view, the reader may see the angled feature foreshortened. That can lead to unclear dimensions or a drawing that is technically correct but hard to interpret on the shop floor.

Create the parent drawing view

Start with a drawing view that shows the edge, face, or reference direction needed for the auxiliary view. The auxiliary view is created from a parent view, so the parent view must contain the geometry that defines the projection direction.

Set the parent view scale and display style before creating the auxiliary view. A clean parent view makes the new view easier to place and understand.

If the parent view is crowded, consider creating the auxiliary view from a simpler projected view. The goal is to show the angled feature clearly, not to carry every detail into every view.

Create the auxiliary view

1. Open the drawing.
2. Select the parent view.
3. Start the Auxiliary View command.
4. Select the edge or reference that defines the viewing direction.
5. Place the new view on the sheet.
6. Check scale, alignment, and labels.

Dimension the true shape

Use the auxiliary view to dimension features that are shown true size. Avoid dimensioning distorted geometry in a standard view if the auxiliary view communicates the feature more accurately.

Keep dimensions readable and avoid duplicating dimensions that already appear clearly in another view. The auxiliary view should reduce confusion, not crowd the drawing.

Use center marks, centerlines, and notes where they help explain the angled feature. If a hole or slot is normal to the auxiliary view, that view is usually the best place to define it.

Control labels and alignment

Auxiliary views should be labeled clearly so the reader understands where the view comes from. Use consistent view arrows, labels, and placement according to your drawing standard.

If the auxiliary view is rotated or moved, confirm that the relationship to the parent view is still clear. Poor placement can make the drawing harder to read even when the geometry is correct.

For drawings that follow a company standard, check whether auxiliary view labels, arrows, and projection direction need a specific format. Consistent labels help readers move between sheets and views quickly.

Troubleshooting

If the auxiliary view does not show the expected face, check the selected edge or reference direction. If dimensions do not attach cleanly, rebuild the model and drawing, then verify the view orientation.

Before releasing the drawing, review the sheet as a whole. The auxiliary view should make the angled feature easier to manufacture, inspect, or assemble.

For complex drawings, use only the auxiliary views that add real clarity. Too many projected views can make a drawing harder to understand.

If the part changes later, revisit the auxiliary view and its dimensions. Angled faces and reference edges can move, and the drawing should still show the intended true-size geometry after rebuild.