Solidworks Views All Mangled 3

[bencollins]

thread559-110857

Hi, have read a couple of threads on this see reference, but dont think I have "deep" defined my template satisfactorily thus far.
I want XYZ to be in their correct formats for as according to the rest of planet earth (i.e. Z up : it seems a rather basic error), i.e. not the solidworks way.

I renamed the views but am concerned that in the background all is not well and for instance when i load in new generic models they will have the wrong orientation and I will constantly be fighting this in the future.

Before I decide to buy this system I wonder if there is a proper cure for this, before i go elsewhere.
Im not mad on the rotate view function either.

Your comments are invited. I cant be the only one annoyed by this surely?!

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

No, you are not the only one annoyed by the difference in axes. This topic appears several times a year.

There is a long-running debate over which is orientation is correct. Most CAD programs use the X = horiz, Y = vert, Z = in/out of the screen.

To further complicate things, when dealing with CNC (or any machine) the Z axis is almost always along the cutter spindle. So a different orientation will be used for horiz or vertical mill. The Z on a lathe will be on the rotating axis.

Many parts need machining on several faces making the 'correct' orientation argument moot. Most CNC/CAM software are able to rotate the model geometry to suit that fact.

 

[Updraft]

Ben,

One thing you can do is to set your own preferences, i.e., orient the view in the part file the way you want, then redfeine the views as Front, Top, etc. You can save your part file as a template such as "Part-Vert Mill.prtdot" and have different templates for different needs. You can even rename the basic planes in these templates if you so choose. That way you can not only have your cake, but. . .

- - -Updraft

 

[bencollins]

Thanks very much for your quick responses much obliged!

The solution I am pursuing is as follows.
I have simply drawn a cube and gone old school! Used the normal to face view feature (right click after highlighting face). Then pressed spaced bar and created a new named view. Sometimes the view needs "rolling" first before you save it.
I now have my own named nine views and i will just pretend the others are not there =:O). Pressing space bar and acorn makes that easy (see picture attached).
Front, RHS, LHS, Plan, Underside, Back, Isom, Rear Isom, Plan Isom etc

I did follow this gentlemans helpful tip

http://chris-solidworks.blogspot.com/2008/09/z-goes-up.html

but that still leaves plan and side view upside down and then if you try to overwrite them they mess up the other views.

In other respects SW does look very friendly, apologies for being so grumpy! Old dog, new tricks etc, this is me learning my 4th CAD system and they definitely have their foibles and i have brain ache now.

I can live with this "idiot" solution. Hope it helps anyone else. See picture attached. =:O)

 

[bencollins]

the picture

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

You may also be able to modify the Make 8 Isometric Views macro from

http://sw.fcsuper.com/index.php?name=UpDownload&req=viewsdownload&sid=5

or the new and improved [/b]ISOViews[/b] macro from

http://www.lennyworks.com/solidworks/default.asp?ID=20

 

[brengine]

if there is a proper cure for this, before i go elsewhere

Unless you only design one part in order to machine that part...The easiest solution is not to worry about it. No matter how hard you try or what standards you implement, you and other Users will stumble into this situation more often then you'd think.

My fix...don't worry about it and let the NC Programmer figure it out. If they can't re-orient it in their CAM package, then add a new Coordinate System in your SolidWorks Part (once you're done designing your part). You'll save a lot more hair this way.

My opinion is that this is not a function that should make or break what CAD you design in. You will have this issue pop-up in CAD system. Just my opinion.

 

[bencollins]

UPDATE FOLKS!
Hi, ok well im now a little wiser four months on =:O)

Just overwriting the "front" view at your preferred front view pretty much auto aligns all the other views and everything to my preferred way of doing things (YZ front).
My start model has a little 100mm ref cube and three axis in there, this pretty much solves all the stuff I was whining about............see pic
hope this helps other idiots like me =:O]

The only additional thing was add (under view) directional light at 0dg, 0dg.

It is kind of handy to dump this model into your assembly start model too, so that there is always a flexibility to delete the next (second) model into the assembly.

 

[mjcole]

Updating Standard Views is the way to do it but it causes a few quirks which I wish could be rectified. If you have XY as top plane or Z=0 The default orientation of your sketches will not be as expected and the Datum Names as shown above X=0 is skewed from the expected orientation.

You may be able to use insert Part and Mate up the Top Right and Front Planes to the model defaults to orient position. I'm working on my own default models with Catia style X/\Y and UG style \X /Y csys set up.

Another thing to look out for is the Orientation and Names for the Annotation Views which I had to modify and Resave on my models to fix Orientation inconsistencies.

Michael