Projected and auxiliary views in Solidworks - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a design analyst at a manufacturing company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a clear report showing how projected and auxiliary views help in understanding complex parts better.

📊 Data: You have 3D CAD models of mechanical parts and their 2D views including front, top, side, projected, and auxiliary views.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a dashboard report that compares dimensions and features visible in projected and auxiliary views with standard views, highlighting their usefulness.

Sample Data

Part ID	View Type	Visible Features	Dimension Accuracy (%)	Notes
101	Front	5	95	Standard view
101	Projected (Top)	5	95	Projection of front
101	Auxiliary (Inclined)	3	98	Shows inclined surface
102	Front	6	96	Standard view
102	Projected (Side)	6	96	Projection of front
102	Auxiliary (Angled)	4	99	Shows angled feature
103	Front	4	94	Standard view
103	Projected (Top)	4	94	Projection of front
103	Auxiliary (Slanted)	2	97	Shows slanted edge

1

Step 1: Organize the data by Part ID and View Type to compare visible features and dimension accuracy.

Sort data by Part ID ascending, then by View Type with order: Front, Projected, Auxiliary.

Expected Result

Data sorted to easily compare views per part.

2

Step 2: Calculate average visible features for each view type across all parts.

Use DAX measure: AverageVisibleFeatures = CALCULATE(AVERAGE('Table'[Visible Features]), FILTER('Table', 'Table'[View Type] = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[View Type])))

Expected Result

Front: 5, Projected: 5, Auxiliary: 3

3

Step 3: Calculate average dimension accuracy for each view type.

Use DAX measure: AverageDimensionAccuracy = CALCULATE(AVERAGE('Table'[Dimension Accuracy]), FILTER('Table', 'Table'[View Type] = SELECTEDVALUE('Table'[View Type])))

Expected Result

Front: 95%, Projected: 95%, Auxiliary: 98%

4

Step 4: Create a bar chart showing average visible features by view type.

X-axis: View Type; Y-axis: AverageVisibleFeatures measure.

Expected Result

Bar chart showing Front and Projected views have 5 features, Auxiliary has 3.

5

Step 5: Create a line chart showing average dimension accuracy by view type.

X-axis: View Type; Y-axis: AverageDimensionAccuracy measure.

Expected Result

Line chart showing Auxiliary views have higher accuracy (98%) than Front and Projected (95%).

6

Step 6: Add a table visual listing Part ID, View Type, Visible Features, Dimension Accuracy, and Notes for detailed comparison.

Table columns: Part ID, View Type, Visible Features, Dimension Accuracy, Notes.

Expected Result

Table displays all data rows for detailed review.

7

Step 7: Summarize insights in a text box explaining how auxiliary views reveal features not visible in standard views and provide higher dimension accuracy for inclined surfaces.

Text: 'Auxiliary views show fewer but more precise features on inclined surfaces, improving dimension accuracy compared to standard and projected views.'

Expected Result

Clear explanation of auxiliary views' value.

Final Result

---------------------------------------------
| View Type   | Avg Features | Avg Accuracy |
|-------------|--------------|--------------|
| Front       |      5       |     95%      |
| Projected   |      5       |     95%      |
| Auxiliary   |      3       |     98%      |
---------------------------------------------

Bar Chart: Visible Features by View Type
[Front: █████]
[Projected: █████]
[Auxiliary: ███]

Line Chart: Dimension Accuracy by View Type
95% ──●────●────
      Front Projected Auxiliary

Table: Detailed View Data
PartID | View Type       | Features | Accuracy | Notes
---------------------------------------------------------
101    | Front           | 5        | 95%      | Standard view
101    | Projected (Top) | 5        | 95%      | Projection of front
101    | Auxiliary       | 3        | 98%      | Shows inclined surface
...

Insight: Auxiliary views reveal inclined features with higher accuracy, aiding precise manufacturing.

✓Projected views show the same number of features as front views but do not improve dimension accuracy.

✓Auxiliary views show fewer features but with higher dimension accuracy, especially for inclined or angled surfaces.

✓Using auxiliary views helps engineers understand complex part geometry better and improves measurement precision.

Bonus Challenge

Create a slicer to filter the dashboard by Part ID and observe how views differ per part.

Show Hint

Add a slicer visual linked to Part ID column to dynamically update charts and tables.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a projected view in SolidWorks drawings?

easy

A. To display the true shape of angled surfaces

B. To show standard 90° views from a base view

C. To add color to the drawing for better visualization

D. To create 3D models from 2D sketches

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand projected views

   Projected views are created by projecting lines at 90° from a base view to show standard views like front, top, and side.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from auxiliary views

   Auxiliary views show true shapes of angled surfaces, not standard 90° views.

3. Final Answer:

   To show standard 90° views from a base view -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Projected views = standard 90° views [OK]

Hint: Projected views are always at right angles to the base view [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing projected views with auxiliary views
• Thinking projected views show angled surfaces
• Assuming projected views add color or 3D

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create an auxiliary view in SolidWorks?

easy

A. Select an edge and project a view perpendicular to that edge

B. Project a view at 90° from the base view

C. Use the extrude feature on the base view

D. Rotate the base view by 45° and save

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify auxiliary view creation method

   Auxiliary views are created by projecting a view perpendicular to an angled edge or surface to show its true shape.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Projecting at 90° from base view creates projected views, not auxiliary. Extrude and rotate do not create auxiliary views.

3. Final Answer:

   Select an edge and project a view perpendicular to that edge -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Auxiliary view = perpendicular to angled edge [OK]

Hint: Auxiliary views are perpendicular to angled edges, not base views [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing auxiliary with projected views
• Trying to create auxiliary views by rotating base views
• Using features unrelated to view creation

3. Given a base front view of a part, which view will show the true length of an inclined edge?

medium

A. Auxiliary view

B. Projected top view

C. Projected side view

D. Isometric view

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand true length display

   True length of an inclined edge is shown only when the view is perpendicular to that edge.

2. Step 2: Identify which view is perpendicular

   Projected views are at 90° to base views, but not necessarily perpendicular to inclined edges. Auxiliary views are created perpendicular to inclined edges.

3. Final Answer:

   Auxiliary view -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   True length = auxiliary view [OK]

Hint: True length appears only in auxiliary views perpendicular to the edge [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming projected views show true length of inclined edges
• Confusing isometric views with true length views
• Ignoring the angle of the edge

4. A user tries to create an auxiliary view but the view shows distorted shapes instead of true shapes. What is the most likely mistake?

medium

A. Selecting the wrong part in the assembly

B. Using the extrude feature instead of creating a view

C. Rotating the base view by 90°

D. Projecting the view at 90° from the base view instead of perpendicular to the edge

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the cause of distortion

   Distorted shapes occur if the auxiliary view is not projected perpendicular to the angled edge.

2. Step 2: Identify correct projection method

   Auxiliary views must be projected perpendicular to the edge to show true shape; projecting at 90° from base view creates projected views, causing distortion.

3. Final Answer:

   Projecting the view at 90° from the base view instead of perpendicular to the edge -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Distortion = wrong projection angle [OK]

Hint: Auxiliary views must be perpendicular to the edge, not base view [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Projecting auxiliary views at 90° from base view
• Using features unrelated to view creation
• Selecting wrong parts causing confusion

5. You have a complex part with multiple angled surfaces. To clearly communicate the true shape of all angled surfaces in a drawing, which combination of views should you use?

hard

A. Only projected views from front, top, and side

B. Only auxiliary views for each angled surface

C. Projected views for standard sides and auxiliary views for angled surfaces

D. Isometric views combined with exploded views

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of projected views

   Projected views show standard 90° views and provide overall shape context.

2. Step 2: Understand the role of auxiliary views

   Auxiliary views show true shapes of angled surfaces that projected views cannot accurately display.

3. Step 3: Combine views for clarity

   Using projected views for standard sides and auxiliary views for angled surfaces ensures clear communication of all shapes.

4. Final Answer:

   Projected views for standard sides and auxiliary views for angled surfaces -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Combine projected + auxiliary for clarity [OK]

Hint: Use projected for standard, auxiliary for angled surfaces [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using only projected views and missing true shapes
• Using only auxiliary views and losing overall context
• Relying on isometric or exploded views alone