Can you create a ʼSection Viewʼ to see inside an assembly in SolidWorks?
Short Answer
Yes — in SolidWorks, you can create a section view to see inside an assembly using the Section View command, which is the standard professional method for inspecting internal components without editing geometry. It works directly from the assembly workspace and supports planar sectioning. Limitation: it is mainly a visual inspection tool unless paired with other analysis features.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: Sectioning an assembly can hide fasteners, internal clearances, or interferences if the section plane is placed poorly or if section scope is limited to selected components only. A very common mistake is forgetting excluded parts, which leads to incorrect design reviews.
How to Create a Section View in SolidWorks
Command: Section View
Shortcut: None by default
Quick Steps:
- In the assembly, go to the Heads-up View toolbar or View menu and click Section View.
- Choose a section plane, planar face, or reference plane, then set the cut direction and offset if needed.
- Enable options such as Section cap or adjust which bodies/components are sectioned, then click OK to inspect the inside of the assembly.
Variables & Settings
- Key Setting: Section cap — this option fills cut faces in the sectioned assembly view, making internal shapes easier to read during design review and screenshots. Turn it off if you need to see edges or internal detail more clearly.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): The selected plane or face does not cut through the internal area you actually need to inspect, so the section appears useless or empty.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): Suppressed, hidden, or lightweight components may not display as expected in the sectioned view, especially in large assemblies.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The section view is visual only in many workflows, so users wrongly expect it to physically cut components or create modeled section geometry.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
Quick Fix: Edit the Section View definition and select a different reference plane or apply an offset so the cut passes through the required internal components.
Manager’s Verdict: Use Section View for fast internal inspection, design reviews, and screenshots in assemblies. Avoid relying on it alone for clearance validation—combine it with Interference Detection or component measurements for production decisions.
FAQ
Can you section only selected parts in a solidworks assembly?
Yes, you can control which components are included or excluded from the section.
Does Section View modify the assembly model?
No, it only changes the display for viewing and inspection.
Can you save a sectioned assembly view?
Yes, you can save the view orientation or use it in drawings and presentations.
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