I modeled a part in a certain orientation and when I create a flat-pattern view of that part in the drawing, I want that view to be rotated. I know I can change the view in the model using the "Orientation" window but this does not change the coordiante system of the part. I also tried adding a new coordinate system but the flat-pattern view does not use the new one.
How, if possible, can I do this?
Well, thats a way to do it in the drawing. I am looking for a way to do this in the model so it wont have to be done when creating drawings.
Basically then you need to change the sketch plane of the first feature to make everything rotate to a different view as you describe.
WT
Thats not an option since most of the features under it fail. This seems like something that should have been added to SolidWorks a long time ago...
What exactly does the Coordinate system that can be added manually do?
Chris,
You can select a flat surface and hit normal to. Then if you hit the space bar you can reorientate
the views based on the current visual view you are normal to. Hope this is what you were looking for or helps you.
That only changes the view in the part, not when creating views in a drawing.
Yes, but then those views can be translated into the drawing.
Are you talking about reorientating in the part then automatically
updating in the drawing?
Ah, I see. You can choose those views but not for "Flat Pattern" view. The Flat Pattern view still comes up as the original view orientation.
FYI, its not that I cant rotate the view manually, its that I have a DXF macro that exports the views on my drawing (I put multiple parts on a single drawing) and the DXF macro uses the view orientation thats from the model. On some of our parts, the grain direction is important, so I then have to manually change the orientation on the DXF file also. I would rather do this in the model then I dont have to worry about it in the drawing or DXF file.
This article from Jim Wilkinson should help you reset your views:
Highlight the view then click the rotate view button at the top of the sheet.