The Section command bar is used to define or modify a 3D section view of an assembly, part, or sheet metal model.

When a step button is yellow, it is the active step awaiting your input. When a step button is blue, you can click the button to reactivate the step and change your input.

Options

Opens the Section Options dialog box for you to edit default properties for the cutting plane annotation, dimension style, and caption. You also can specify whether hardware parts, such as bolts, nuts, and washers, are cut or not.

Preview/Finish/Cancel

This button changes function as you move through the section definition process. The Finish button constructs the profile using input provided in the other steps. Once you construct it, you can edit it by re-selecting the appropriate step button on the command bar. The Cancel button discards any input and exits the command.

Select Sketch Step

Select

Sets the selection mode for specifying the 2D elements you want to use to define the cutting plane for the section. Options are Single or Chain.

Accept (check mark)

Accepts the selection.

Deselect (x)

Clears the selection.

Side Step

The Side Step defines the side of the model from which material should be cut away.

The side step is not required when the cutting plane sketch elements form a closed region.

Extent Step

Defines the distance to extend the cutting plane for the cutaway view.

Through All

Sets the cutting plane extent so that it is cuts through all faces of the part, starting at the profile plane. You can extend the profile to either side of the profile plane.

Tip:

If you use the Through All extent option here to define how much of the model is cut, you also can control the length of the cutting plane annotation displayed in the view by changing the value in the Through All field on the Section Display Options dialog box.

Finite Extent

Sets the cutting plane extent so that it is projected a finite distance to either side of the profile plane. Type the distance into the Distance box on the command bar.

Distance

Sets the distance to extend the cutting plane profile when the Finite Extent option is set.

Step

Sets the distance value to increase or decrease in set increments when you move the cursor. For example, typing a step value of 0.25 and moving the cursor away from the from point would increment the distance from 0.25 to 0.5, then to 0.75, and so forth.

Select Parts Step

Specifies the parts to be cut. You can use the Cut List options to specify which parts are cut.

Cut List

Defines which parts are cut. The cut options are:

• Cut All

• Cut Only Selected

• Cut Only Unselected

Tip:

Parts defined as hardware parts on the Project page of the File Properties dialog box can be set to be cut or not cut using the Cut Hardware check box on the Section Display Options dialog box. For more information about cutting hardware parts in 3D section views, see the Help topic, 3D section views of a model.