Using the 'Normal To' Command – A Neat Orientation Trick

This question came up during one of our classes regarding model orientation. The challenge was to orient a model normal to a face but not have the view orientation use default “Y” orientation for that face.

There’s actually a very simple solution once you know the trick. Simply put, select 2 faces instead of 1 face for the Normal To command! The first face selected will be the face rotated to normal and the second face will define the top of the view orientation.

For example, selecting the face of the model shown and choosing Normal To ends up with the following view orientation:

We can control the top of the view orientation with Normal To if we select the normal to face first, then CTRL-select a second face to designate the top for the orientation, as seen:

Here’s another example where we control which side is “up” for our Normal To view:

Neat trick isn’t it? This can be especially valuable when defining Named Views in a model to use in a drawing. I hope you find it useful in your day-to-day SOLIDWORKS routine!

This blog is authored by John Setzer, GSC’s Training Product Manager. John discovered his love of teaching early in life. He worked his way through college as a youth coach, umpire, and referee before earning his bachelor’s degree in education. As Training Manager at GSC, he has been sharing his SOLIDWORKS wisdom with GSC customers ever since – over 20 years! John is a Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE), a Certified SOLIDWORKS Instructor, and a Certified SOLIDWORKS Technician. As the only CSWE with a state certification in teaching, John is well-versed is teaching all types of learning styles. John is a regular contributor to the GSC blog, available at www.gsc-3d.com/blog.

Bio
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Latest Posts

GSC

GSC fuels customer success with 3D engineering solutions for design, simulation, data management, electrical schematics, PCB, technical documentation, and 3D printing, as well as the most comprehensive consulting, technical support, and training in the industry. As a leading provider of SOLIDWORKS solutions, HP, and Markforged 3D printing technologies, GSC’s world-class team of dedicated professionals have helped numerous companies innovate and increase productivity by leveraging advanced technologies to drive 3D business success. Founded in 1989, GSC is headquartered in Germantown, WI. For more information about GSC, please visit www.gsc-3d.com.