SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Chapter 5: Using Visualization Techniques

Using the Magnifying Glass

You can invoke the Magnifying Glass by pressing G, and dismiss it when you select something or

when you press Esc. To change the hotkey it is associated with, choose Tools ➪ Customize ➪

Keyboard. Magnifying Glass is listed in the Other category. The Magnifying Glass is intended to

magnify a small area of the view to enable you to make a more precise selection.

The magnified area follows your cursor as it moves, and you can zoom in and out by scrolling the

MMB. Ctrl and dragging keeps the Magnifying Glass centered on the cursor. Pressing Alt creates a

section view parallel to the view, and scrolling with Alt pressed moves the section plane further

away or closer. Figure 5.5 shows the Magnifying Glass in operation, cutting a section view through

a part.

FIGURE 5.5

Using the Magnifying Glass with the section view

Note
The intended purpose of the Magnifying Glass is to select small items. You may use it to inspect things, but
remember it will disappear as soon as you select something. n

Clicking the Triad axes

The Triad is the multicolored coordinate axis in the lower-left corner of the SolidWorks graphics

window. You generally use it passively to see how the view is oriented and to get X, Y, Z reference

directions for features that need it.