Using SolidWorks 2009 SP4.0 . . .
I am having difficulties with Section View while working on a part in SolidWorks 2009. I only recently upgraded to 2009, and am discovering all kinds of functionality that works completely differently than it did in the versions since 2004, when I started using SolidWorks. So I am not sure whether what I am experiencing is a bug or just another new feature I should be really excited about.
I created a pretty simple part with two features. The first feature is a Revolved Base (basically a hollow tube), and then a Swept Cut (threads cut into the tube along a Helix/Spiral). The problem is I cannot seem to get the Section View to work with the completed part. When I select Section View on the Front Plane, I do indeed see the previewed section, but when I click on either of the green check marks, the model reverts to the normal view, though the Section View button remains "pressed" to indicate I am still in Section View Mode. Clicking the button one more time takes me out of Section View mode, but otherwise does nothing.
Now, here's the really bizarre behavior. If I roll the model back to the Revolved Base, the Section View works fine. At this point I thought maybe there was something wrong with my Swept Cut, so I deleted it and built a new one. Same result, I cannot get a section view. Then I deiced to delete both features and re-do them. Again, Section View works fine when rolled back to the Revolved Base, but once the Swept Cut is part of the model it doesn't work.
The only time I can get it to work on the completed model is, believe it or not, if I angle the section plane along the Y axis away from the Front Plane. Then it works every time.
So what am I dealing with here, annoying bug or glorious new feature?
SolidworksParts And Features