one part in a section view displaying in a lighter color

SOLIDWORKS SW General
1

In the section view shown below, the part indicated with the arrow is being displayed in a lighter color (it should be black, not gray). I’ve made thousands of section views and have never had this happen. What could be causing this?

Thanks.
2025-02-07 13_49_01-SOLIDWORKS Premium 2024 SP5.0 - [8160-20 - Sheet1 _].png

2

Are the parts different materials?

3

Check if this part is set on any layer?

4

I assume you mean Layer?

UU

5

oops… yes UU

6

Looks like sketches showing up.

7

That’s what it was. Thanks.

It should have been obvious to me.

I didn’t realize that individual parts from the feature tree can be selected and assigned to different layers in an .SLDDRW.

Thanks again for the help.

8

Yes, and it is very helpful.

9

You can also have individual parts shown with different line types and weights, without putting them on a Layer. Right-click on the component in the tree or drawing view and select “Component Line Font” from the drop-down. That will bring up this dialog box. After de-selecting “Use document defaults” you can make your selections.

I use this often to show vehicle positions at different times during crash tests. I use dotted lines instead of solid, in the thinnest line weight.

image.png

10

Good Tip. Thanks, Glenn.

I didn’t know you were a crash test genius (a play on “crash test dummy”).

11

[quote=“Mike Gera” post_id=39005 time=1739283538 user_id=1051]
I didn’t know you were a crash test genius (a play on “crash test dummy”).
[/quote]

Guess who helped with the design and did all the modeling and drawing for this.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdjgzlHZmRY

12

Nice video. That’s quite the piece of pipe. How did they make the bends? I can’t imagine they bent it. And where did the engine end up? I can’t tell.

Dwight

13

That’s a great tip! I’ve used alternate position views before, but your technique seems to offer even more control with colors.

SWX had alternate position views in assemblies early on, but it wasn’t until a few years ago (5 maybe?) that they added that capability for parts. (Isn’t there a way to find out when something like this was added to SWX?)

14

It was a long time ago, so I don’t remember for sure. Even if I did I might get in trouble for posting the information, and I don’t want to get fired this close to retirement.

I also don’t remember what happened to the engine, but it was probably just crushed.

On one of our first tests of this type, hitting a single bollard, the engine went into the cab, exited out of the back window, and when everything stopped moving it was on the ground in front of the truck.

15

My method is to find the relevant article in the Help documentation, then use the dropdown in the top right to change the year backwards until it isn’t available.

16

That makes sense, and nope. My curiosity might be there, but it isn’t worth the work (to me). UU

17

Well for what it’s worth you were right - alternate position view for parts was introduced in SW20.

18

Just learning the term “bollard” helped me explore a little. I saw that one called a “horseshoe bollard”, but I couldn’t find anything that big on line.

19

[quote=“Glenn Schroeder” post_id=39012 time=1739299504 user_id=50]
Guess who helped with the design and did all the modeling and drawing for this.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdjgzlHZmRY
[/quote]

Very cool. I’m curious as to what, specifically, you modeled for that test.

20

I’m afraid I don’t understand your question. I modeled up the pipe, and the foundation with rebar that hold it there, and created drawings from that, and the drawings were used for fabrication and construction.

I don’t have anything to do with the truck. We do some simulation here, but it’s not with SW.