adding a plane in Solidworks

[Ether]

Greetings Solidworks gurus.

I know zero about Solidworks, but I thought it should be a simple matter to view the cross-section created when the cylinder:

x2+y2 = 1

...is cut by the plane:

x - 2y + 3½z = 0

... in the domain:

-4<x<4 , -4<y<4 , -4<z<4


I asked a friend to do this for me, but he is struggling with it. Can you help?

[Nate Laverdure]

..

[Ether]

...the plane:
x - 2y + 3½z = 0

The above equation should describe the resulting plane you'll get if you start with a plane lying in the XY plane, then rotate it 45 degrees CCW around the X axis, then rotate it 30 degrees CCW around the Y axis.

Is it easier to do it that way in Solidworks? If so, how is that done?

[Ether]

...

Thanks Nate, but can you describe the steps you used to get that?

[Nate Laverdure]

1. Relabel the standard planes to minimize confusion later. Front is XY, Top is XZ, Right is YZ.
2. On the XY plane, sketch a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin.
3. Extrude this sketch along Z from the midplane to your specified extents.
4. Sketch a construction line on one of the standard planes; this will be the projection of your plane equation onto this plane. I used the XY plane. I imposed dimensions on this line (delta_x = 1, delta_y = .5) but you could make the line driven by a forumula instead if you desired.
5. Repeat the previous step on another of the standard planes. I used the XZ plane. delta_x = 1, delta_z = -1/sqrt(3).
6. Add a reference plane that is coincident to both of the construction lines drawn in the previous two steps.
7. Cut a section through the body at the reference plane.

[Ether]

reps to you Nate :)