How Do You Animate an Exploded View in SolidWorks?

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An exploded view is a powerful technique used in SolidWorks to showcase the various components of an assembly. It provides a clear understanding of how the individual parts fit together and helps in visualizing the overall design. Animating an exploded view takes this concept one step further by adding movement and dynamism to the model, making it even more engaging for presentations and demonstrations.

Creating an Exploded View

To animate an exploded view in SolidWorks, you first need to create the initial exploded view. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Open the assembly file in SolidWorks.
  2. Go to the ‘Configuration Manager’ tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
  3. Right-click on the ‘Exploded View’ folder and select ‘New Exploded View’.
  4. Name your exploded view and click ‘OK’.
  5. Select the components you want to include in your exploded view.
  6. Drag and drop the selected components away from their original position using the triad arrows or by specifying distances and angles in the property manager.
  7. Add/Delete/Edit/Merge Components as needed to achieve your desired exploded view configuration.
  8. Tweak any additional settings such as rotation, transparency, or motion arrows to enhance clarity if required.

    9. Note:

    • The ‘Configuration Manager’ tab allows you to manage different configurations of your assembly, making it easy to switch between exploded and unexploded views.
    • The triad arrows in SolidWorks allow you to move components along the X, Y, and Z axes.

Animating the Exploded View

Once you have created the exploded view, animating it is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the ‘MotionManager’ tab at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Right-click on your exploded view and select ‘Animate Exploded View’.
  3. Select the desired motion type from options like linear, circular, or path.
  4. Specify the start and end positions for each component in your exploded view animation.
  5. Add/Delete/Edit/Merge Components as needed during animation creation.
  6. Preview your animation by clicking on the ‘Play’ button in the MotionManager tab to ensure it looks as intended.

    7. Note:

    • The ‘MotionManager’ tab allows you to control and manipulate animations within SolidWorks.
    • The available motion types give you flexibility in defining how components move during the explosion.

Saving and Sharing Exploded View Animations

SolidWorks provides several options for saving and sharing your exploded view animations:

  • Saving as a Video File: You can save your animated exploded view as a video file by going to ‘File’ > ‘Save Animation’ and selecting the desired video format.
  • Exporting as an AVI: Another option is to export your animation as an AVI file by going to ‘File’ > ‘Save As’ and choosing the AVI format.
  • Embedding in PowerPoint: If you want to include the exploded view animation in a presentation, you can use the SolidWorks add-in for PowerPoint to embed it directly into your slides.

With these options, you can easily showcase your animated exploded views to clients, colleagues, or anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of your design.

In Conclusion

Animating an exploded view in SolidWorks adds a new dimension to your design visualization. It allows you to communicate complex assembly configurations more effectively and engage your audience with dynamic presentations.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create and animate exploded views with ease. So go ahead and bring your designs to life!