Have you ever encountered an exploded view in SolidWorks and wondered how to reopen it? In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to reopen an exploded view in SolidWorks, allowing you to revisit and modify your exploded assembly. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Open the Assembly
To reopen an exploded view, first, open the assembly file in SolidWorks. You can do this by navigating to File -> Open and selecting the desired assembly file from your computer.
Step 2: Access the Explode PropertyManager
Once the assembly is open, locate the Configuration Manager tab on the left-hand side of the screen. Expand the Configuration Manager by clicking on the ‘+’ sign next to it if it is not already expanded.
Note: The Configuration Manager displays all configurations available for your assembly.
Next, expand the configuration that contains your exploded view. It will typically be named ‘Default’ or ‘Exploded’. Once expanded, you should see a folder named ‘ExplView’, which stands for Exploded View.
Shortcut:
If you prefer using shortcuts, you can also access the Explode PropertyManager by right-clicking anywhere in the graphics area and selecting ‘Edit Exploded View’ from the context menu.
Step 3: Reopen Exploded View
Double-click on the ‘ExplView’ folder in the Configuration Manager. This action will open up a new window called ‘Explode PropertyManager’ where you can modify your exploded view settings.
Troubleshooting:
If double-clicking on ‘ExplView’ does not open a new window or gives an error message, it means that there is no existing exploded view in the configuration. In such cases, you can create a new exploded view by following these steps:
- Right-click on the ‘ExplView’ folder in the Configuration Manager
- Select ‘New Exploded View’ from the context menu
- Follow the prompts in the ‘Explode PropertyManager’ to create a new exploded view
Note: Creating a new exploded view will allow you to reopen and modify it later.
Step 4: Modify Exploded View (Optional)
If you wish to make changes to your exploded view, you can do so within the ‘Explode PropertyManager’ window. Here, you can adjust component positions, add or remove explode lines, and customize other settings according to your requirements.
Note: The specific options available in the ‘Explode PropertyManager’ may vary depending on your SolidWorks version and settings.
Step 5: Save Changes
Once you are satisfied with your modifications, click on the ‘OK’ button within the ‘Explode PropertyManager’. This action will save your changes and close the window.
Tips:
If you want to keep multiple versions of an exploded view or experiment with different configurations, consider using SolidWorks configurations. Configurations allow you to save different sets of display states, including exploded views, within a single assembly file.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have learned how to reopen an exploded view in SolidWorks. By following these steps, you can easily access and modify existing exploded views or create new ones. Remember to save your changes and explore additional features like configurations for better organization and flexibility in working with exploded views.
With these skills, you can confidently revisit and enhance your exploded assemblies, improving your design process and effectively communicating assembly instructions to others.