Exploded views are a great way to showcase the individual components of an assembly in SolidWorks. They can help you communicate your design intent clearly and effectively. In this tutorial, we will learn how to edit an exploded view in SolidWorks.
Step 1: Open the assembly file in SolidWorks that contains the exploded view you want to edit. You can do this by going to File > Open or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + O.
Step 2: Once the assembly is open, navigate to the Configuration Manager tab, which is usually located on the left side of your screen. Expand the configuration that contains the exploded view you want to edit.
Step 3: Right-click on the exploded view and select Edit Feature. This will open up the Explode PropertyManager, where you can make changes to your exploded view.
Step 4: In the Explode PropertyManager, you will see a list of all the components in your assembly. To add or remove components from your exploded view, simply check or uncheck their respective boxes. You can also drag and drop components within the property manager to change their position.
Note: If you want to add new components that are not currently part of your assembly, you can do so by selecting them from the graphics area and clicking on Add Remove Components in the property manager.
Step 5: To change how your components are spaced apart in your exploded view, you can adjust the values under Offset. Positive values will move components further apart, while negative values will bring them closer together.
Step 6: You can also customize how each component is rotated in relation to its original position using Rotation controls. You can either enter specific rotation angles or use dynamic rotation handles in the graphics area.
Tips and Tricks
Now that you know the basics of editing an exploded view in SolidWorks, here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this feature:
Use Smart Explode Lines
When editing an exploded view, you can use Smart Explode Lines to automatically create exploded lines between components. This can be useful when you have a complex assembly with numerous components. To enable this feature, simply check the Smart Explode Lines box in the Explode PropertyManager.
Create Multiple Exploded Views
If you need to show different stages or variations of your assembly, you can create multiple exploded views within the same configuration. This allows you to switch between different exploded views without having to recreate them from scratch.
To create a new exploded view, right-click on the configuration and select Add Exploded View. You can then edit this new exploded view using the steps mentioned earlier.
Save Exploded Views as Animations
SolidWorks also allows you to save your exploded views as animations, which can be helpful for presentations or visualizations. To do this, go to Insert > Animation > Create Motion Study.
Within the Motion Manager tab, select the exploded view and click on Add Key at the desired time interval. You can then play back your animation by clicking on Play Animation.
- Remember to save your work regularly.
- Experiment with different spacing and rotation values to achieve the desired effect.
- Take advantage of keyboard shortcuts for faster editing.
With these tips and tricks in mind, you should now have a good understanding of how to edit an exploded view in SolidWorks. Remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to experiment and explore different possibilities. Happy designing!