How Do You Add Multiple Leaders to a Balloon in SolidWorks?

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In this tutorial, we will learn how to add multiple leaders to a balloon in SolidWorks. Adding leaders is a great way to provide clear and concise annotations to your drawings. So, let’s get started!

Step 1: Creating a Balloon

The first step is to create a balloon in SolidWorks. Balloons are often used to indicate parts or components in an assembly. To create a balloon, follow these steps:

  1. Open your SolidWorks drawing and navigate to the annotation toolbar.
  2. Select the “Balloon” tool from the toolbar.
  3. Click on the part or component you want to attach the balloon to.

Step 2: Adding a Leader

Now that we have created a balloon, let’s add a leader to it:

  1. Select the “Leader” tool from the annotation toolbar.
  2. Click on the edge or face of the part where you want the leader to start.
  3. Draw a line by clicking at different points until you reach your desired location for the leader arrowhead.
  4. Click once more to place the arrowhead and complete the leader.

Note: By default, SolidWorks allows only one leader per balloon. However, there is a workaround for adding multiple leaders which we will explore next.

Step 3: Adding Multiple Leaders

To add multiple leaders to a balloon in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

  1. Create another balloon using steps mentioned earlier if you haven’t already.
  2. Select both balloons by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each of them.
  3. Right-click on one of the selected balloons and choose “Group” from the context menu.

Note: Grouping the balloons allows you to treat them as a single entity, enabling you to add multiple leaders as desired.

Step 4: Adding Additional Leaders

Now that we have grouped the balloons, let’s add additional leaders:

  1. Select the “Leader” tool from the annotation toolbar.
  2. Click on any edge or face of one of the balloons to start drawing a leader line.

Note: You can add as many additional leaders as needed by repeating step 4 for each new leader.

In Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned how to add multiple leaders to a balloon in SolidWorks.

This technique allows you to provide clear annotations and improve communication in your drawings. Remember to group your balloons before adding additional leaders. Keep experimenting with different annotation styles and techniques to enhance your SolidWorks drawings even further!