Creating an automatic exploded view in SolidWorks can greatly enhance the understanding of complex assemblies. Exploded views allow you to visually separate and display individual components, making it easier to identify their relationships and assembly sequences. In this tutorial, we will explore the step-by-step process of creating an automatic exploded view in SolidWorks.
Step 1: Open your assembly in SolidWorks
To begin, open the assembly file that you want to create an exploded view for. Make sure all the necessary components are included in the assembly.
Step 2: Activate the Exploded View tool
Once your assembly is open, go to the “Assembly” tab on the command manager. Look for the “Exploded View” button and click on it to activate the tool.
Step 3: Specify the Base Configuration
In the “Exploded View PropertyManager” window that appears, select the base configuration from the drop-down menu. This is important if your assembly has multiple configurations.
Step 4: Add Explode Steps
The next step is to add explode steps. Explode steps define how components will move or rotate from their original position. To add an explode step, click on the “Add Explode Step” button in the PropertyManager window.
- Note: You can have multiple explode steps to create complex exploded views with multiple stages.
A) Drag Components:
In this method, you can manually drag components along specified directions by selecting and dragging them using your mouse. This is useful when you want precise control over component movement.
- To drag a component:
- Select the component you want to move.
- Click and drag the selected component along the desired direction.
B) Auto-space Components:
If you have a large assembly with many components, manually dragging each component can be time-consuming. The “Auto-space Components” option automatically creates equal spacing between components while keeping their relative positions intact.
- To auto-space components:
- Select the components you want to auto-space.
- Click on the “Auto-space Components” button in the PropertyManager window.
Step 5: Customize Explode Steps
Once the explode steps are added, you can customize them further to achieve your desired exploded view. Each explode step can be edited individually by selecting it from the list of steps in the PropertyManager window.
- Note: You can adjust translation, rotation, and alignment options for each component within an explode step.
Step 6: Preview and Modify Exploded View
After adding and customizing all the explode steps, you can preview the exploded view by clicking on the “Preview” button in the PropertyManager window. This allows you to review and make any necessary modifications before finalizing your exploded view.
Step 7: Save and Reuse Exploded Views (Optional)
If you frequently work with similar assemblies or want to reuse your exploded views in other projects, SolidWorks allows you to save them as configurations. To do this, click on the “Save as Configuration” button in the PropertyManager window. This will create a new configuration with the exploded view saved.
By following these steps, you can easily create automatic exploded views in SolidWorks. Exploded views not only enhance assembly comprehension but also serve as valuable visual aids for presentations and documentation.