Is There an Auto Explode in SolidWorks?

by

In SolidWorks, there is no direct built-in feature called “Auto Explode”. However, you can achieve a similar effect by using the explode tool in SolidWorks assemblies. This tool allows you to create exploded views of your assembly, which can help in visualizing how the individual components fit together.

Creating an Exploded View

To create an exploded view in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

  1. Step 1: Open your assembly file in SolidWorks.
  2. Step 2: Go to the “Configuration Manager” tab on the left-hand side of the screen and expand the “Display States” folder.
  3. Step 3: Right-click on the active configuration and select “New Exploded View”.
  4. Step 4: In the “PropertyManager” window that appears, click on the “Auto-space Components” button to automatically space out your components.
  5. Step 5: Use the available tools like “Drag Component”, “Rotate Component”, and “SmartMates” to arrange and position your components as desired.

You can also manually specify distances and angles for each component using the drag handles or by entering values directly into the PropertyManager.

Tips for Creating Effective Exploded Views

To make your exploded view more visually engaging and informative, consider these tips:

  • Add Annotations: Use callouts, balloons, or notes to label important parts or provide additional information about each component.
  • Add Explode Lines: Include lines or arrows to indicate the direction of movement for each component.
  • Use Colors and Transparency: Apply different colors or transparency settings to individual components to highlight their positions or emphasize their relationships.
  • Create Multiple Exploded Views: If your assembly has complex movements or requires multiple exploded views to demonstrate different assembly stages, you can create multiple exploded views and switch between them as needed.

Animating an Exploded View

If you want to create an animation of your exploded view, SolidWorks provides a powerful tool called “MotionManager”. With MotionManager, you can add keyframes and define motion paths for each component in your exploded view.

To animate an exploded view:

  1. Step 1: Open the MotionManager by going to “View” > “MotionManager”.
  2. Step 2: Right-click on the exploded view in the MotionManager tree and select “Animate Explode/Collapse”.
  3. Step 3: In the “Explode/Collapse PropertyManager”, set the desired animation properties such as duration, speed, and easing.
  4. Step 4: Use the timeline at the bottom of the screen to add keyframes and define motion paths for each component.

You can preview your animation by clicking on the play button in the MotionManager toolbar. Once you are satisfied with your animation, you can save it as a video file or export it for use in presentations or documentation.

In Conclusion

While there is no direct “Auto Explode” feature in SolidWorks, you can create exploded views manually using the explode tool. By following these steps and considering additional tips for enhancing your exploded view, you can effectively communicate the assembly process and highlight the relationships between components. Furthermore, with the MotionManager tool, you can animate your exploded view to create visually engaging presentations or instructional materials.