Understanding Exploded Views in SolidWorks
Exploded views are valuable tools within SolidWorks that allow users to visually illustrate the arrangement of components within an assembly. This technique clarifies how parts fit together, providing insight into the assembly sequence and the relationships between individual components. Creating an exploded view can significantly aid in documentation and presentation of an assembly.
Steps to Create an Exploded View in SolidWorks
Creating an exploded view in SolidWorks involves several straightforward steps:
Open Your Assembly: Start by launching SolidWorks and opening the assembly you wish to use for an exploded view.
Access the Assembly Tab: Navigate to the Assembly tab located in the toolbar. This is where you can find various tools related to assembly design.
Insert Exploded View: Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Exploded View.” A new PropertyManager will appear on the left side of the workspace.
Select Components: Using the mouse, select the components you want to explode. You can choose one or multiple parts at once to include in your explode step.
Define the First Explode Step: Drag the selected components away from their original positions to set the first explode step. Adjust their positioning until the desired layout is achieved.
Add Additional Explode Steps: For further complexity, continue to select and move additional components. Each drag and drop action can create a new explode step, allowing you to build multiple layers of separation within your view.
Use Smart Explode Lines (Optional): If you wish to enhance the exploded view with visual aids, you can utilize smart explode lines to automatically create connections between components. These lines help illustrate how parts align and fit together.
- Save the Exploded View: Once you have created the desired layout, don’t forget to save your work. You can save your exploded view configuration, enabling you to revisit or modify it later as needed.
Modifying an Exploded View
Sometimes you may need to adjust or remove parts of an exploded view after its creation. The process is simple:
Accessing the Exploded View: In the ConfigurationManager, locate your exploded view under the relevant assembly configuration.
Edit Feature: Right-click on the exploded view and choose “Edit Feature” from the context menu.
Delete Steps: To delete an individual explode step, expand the exploded view feature to reveal all explode steps. Right-click the step you want to remove, and select “Delete.”
- Reposition Components: If adjustments are needed, you can easily reposition components along their current axis without having to reopen the PropertyManager.
Understanding the Importance of Exploded Views
Creating an exploded view is not just about aesthetics; it serves functional purposes:
- Assembly Clarity: Provides a clear visual representation of how individual parts come together, aiding both designers and manufacturers.
- Instructional Use: It functions as an excellent instructional aid for anyone involved in assembly or repair, offering insights that traditional views may not convey.
- Design Review: Exploded views can facilitate discussions during design review processes, allowing stakeholders to quickly grasp how a product is assembled.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I create an exploded view for subassemblies within a larger assembly?
Yes, you can create exploded views for subassemblies. Simply select the subassembly components as you would with standard parts, and follow the same steps to define your exploded view.
2. How can I revert to the default view after creating an exploded view?
To revert to the original assembly view, you can either right-click on the exploded view in the ConfigurationManager and select “Show Default” or simply click on the default view in the same section.
3. Is it possible to create animated exploded views in SolidWorks?
Yes, SolidWorks allows users to create animated exploded views. This can be done through the Animation Wizard, where you can capture the sequences of your exploded views and create a video for presentations or instructional purposes.
