How to Do an Exploded View in SolidWorks
Creating an exploded view in SolidWorks is a crucial step in technical documentation, as it helps to illustrate the assembly process and component relationships in a clear and concise manner. An exploded view breaks down an assembly into its individual parts, showing how they fit together. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating an exploded view in SolidWorks, ensuring that your technical drawings are as informative and visually appealing as possible.
Step 1: Prepare Your Assembly
Before you can create an exploded view, your assembly must be complete and properly constrained. Ensure that all components are correctly positioned and that there are no errors or warnings in your assembly. It is also a good practice to add dimensions and annotations to your components for reference.
Step 2: Create an Exploded View Sketch
To create an exploded view, you need to start by creating a sketch. This sketch will represent the exploded view of your assembly. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click on the “Sketch” button in the “FeatureManager Design Tree” or press “S” on your keyboard.
2. Select the plane where you want to create the exploded view sketch. This plane can be a face of a component, an axis, or a reference plane.
3. Once the sketch plane is selected, click on the “Create Sketch” button and start drawing the exploded view. You can use lines, rectangles, and arcs to represent the components and their relationships.
Step 3: Add Components to the Exploded View
After creating the exploded view sketch, you need to add the components to it. To do this, follow these steps:
1. In the “FeatureManager Design Tree,” right-click on the assembly name and select “Exploded View.”
2. In the “Exploded View” dialog box, click on the “Add Component” button.
3. Select the component you want to add to the exploded view from the list of components in the assembly.
4. Repeat this process for all the components you want to include in the exploded view.
Step 4: Customize the Exploded View
Now that you have added the components to the exploded view, you can customize it to suit your needs. Here are some customization options:
1. Adjust the position of components by clicking and dragging them in the exploded view sketch.
2. Change the angle of components by using the “Angle” feature or by adjusting the sketch lines.
3. Add dimensions and annotations to the exploded view to provide additional information about the assembly.
Step 5: Finalize and Save Your Exploded View
Once you are satisfied with your exploded view, make sure to finalize it. Save your work and export the exploded view as a drawing or an image if needed. You can also add the exploded view to your assembly drawing for a comprehensive representation of the assembly.
In conclusion, creating an exploded view in SolidWorks is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance the clarity of your technical documentation. By following these steps, you can create informative and visually appealing exploded views that will help your audience understand the assembly process and component relationships.
