How to create a ʼpushed apartʼ view of your assembly (Exploded View) in SolidWorks?
Short Answer
Yes — in SolidWorks, the standard way to create a pushed-apart assembly view is with exploded view in the Assembly environment. Open the assembly, start Exploded View, then select components and drag or define explode steps along an axis. Limitation: exploded views are presentation states and do not change actual part positions in the model.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: exploded steps can fail or become messy if your assembly has mates that heavily constrain motion or if patterned/derived components are selected inconsistently. In large assemblies, auto-spacing dragged components can also create unclear explode paths that are hard to edit later.
How to Create an Exploded View in SolidWorks
Command: Exploded View
Shortcut: No default keyboard shortcut
Quick Steps:
- Open the assembly, then go to the ConfigurationManager tab and right-click the active configuration, or use
Insert > Exploded View. - In the Explode PropertyManager, select one or more components, then drag the triad handle in the graphics area or choose an axis/edge for direction.
- Set the explode distance for the step, confirm the step, and repeat for additional components until the exploded view is complete.
- Open the assembly, then go to the ConfigurationManager tab and right-click the active configuration, or use
Use the Auto-space components on drag option when needed for faster spacing, but only if it keeps the view readable.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Auto-space components on drag
Expert Setting: This option automatically distributes selected parts as you drag them during an explode step. It speeds up creation, but for tight mechanical assemblies, manual distance control usually produces cleaner and more predictable exploded views.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): components with complex mate relationships may not move in the expected explode direction or may only allow limited displacement.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): components in a lightweight, suppressed, or resolved-state conflict can behave inconsistently when selected for explode steps, especially in large assemblies.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): exploding multiple unrelated parts in one step can create confusing motion paths and make the exploded view difficult to edit or collapse properly.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: edit the exploded view and rebuild it using smaller explode steps, selecting components by subassembly or function, then drag using the triad along a clear axis.
- Manager’s Verdict: use exploded views for drawings, manuals, and presentation configurations, but avoid overcomplicated explode steps in production assemblies where clarity and easy updates matter more than visual effect.
FAQ
Can I edit an exploded view after creating it?
Yes, right-click the exploded view and choose Edit Feature or Edit Explode Step.
Can I create an exploded view in a drawing?
You create it in the assembly first, then insert that exploded configuration into the drawing view.
Can exploded views animate in SolidWorks?
Yes, you can use Animate Explode or Collapse from the ConfigurationManager.
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