What is a ʼBalloonʼ annotation in SolidWorks?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

A Balloon annotation in SolidWorks is a drawing annotation that labels components in an assembly, usually to match item numbers in a bill of materials. The most common professional method is the Auto Balloon command in a drawing view. It only works properly when components are in an assembly drawing.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: Balloons can display incorrect item numbers if the drawing view is linked to the wrong Bill of Materials or if bom item numbering has changed. This is a common source of manufacturing and assembly documentation errors.

How to Add a Balloon in SolidWorks

  • Command: Auto Balloon

  • Shortcut: No default keyboard shortcut

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Open an assembly drawing, then go to the Annotations tab in the CommandManager and click Auto Balloon.
    2. Select the drawing view where you want to place balloons.
    3. In the PropertyManager, choose a Layout option such as Circular or Square, enable or disable Ignore multiple instances, then click OK to place the balloons.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Ignore multiple instances

  • Expert Setting: When enabled, SolidWorks places one balloon for repeated identical components instead of ballooning every visible occurrence. This keeps assembly drawings cleaner and is commonly used in production documentation.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The selected view is not an assembly drawing view, so SolidWorks has no component structure to balloon.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The annotation layer may be hidden or set not to print, making balloons appear missing even though they were created.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The view is not linked to a BOM, or item numbers were reordered, so balloons do not match the intended parts list.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Insert or update the BOM first, then run Auto Balloon again on the correct assembly drawing view.

  • Manager’s Verdict: Use balloons on final assembly drawings that already have a stable BOM. Avoid adding them too early, because changing item numbers later can create revision confusion on the shop floor.

FAQ

Can you add a balloon manually in SolidWorks?
Yes, use the Balloon annotation command to place a single balloon manually.

Do balloons update automatically with the BOM?
Yes, if the balloon is properly linked to the assembly and BOM.

Can balloons be used in part drawings?
Not in the normal BOM sense; balloons are mainly intended for assembly documentation.

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