Exploding and Collapsing an Exploded View

An exploded view is stored with the configuration in which it is created. Each configuration can have multiple exploded views.

To explode and collapse an exploded view:

  1. On the ConfigurationManager tab , expand the desired configuration.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Double-click the ExplView feature.
    • Right-click the ExplView feature and select Explode (or Collapse).
      You can reposition an item along its current axis without reopening the PropertyManager. In the ConfigurationManager, expand ExplView and select the step you want to change. Then drag the item by the handle .
  3. (Assemblies only.) To animate the exploding and collapsing of the view, do one of the following:
    • Right-click ExplView and select Animate explode (or Animate collapse). The Animation Controller pop-up toolbar appears and provides basic controls over the animation.
    • Use the Animation Wizard for full control over the duration of each step during the animation. See Exploding and Collapsing Using Animation Wizard.

Animation Controller Pop-up Toolbar

The Animation Controller pop-up toolbar appears when you animate the exploding or collapsing of an exploded view.

Select any of the following animation playback modes located on the Animation Controller pop-up toolbar:

Pause Pause the animation. Click Play Tool_replay_animation_controller.gif to resume.
Tool_Reset_Components_Simulation.gif Start Return the animation to the first frame.
Tool_rewind_animation_controller.gif Rewind Return the animation to the previous frame after you click Pause .
Tool_fast_forward_animation_controller.gif Fast Forward Move the animation to the next frame after you click Pause .
Tool_end_animation_controller.gif End Move the animation to the last frame.
Stop Stop the animation.
Normal Displays the animation once from start to finish, then stops.
Loop Displays the animation in a continuous loop (start to finish, start to finish, etc.) until you click Stop .
Reciprocate Displays the animation in a reciprocating continuous loop (start to finish, finish to start, start to finish, finish to start, etc.) until you click Stop .
Tool_slow_play_animation_controller.gif Slow Play Display at half the normal speed.
Tool_fast_play_animation_controller.gif Fast Play Display at twice the normal speed.
You can select the animation mode either before you click Play Tool_replay_animation_controller.gif or during the animation.
For full control over the duration of each step, you can use the Animation Wizard. See SOLIDWORKS Help: Exploding and Collapsing Using Animation Wizard.