Exploding an Assembly

You can explode an assembly (or subassembly) to separate the components to see their relationship in a 3D context. When you explode an assembly, the exploded view is kept when you exit the command.

To see the product structure in a 2D view, you can use the specification tree.

See Also
Creating Tracks Automatically after Exploding an Assembly
  1. Select the assembly or subassembly.


  2. From the Simulation section of the action bar, click Explode .
    The Explode Assemblies dialog box is displayed.

  3. Set Depth to All levels.

    The Depth parameter lets you choose between a totally (All levels) or partially (First level) exploded view.

  4. Set Type to 3D.

    The Type parameter lets you choose between:

    • 3D: an explode that moves the components of the assembly in 3D space
    • 2D: an explode that moves the components of the assembly in a 2D plane
    • Constrained: a constrained explode that moves the components of the assembly while keeping the engineering connections between them intact.

  5. Click Apply to perform the 3D explode.

    The Scroll Explode field displays the progression of the operation. The application assigns directions and distances. Once complete, the assembly looks like this:



    This operation enables you to view all components separately.

  6. If you select , you go back to a product structure level.
    In this case, because All Levels was initially selected, you go back to a view of the geometry on the sub-entity level. In some cases, the sub-entities are only shown. You can easily move products within the exploded view using the Robot.
  7. Select Cancel to restore the initial view.
  8. Set Type to Constrained and click Apply.
    The assembly is exploded, while respecting the engineering connections (axial constraint in the example below).

  9. Select OK to confirm the operation or select Cancel to restore the initial view.

    If you select OK, the following warning message is displayed:

    You are about to modify product positions. Are you sure?

    If you want to restore the initial view, select No in the Warning dialog box and Cancel in the Explode dialog box.