Exploding assemblies

Publication Number
spse01691
Exploding assemblies

Publication Number
spse01691
Proprietary and restricted rights notice

This software and related documentation are proprietary to Siemens Product

Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
© 2011 Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Siemens and the Siemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens AG. Solid Edge
is a trademark or registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management
Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All
other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective
holders.

2 Exploding assemblies spse01691

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Course overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Exploding assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

Creating Exploded Views of Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Automatic Explode command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Bind Subassembly command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Unbind Subassembly command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Explode command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Collapse command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Explode PathFinder tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Display Configurations command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Display Configuration Options dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Move Part command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Remove command (Explode application) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Reposition command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Explosion Properties dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Activity: Explode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Flow Lines command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Modify command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38

Activity: Exploding an assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Step 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Step 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
Step 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
Step 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-18
Step 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-22
Step 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-27
Step 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-34
Step 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-39
Step 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-41
Step 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-41
Activity summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-44

Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Step 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Step 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Step 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7
Step 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Step 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14
Step 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-19
Activity summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-20

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Lesson

1 Introduction

Welcome to self paced training for Solid Edge. This course is designed to educate you
in the use of Solid Edge. The course is self-paced and contains instruction followed
by activities.

Solid Edge self-paced courses

• spse01510—Sketching

• spse01515—Constructing base features

• spse01520—Moving and rotating faces

• spse01525—Working with face relationships

• spse01530—Constructing treatment features

• spse01535—Constructing procedural features

• spse01536—Modeling synchronous and ordered features

• spse01540—Modeling assemblies

• spse01545—Creating detailed drawings

• spse01546—Sheet metal design

• spse01550—Practicing your skills with projects

• spse01560—Modeling a Part Using Surfaces

• spse01610—Solid Edge frame design

• spse01640—Assembly patterning

• spse01645—Assembly systems libraries

• spse01650—Working with large assemblies

• spse01655—Revising assemblies

• spse01660—Assembly reports

• spse01665—Replacing parts in an assembly

• spse01670—Designing in the context of an assembly

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Lesson 1 Introduction

• spse01675—Assembly features

• spse01680—Inspecting assemblies

• spse01685—Alternate assemblies

• spse01686—Adjustable parts and assemblies

• spse01690—Virtual components in assemblies

• spse01691—Exploding assemblies

• spse01692—Rendering assemblies

• spse01693—Animating assemblies

• spse01695—XpresRoute (tubing)

• spse01696—Creating a Wire Harness with Harness Design

• spse01424—Working with Solid Edge Embedded Client

Start with the tutorials

Self-paced training begins where tutorials end. Tutorials are the quickest way for
you to become familiar with the basics of using Solid Edge. If you do not have any
experience with Solid Edge, please start by working through the tutorials for basic
part modeling and editing before starting this self-paced training.

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Lesson

2 Course overview

Course overview
The Explode-Render-Animate application within the Solid Edge assembly
environment is a tool for creating different types of presentations of Solid Edge
assemblies. Exploding an assembly allows you to control the movement, sequence,
and grouping of parts and subassemblies. Rendering a view allows you to define
textures, lighting, shadows, backgrounds, and other properties to create presentation
style images. Motors apply movement to under constrained parts in an assembly
that can be animated. Using Animation, you can combine previously created
exploding sequences and custom camera movement to create animation. Each frame
of the animation can be rendered to create presentation quality animations.
Once you complete the activities in this course, you will be able to control the
sequence and direction of explode events.

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Lesson

3 Exploding assemblies

Solid Edge enables you to easily create exploded views of your assemblies. You
can use the exploded views you define in the Assembly environment to create
exploded assembly drawings in the Draft environment. You can also create
presentation-quality renderings and animations of exploded assemblies.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Creating Exploded Views of Assemblies

Solid Edge enables you to easily create exploded views of your assemblies. You
can use the exploded views you define in the Assembly environment to create
exploded assembly drawings in the Draft environment. You can also create
presentation-quality renderings and animations of exploded assemblies.

To access the commands for creating assembly explosions, click

Explode-Render-Animate on the Tools tab in the Assembly environment. A set
of commands specifically tailored for working with explosions, renderings, and
animations is displayed. You can use the menu commands and the Explode
PathFinder tab shortcut menu to create, view, and edit exploded views of an
assembly.
The operations you perform while creating an exploded view are captured as events
and displayed in the Explode PathFinder tab on PathFinder. You can edit these
events later.
When you have finished defining an exploded view, you can save the exploded view
display configuration to a name you define.

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 Exploding assemblies

Exploding Assemblies Automatically

Many assemblies can be quickly exploded using the Automatic Explode command.
You can use this command to explode all the parts in an assembly; or to explode only
the parts in subassemblies you select.
When you explode selected subassemblies, you can select the subassemblies in the
graphic window or the PathFinder.
The Automatic Explode command explodes assemblies based on the relationships
applied between parts. In assemblies where the parts are positioned using mate or
axial align relationships, the Automatic Explode command will quickly give you
excellent results.
The Automatic Explode command cannot explode parts that are grounded. For
example, when you create a new part within the context of the assembly using the
Create In-Place option, the part is positioned using a ground relationship. You can
use the Explode command to manually explode a grounded part, or you can delete
the ground relationship, then position the part using assembly relationships, such
as mate and align.

Exploding Assemblies Manually

The Explode command gives you more control over assembly explosions than the
Automatic Explode command. You should use Explode for assemblies where many of
the parts were positioned without using mate or axial align relationships or when
you want to explode the parts in a different direction than the Automatic Explode
command uses.
The Explode command allows you to define an explode direction for one or more
selected parts. You can select the parts in the graphic window or PathFinder.
When exploding parts manually, you first define the parts you want to explode, then
select a base part and a face on the base part to define the explode direction.
You can also use the Explode command to edit explosions created with the Automatic
Explode command.

Exploding Subassemblies
If you want all the parts in a subassembly to remain a single unit (no offset distance
is applied between the parts), there are two approaches you can use. If you want all
the subassemblies in the assembly to remain a single unit, you can set the Bind All
Subassemblies option available with the Automatic Explode command.
If you only want some of the subassemblies in the assembly to remain a single unit,
you can use the Bind Subassembly command on the Home tab to specify that a
selected subassembly remains a single unit. A symbol is added to PathFinder to
indicate the subassembly is bound.
If you want to explode the subassembly later, you can use the Unbind Subassembly
command to unbind the subassembly.

Modifying an Exploded Assembly

You can use the other commands to modify the position and display of parts in your
explosions.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Moving and Offsetting Parts

The Move Exploded Part command allows you to move or rotate one or more
parts along the original explode vector, or along another vector you define. You
can use the buttons on the command bar to move only the parts you select (A), or
the selected part and its dependent parts (B).

Note
The Move Exploded Part command cannot reorder parts in an exploded
view by moving a part past any adjacent parts.

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 Exploding assemblies

When you select a part to move, an orientation triad is displayed with the
original explode vector axis highlighted. To offset the parts in a new direction,
select one of the other axes, or use the options on the command bar to reorient
the triad to define the vector you want.

When you offset the part in a new direction, a joggle is added to the part and a
new explode event is added to the Explode PathFinder tab.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Repositioning Parts
The Reposition command allows you to change the order of a part in an exploded
view. To reposition a part, select the part you want to reposition (A), then
highlight a reference part (B) in the explosion. An arrow is displayed to indicate
where the part will be repositioned. If that is not the correct position, highlight
a different reference part. You can reposition a part by placing it into a new
position in its original explode vector or into the explode vector of another group
of parts.

When you reposition a part, the spacing of adjacent parts is adjusted. You can
also reposition all the parts in a bound subassembly.

Collapsing Parts
The Collapse command allows you to quickly return a part to its original
assembly position relative to its parent part, but still show it in the exploded
view.

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 Exploding assemblies

Removing Parts
The Remove command allows you to hide a part in the exploded view. When
you remove a part, it is returned to its original, unexploded assembly position.
You can re-display it using PathFinder.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Flow Lines
Flow lines are used between the parts in an exploded view to represent how the
parts are related to one another. You control the display of flow lines and flow line
terminators in an exploded view using the Flow Lines and Flow Line Terminators
commands on the Home tab.
There are two types of flow lines, event flow lines and annotation flow lines. Event
flow lines and annotation flow lines. Event flow lines are created using the explode
commands and show the path the assembly components follow during an explode
event in an animation.
Annotation flow lines are used to create exploded views for draft documents. The
Event flow lines can be dropped, which converts them into annotation flow lines, and
creates an individual entry in the explode pathfinder for each flow line. Annotation
flow lines can be added or modified to create the desired exploded view.
Once you have completed placing annotation flow lines on an exploded view, a display
configuration must be saved in order to place the exploded view on a drawing sheet.

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 Exploding assemblies

Editing Event Flow Lines

You can edit the length of an end segment of a flow line (A), or the position of a
joggle segment (B) of a flow line using the Modify command, or by using the drag
component command.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Editing Annotation Flow Lines

Annotation flow lines can also be edited with the Modify command. Annotation
flow lines can be modified by dragging the handles and using key points on
destination geometry to determine the length of the flow line.

Displaying and Hiding Individual Flow Lines

You can also display or hide the flow line between two parts using the explode
pathfinder to show or hide the flow lines. The flow line command will turn on or
off the display of flow lines. The flow line terminator command will turn on or off
the display of the arrowheads at the end of each flow line.
Note
You can only select individual flow lines in the graphic window with the
Edit Flow Lines command or in the Explode Pathfinder tab with the
Select Tool.

Deleting Flow Line Segments

For event flow lines, you cannot delete the first or last segments of a flow line, but
you can delete the joggle segment of a flow line using the Explode PathFinder
tab. For annotation flow lines, you can delete segments or complete flow lines
using the modify command.

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 Exploding assemblies

Explode PathFinder Tab

The Explode PathFinder tab on PathFinder displays the structure for the current
exploded view configuration in a hierarchal list. As discussed previously, the
operations you perform while creating an exploded view are captured as events and
displayed in the Explode PathFinder tab.

You can use the Explode PathFinder tab to review and modify explode operations.
For example, you can move an explode Group to another position in the explode
structure, add and remove parts from Event Groups, edit the linear or rotational
offset values of an explode event and so forth.

Editing Explosion Offset Distance and Angle

You can use the Select Tool to edit the offset distance or rotation angle for one or
more explode events. You can select a single event in the Explode PathFinder tab, or
multiple events by selecting one or more parts in the graphic window.
Editing Single Events
When you select an explode event entry in the Explode PathFinder tab, the
current offset distance or rotational angle is displayed on the command bar. You
can type a new value to change the distance or angle.

Editing Multiple Events for a Single Part

When a single part has multiple linear offset events, such as for a part with a
joggled flow line, you can change all the linear distance values to a common value
in one operation. Select the part in the graphic window, then type a value in the
Distance box on the command bar. The Distance box on the command bar will be
blank the first time you do this. Only linear distance events are recognized.

Editing Multiple Events for Multiple Parts

You can also define a common linear offset value for multiple parts in one
operation. Drag a box around the parts with the Select Tool, then type a value in
the Distance box. Again, only linear distance events are recognized.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Saving Exploded Display Configurations

You can use the Display Configurations command on the Home tab to save the
display configuration of an exploded view so you can recall it later. When you
save an exploded view configuration, the set of explode operations used to create
the exploded view is captured and saved. When you activate an exploded view
configuration, the Explode PathFinder tab updates to list the captured operations
for the current configuration.
You can also use exploded display configurations when creating drawings and
technical documents of exploded assemblies, and when creating animations of
exploded assemblies using the Animation Editor command on the Home tab.

Creating Multiple Exploded Views

If you need to create several drawings or animations of the same assembly, but with
different parts displayed or the parts displayed in different positions, you can save
additional exploded display configurations. After you have saved an exploded display
configuration, you can use the Unexplode command on the Edit menu to reassemble
the parts so you can start a new exploded view.

Using Assembly Display Configurations

You can use display configurations of regular assembly windows to control the
display status of parts in an exploded view. For example, when you apply an
assembly display configuration which has a hidden subassembly, the subassembly is
also hidden in the exploded view. The exploded positions of the parts are not changed.

Animating Exploded Views

You can use the Animation Editor command to create an animation of an exploded
view. The Animation Editor tool has options that allow you to specify the explode
configuration, initial state, speed, and animation order. For more information, see
the Creating Assembly Animations Help topic.

Creating Drawings of Exploded Views

When creating a drawing of an assembly in the Draft environment, you can specify
an exploded view configuration name on the Drawing View Wizard to create a
drawing view of an assembly explosion. You can also use the Create Drawing
command on the Application menu under the New command in the main Assembly
environment to create a drawing of an assembly explosion.
Note
The Create Drawing command is not available when working in the
Explode-Render-Animate application.

Flow Lines in Exploded Assembly Drawings

When you create drawings of assembly explosions, the flow lines are automatically
displayed in the drawing views. You can specify whether flow lines are displayed in a
drawing view using the Annotation tab on the Drawing View Properties dialog box.
You can also modify the display of the flow lines using the Draw in View command
on the shortcut menu.

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 Exploding assemblies

Automatic Explode command

Explodes the active assembly by applying a spread distance between parts.

The Automatic Explode command explodes assemblies based on the relationships

applied between parts. In assemblies where the components are positioned using
mate or axial align relationships, the Automatic Explode command quickly gives you
excellent results.
Note
You cannot use this command to explode grounded parts or pipe components.

Steps
The basic steps for automatically exploding an assembly are:
• Specifying the components to explode.

• Defining the explode settings.

Specifying the components

You can use the Select option on the command bar to specify whether all the
parts and subassemblies in the assembly are exploded or only the subassemblies
you select are exploded. When you explode selected subassemblies, you can select
the subassemblies in the graphics window or the Assembly PathFinder tab.

Defining the explode settings

You can use the options on the command bar and the Automatic Explode Options
dialog box to specify how the components are exploded. For example, you can
specify whether the spread distance between parts is calculated automatically,
or you can specify the spread distance yourself.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

When exploding an assembly that contains subassemblies, you can specify

how the parts in the subassemblies are exploded using the Automatic Explode
Options dialog box.

Calculating spread distance

The Automatic Spread Distance button on the command bar allows you to specify
whether the spread distance between parts is calculated automatically by the
Automatic Explode command, or that you want to specify the spread distance
yourself.
• To have the spread distance calculated automatically, set the Automatic Spread
Distance option.

• To specify the spread distance yourself, clear the Automatic Spread Distance
option, then type the value you want in the Distance box.

When defining the spread distance yourself, you can type the value you want, then
click the Explode button to see the result. To try another spread distance, type a new
value, then click the Explode button again.

Binding subassemblies
When using the Automatic Explode command on an assembly that contains
subassemblies, you can specify whether the parts in subassemblies are exploded (A)
or the parts in subassemblies are grouped together as a single unit (B). To keep the
parts in the subassemblies grouped together, set the Bind All Subassemblies option
on the Automatic Explode Options dialog box.

If you want to explode the parts in some subassemblies (A), but not others (B), you
can use the Bind Subassembly command to select the subassemblies you want to
remain a single unit when exploded.

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 Exploding assemblies

First, select the subassemblies in Assembly PathFinder, then click the Bind
Subassembly command. A symbol is added adjacent to the subassembly entry in
Assembly PathFinder to indicate that the subassembly is bound.
You can then clear the Bind All Subassemblies option on the Automatic Explode
Options dialog box, and only the bound subassemblies you selected remain a single
unit when you complete the command.
If you want to explode the subassembly later, you can use the Unbind Subassembly
command to unbind the subassembly.

Explode technique
The Explode Technique option on the Automatic Explode Options dialog box allows
you to specify whether the subassembly is considered or ignored when creating
the explosion.
The By Subassembly Level option specifies that each subassembly is considered as a
unique explosion. This keeps the parts in a subassembly adjacent to one another as
they are exploded (A).
The By Individual Part option specifies that the subassembly structure is ignored
when the parts are exploded. The parts are exploded based on their proximity to
one another. This can result in parts in separate subassemblies being intermingled
with one another. (B) This option duplicates the behavior used prior to version
19 of Solid Edge.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Explode PathFinder tab

The Explode PathFinder tab on PathFinder lists the explode operations in the
order you perform them. You can use the Explode PathFinder tab to review and
modify explode operations. When you save explode configurations, each explode
configuration captures a separate set of explode operations. When you activate an
explode configuration, the Explode PathFinder tab updates to list the operations
captured for that configuration.

Grounded parts
The Automatic Explode command cannot explode parts that are grounded. For
example, when you create a new part within the context of the assembly using the
Create In-Place option, the part is positioned using a ground relationship. You can
use the Explode command to manually explode a grounded part, or you can delete
the ground relationship, then position the part using assembly relationships, such
as mate and align.

Bind Subassembly command

Groups the parts in a subassembly so they will explode as a single unit when using
the Automatic Explode or Explode commands. To bind a subassembly, you must
first select it using PathFinder.
A symbol is added adjacent to the subassembly entry in PathFinder to indicate
that the subassembly is bound. You can use the Unbind Subassembly command to
unbind a subassembly.

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 Exploding assemblies

Unbind Subassembly command

Ungroups a subassembly that was grouped using the Bind Subassembly command.

Explode command
Explodes one or more parts in a specified direction. The parts (A) selected for
explosion are offset along an explode vector you define by selecting a face or reference
plane on a base or reference part (B).

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

You can manually explode a single part, multiple parts, and bound subassemblies.
You define the offset distance using the Distance box on the command bar.
Note
Parts that were exploded with the Automatic Explode command can be
re-exploded along a different explode vector using this command.

Steps
The basic steps for manually exploding parts are:
• Select the parts to explode.

• Select the base part.

• Select a face or reference plane on the base part.

• Specify the explode direction.

Exploding Multiple Parts

When you select multiple parts to explode in one operation, you can use the Manual
Explode Options dialog box to specify whether the parts are spread out evenly, or
that the parts are moved as a single unit.
Spreading Components Evenly
When you set the Spread Components Evenly option, you can use the Manual
Explode Options dialog box to define the explode order you want. You can select
one or more parts in the Explode Order list, then use the Move Up and Move
Down buttons on the dialog box to define the explode order you want. When you
select a part in the list, it highlights in the graphic window. This allows you to
reorder the parts as you explode them.

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 Exploding assemblies

Moving as a Single Unit

When you set the Move Components as a Single Unit option, the current relative
position of the set of parts is maintained, and they are relocated along the
explode vector you defined.

Exploding Bound Subassemblies

When you select a bound subassembly to explode, it is exploded as a single unit. In
other words, the components within the subassembly are not spread out.
Explode command bar
Manual Explode Options dialog box

Collapse command
Returns an exploded part to its original assembly position relative to its parent part.

You can collapse several parts in one operation by holding the Shift key and selecting
the parts you want to collapse. If you select a part that is a component in a bound
subassembly, the entire subassembly is collapsed.
When you collapse a part, the flow line for the part is deleted.

Explode PathFinder tab

Provides alternate ways of viewing and editing an exploded assembly. The Explode
PathFinder tab displays the structure for the current exploded view configuration in
a hierarchical list. The Explode PathFinder tab helps you work with the components
that make up an exploded view.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

This allows you to view the structure and perform edit operations on the current
exploded view configuration. Some of the operations you can perform include:
• You can select an explode event, then edit the offset or rotational value using
the command bar.

• You can use the commands on the shortcut menu to show and hide parts, collapse
parts, show and hide flow lines, and so forth.

• You can add and remove parts from explode Groups and Event Groups. This is
useful when working with animations.

The following table explains the symbols used in Explode PathFinder:

Legend
Part
Assembly
Group
Event Group
Linear Event
Rotational Event
Moved Parts
Unexploded Parts

Explode groups and event groups

The way the parts and subassemblies are arranged in the Explode PathFinder
tab is based on the operations you performed to create the exploded view. These
operations, or events, are collected into one or more explode operation collections
in Explode PathFinder.

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 Exploding assemblies

There are two types of explode operation collections: Groups and Event Groups. The
groups and event groups are created automatically as part of the explosion creation
process, but you can edit them later.
Groups
A Group collects all the parts and subassemblies that participate in a common
explode vector. It is possible for a group collector to have additional groups nested
within it. For example, if one part in the explode vector has parts branching off
into a different explode vector, the branched parts will be in a group nested
within the main group. The components within a group animate sequentially.

Event Groups
An Event Group collects all the components that will move simultaneously in an
animation. For example, a pattern of fasteners would typically be in an Event
Group. You can add parts to and remove parts from an event group.

Explode PathFinder and the graphics window

Similar to the PathFinder tab in an assembly, when you select an entry in Explode
PathFinder, the associated parts highlight in the graphics window. For example, if
you select a Group entry in Explode PathFinder, the parts associated with that
entry highlight in the graphic window.

If you select a part in the graphics window, a box is displayed in Explode PathFinder
to indicate where in the exploded view tree structure the selected part is located.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Explode configurations and explode events

When you save an exploded view configuration, each explode configuration captures
a separate set of explode events. When you activate an exploded view configuration,
the Explode PathFinder tab updates to list the events captured for the current
configuration.

Adding and removing parts from event groups

You can add and remove parts from an Event Group to control which parts move
simultaneously during an assembly animation. The Add To Event Group and
Remove From Event Group shortcut menu commands in the Explode PathFinder
tab allow you to make these types of changes. For example, you may want all the
fasteners in an assembly to animate at one time, even though the results of the
Automatic Explode command placed them in different explode event groups.
Note
The Add To Event Group and Remove From Event Group commands are not
available when the Animation Editor is displayed.

For more information on assembly animations, see the Creating Assembly

Animations Help topic.

Reordering groups
You can change the order of an explode Group, but not an Event Group using the
Explode PathFinder tab. This allows you to change the sequential order in which the
parts move in an assembly animation.

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 Exploding assemblies

Use the Select Tool to drag and drop an explode Group to a different location.
Explode PathFinder displays a symbol to show where you can reposition the Group
in the explode structure. The symbol changes if you drag the Group to an invalid
location in the explode structure.

Display Configurations command

Saves, applies, or deletes a display configuration of an assembly. A display
configuration captures the display status of the parts, assemblies, assembly sketches,
weld beads, and reference planes in an assembly.
Using display configurations can be useful when working with large assemblies.
To apply a saved configuration, you can also use the Configuration drop list on the
Home tab®Configurations group.
You can apply display configurations that were defined in the current assembly,
or display configurations that were defined in a subassembly. To apply a display
configuration defined in a subassembly, you must select the subassembly first.
For more information, see the Using display configurations and Working with large
assemblies efficiently Help topics.

Display Configuration Options dialog box

Fit View After Apply
Fits the view after the display configuration is applied.
List exploded configuration in modeling mode when applied.
Options for displaying exploded configurations outside of Explode Render
Animate environment:
Prompt For Action
Gives you the choice to apply display settings only, or enter the ERA
environment.
Apply Display Settings Only
Applies the display settings which are not unique to the ERA environment
without entering ERA.
Switch to ERA and Explode
Switches to the ERA environment and applies the saved display
configuration settings.

Use Single Default Configuration

Creates a Solid Edge default configuration rather than a default configuration
associated with a user name.
Apply Activation Override
Allows you to specify how you want to apply the display configuration. When this
option is set, you can specify whether the parts in the assembly are activated
or inactivated when you apply the display configuration. When this option is

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

cleared, the active or inactive status of the parts is determined by their status
when the configuration was saved.
Activate All Parts
Specifies that all parts in the assembly become active when you apply the
configuration.
Inactivate All Parts
Specifies that all parts in the assembly become inactive when you apply
the configuration.
Maintain Current State
Specifies that the current activation state (inactive or active) of the parts in
the assembly is not changed when you apply a display configuration. Setting
this option improves performance when working with large assemblies.
When you apply a display configuration from the Select Tool command bar,
the current dialog box setting is honored. If you want to change the current
activation or override setting when applying a display configuration, you
must apply the configuration using the Display Configurations dialog box.

Apply Simplify Override

Allows you to specify how you want to apply the display configuration. When this
option is set, you can specify whether the parts in the assembly are simplified or
designed when you apply the display configuration. When this option is cleared,
the simplified or designed status of the parts is determined by their status when
the configuration was saved.
Use All Simplified Parts (When Available)
Specifies that the simplified version of parts is used when you apply the
configuration.
Use All Design Parts
Specifies that the designed version of parts is used when you apply the
configuration.
Maintain Current State
Specifies that the current simplified state (simplified or as designed)
of the parts in the assembly is not changed when you apply a display
configuration. Setting this option improves performance when working with
large assemblies.
When you apply a display configuration from the Select Tool command bar,
the current dialog box setting is honored. If you want to change the current
activation or override setting when applying a display configuration, you
must apply the configuration using the Display Configurations dialog box.

Move Part command

Moves or rotates parts in an exploded view in an assembly. You can use this
command to do the following:
• Move one or more parts along the original explode vector or a new vector you
define.

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 Exploding assemblies

• Rotate one or more parts along the original explode vector or a new vector you
define.

• Move one or more parts within a plane you define.

You can move or rotate a single part, a set of parts, or a part and all its dependent
parts. The same basic steps apply whether you are moving, rotating, or moving
within a plane.

Moving parts along the original explode vector

• To move a single part: select the part, then drag it to the new location.

• To move a set of parts: select the parts, then click the Accept (check mark)
button on the command bar.

When you click the Accept button, an orientation triad is displayed, with the
X-axis oriented to the explode vector. By default, the original explode vector axis
is selected. Drag the cursor to move the set of parts to the new location.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

• To move a part and all its dependent parts: set the Move Dependent Parts option
on the command bar, then select the part you want to move. The part and all
its dependent parts highlight. When you click the Accept button, an orientation
triad is displayed. By default, the original explode vector axis is selected. Drag
the cursor to move the set of parts to the new location.

Moving parts along a different explode vector

To move one or more parts along a different explode vector, first define the select
set of parts. For example, you can use the command bar to specify that you want to

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 Exploding assemblies

move a part and all its dependent parts. After you click the Accept button, position
the cursor over the triad axis you want to move along, then drag the cursor. A joggle
is added to the flow line automatically. When you offset the part in a new direction, a
new explode event is added to the Explode PathFinder tab.

When parts have been moved outside of their original explode vector, you can also
move them back into their original explode vector. Select the parts you want to move,
select the proper axis, then drag the parts back to the original explode vector. When
you get close to the original explode vector, the parts will automatically lock into the
original vector. The joggle segment will be automatically removed.

Rotating parts
To rotate one more parts, first set the Rotate option on the command bar. Define the
select set of parts, then position the cursor over the axis you want to rotate about,
and then drag the cursor to the new location.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Moving parts within a plane

To move one or more parts within a plane, first set the Move Planar option on the
command bar. Define the parts you want to move (A), then define the plane you want
to move the parts within. The movement plane is defined by the X axis (B) and
another axis you select. For example, you can move a part within the plane defined
by the X axis and Z axis (C). Then drag the cursor to the new location (D).

With the Move Planar option, parts are typically moved outside of the original
explode vector axis. If so, a joggle is added to the flow line.

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 Exploding assemblies

For additional information on working with exploded views, see the Creating
Exploded Views of Assemblies and Explode PathFinder tab Help topics.
Move Exploded Part command bar

Remove command (Explode application)

Hides the selected part in the exploded view and returns the part to its unexploded
assembly position.

You can remove several parts in one operation by holding the Shift key and selecting
the parts you want to remove. If you select a part that is a component in a bound
subassembly, the entire subassembly is removed.
You can use the PathFinder tab to re-display the parts later.

Reposition command
Repositions a part with respect to another reference part in an exploded view.
This can be useful when you want to change the position of a part after using the
Automatic Explode command.
To reposition a part, select the part you want to reposition (A), then position the
cursor over the reference part (B). The reference part highlights, and an arrow

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

is displayed on the reference part to indicate which side of the reference part the
selected part will be repositioned to.

If the arrow does not point in the direction you want, highlight a different reference
part. If the reference part is the last part in an explode vector sequence, a dynamic
arrow is displayed to indicate that you can choose the side of reference part where
you want to reposition the selected part.
If the part you select is within a bound subassembly (A), all the parts in the
subassembly will be repositioned (B).

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 Exploding assemblies

You use this command to change the order in which the parts are exploded. To
relocate a part without changing its order, you can use the Move Exploded Part
command.
Reposition command bar

Explosion Properties dialog box

Configuration
Specifies which explode configuration you want to use.
Use Explode From Configuration
Lists the existing exploded view configurations you can use in an animation.
You can specify one exploded view configuration for an animation.

Speed
Specifies the speed you want to use.
Common Velocity for All Parts
Specifies that the same velocity is used for all parts. You can type a value.
Explosion Duration
Specifies that you want to type a value in seconds for each explode event.

Animation Order
Specifies how you want the animation to start.
Innermost First
Specifies that you want to start the animation by moving the innermost
parts first.
Outermost First
Specifies that you want to start the animation by moving the outermost
parts first.

Initial State
Specifies whether you want to start the animation with the parts collapsed or
expanded.
Collapsed
Specifies that the animation starts with the parts collapsed.
Expanded
Specifies that the animation starts with the parts expanded.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Activity: Explode
Activity objectives
In this activity, you will use the Explode-Render-Animate application to explode an
assembly. In this activity, you will accomplish the following:
• Use the Manual Explode command to order and sequence the events of an
explosion.

• Define the distances and directions of exploding parts along a time line.

• Group parts and subassemblies and control how they behave during and
explosion and when they explode.

• Creating an animation time line to be used in an animation sequence.

• Use the Automatic Explode command to begin an exploding sequence.

Turn to appendix A for the activity: Exploding an assembly.

Lesson review
Answer the following questions:
1. Where are exploded views stored?

2. Name two methods of binding a subassembly during an explosion?

3. How can explode events be moved to other explode groups?

4. Why would you use manual explode rather than auto explode?

5. What type of flow lines are created with the auto explode command?

Answers
1. Where are exploded views stored?
Exploded views are stored as a display configuration. Display configurations are
stored in .cfg files usually having the same name as the assembly document.

2. Name two methods of binding a subassembly during an explosion?

Subassemblies can be bound either using the explode options, or by forcing
an assembly to stay bound by using the bind assembly command. Pathfinder
graphically shows which assemblies are bound.

3. How can explode events be moved to other explode groups?

After selecting the explode events from explode pathfinder, right click and
remove the explode events from the current explode group. Use the same
procedure to add the events to a different group.

4. Why would you use manual explode rather than auto explode?

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 Exploding assemblies

Manual explode positions assembly components based on which assembly

relationships used to place the components. Sometimes the results do not convey
the intended results. By using the manual explode command, you can control
the placement of exploded assembly components. This can be done after the
auto explode command has finished.

5. What type of flow lines are created with the auto explode command?
Event flow lines are created with the auto explode command. Event flow lines
are used to create animations of exploded parts and will show up in draft
documents. They are stored in a display configuration.

Lesson summary
In this lesson, you used the Explode-Render-Animate application to explode an
assembly. You accomplished the following:
• Used the Auto Explode command to begin an exploding sequence.

• Defined the distances and directions of exploding parts along a time line.

• Used the manual Explode command to order and sequence the events of an
explosion.

• Grouped parts and subassemblies and controlled how they behave during and
explosion and when they explode.

• Created an animation time line to be used in an animation sequence.

Flow Lines command

Displays or hides all the flow lines between exploded parts.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Modify command
Edits a flow line between two exploded parts. You can make the following types of
changes to a flow line:
• You can change the length of a flow line by editing the end point position of
either end of the flow line.

• You can change the location of a joggle segment on a flow line.

• You change the location of the entire flow line.

Changing Flow Line Length

You change the length of the flow line by selecting it at the end you want to edit (A),
then drag the cursor to the new position you want (B).

Changing Joggle Segment Position

If the Move Exploded Part command is used to move the part outside of the original
explode vector, a joggle is added to the flow line. You can use the Edit Flow Lines
command to drag the joggle segment (A) to a new position (B).

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 Exploding assemblies

Flow Line Handles

An event flow line mid-segment, or joggle, can be modified by dragging the handle
(A). An annotation flow line can be modified by dragging either of the handles shown
(B), and can be split (C) if needed.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

Changing Flow Line Location

The location and length of a flow line is determined automatically by using the range
box of the parent and child parts. The flow line terminator end originates at the
center of the range box on the parent part. (A) The range box is the theoretical 3D
envelope that the solid body is contained within. For some parts, you may want to
change the flow line location.

To relocate an entire flow line, click near one end of the flow line (A), then click an
edge or face that you want to connect that end of the flow line to (B).

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 Exploding assemblies

The flow line position is updated (A). You may also want to change the flow line length
so you can better view the flow line terminator (B) in the current view orientation.

Other Flow Line Operations

You can also perform the following actions on flow lines:
• To display or hide flow line terminators, set or clear the Flow Line Terminators
command on the View menu.

• To display or hide all flow lines, set or clear the Flow Lines command on the
View menu.

• To display or hide an individual flow line, select the part in the graphic window
or PathFinder, then click the Show Flow Lines or Hide Flow Lines commands
on the shortcut menu.

• To delete a joggle segment on a flow line, select the proper event in the Explode
PathFinder tab, then click the Delete command on the shortcut menu. This has
the same effect as using the Move Exploded Part command to move the part
back within an earlier explode vector.

• When you collapse a part with the Collapse command, the flow line is deleted.

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Lesson 3 Exploding assemblies

The Show Flow Lines and Hide Flow Lines commands are also available on the
shortcut menu when you select an explode event in the Explode PathFinder tab.
Note
You can only select flow lines in the graphics window with the Edit Flow Lines
command, or in the Explode Pathfinder tab with the Select Tool.

Edit Flow Lines command bar

Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

Activity objectives
In this activity, you will accomplish the following:
• Modify event flow lines.

• Create and modify annotation flow lines.

• Delete annotation flow lines.

• Split annotation flow lines and then modify them.

• Place an exploded view on a drawing sheet.

Turn to appendix B for the activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly.

Lesson review
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the difference between an event flow line and an annotation flow line?

2. Can annotation flow lines be stored in a display configuration?

3. Can annotation flow be split and segments modified?

Answers
1. What is the difference between an event flow line and an annotation flow line?
Event flow lines control animation explode events, and are created with the
explode commands. Dropping the flow lines changes then into annotation flow
lines which can be used in the draft environment.

2. Can annotation flow lines be stored in a display configuration?

Annotation flow lines must be stored in a display configuration to late be placed
on a drawing sheet.

3. Can annotation flow be split and segments modified?

Annotation flow lines can be split into segments and each segment dragged
to a new position.

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 Exploding assemblies

Lesson summary
In this lesson you learned that event flow lines, which control animation events can
be changed into annotation flow lines for better assembly annotation of exploded
views. As an annotation flow line, they are easily modified to produce high quality
exploded views of an assembly.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies 3-39

 A Activity: Exploding an assembly

Step 1
In this activity you open an assembly and enter the Explode-Render-Animate
application. You use the automatic explode command to create an exploding time
line used to animate the explosion. Once the initial explosions are created, you use
the manual explode command to group parts and subassemblies, and to sequence the
explosion and define the behavior of the parts as they explode.
You enter the Explode-Render-Animate application and explode the assembly using
the Auto Explode command. You explode the assembly with the bind subassemblies
option set. After the command is finished, you examine the results, and then use the
Unexplode command to reset the assembly.
Note
When using the Auto Explode command, the results are dependent on several
factors. Relationships used in building the assembly determine how the Auto
Explode command behaves. Parts positioned with an axial align will explode
away from the adjacent part in the direction of the axis. The same parts
that can be positioned with an axial align, can also be positioned with mate,
and planar align, however how these parts explode using the auto explode
command may not be as desired.
The behavior of subassemblies using the Auto Explode command can be
defined. Subassembly parts can be bound together as a group causing it
behave as if it is a single part, or the subassembly can be exploded into its
constituent parts.
For the Auto Explode command to give desirable and predictable results, you
must consider which relationships to use during the process of positioning
parts in the assembly.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-1

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Open the assembly explode.asm with all the parts active.

▸ In PathFinder, observe the relationships and grouping of parts in subassemblies

that were used to create the assembly. These relationships and subassemblies
will be used in the auto explode command.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ On the ribbon, choose Tools tab®Environs group®ERA .

▸ On the ribbon, choose Home tab®Explode group®Auto Explode .

▸ On the Auto Explode command bar, select Top level assembly, and then click
the Accept button.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-3

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Click Automatic Explode Options.

▸ In the Automatic Explode Options dialog box, select Bind all subassemblies. Set
the Explode Technique to By subassembly level and click OK.

▸ On the command bar, click Explode, click Finish and then click Cancel. The
results are shown.

Examine the results. The parts that were in the top level of the assembly
exploded, and the subassemblies stayed intact.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Click the Explode PathFinder tab and observe the grouping. The display shows
that the subassemblies are bound and behave as if they were a single part.

Note
If PathFinder does not contain the tab you are looking for, such as Explode
PathFinder, Parts Library, or Alternate Assemblies, you can display it by
doing either of the following:

• Choose View tab®Show group®Panes , and then select the tab

name from the menu.

• In any of the other open docking windows, such as the Layers tab
or the Sensors tab, click the Display Docking Window Menu button
, and then select the tab name.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-5

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Expand some of the parts and observe the offset values. The Explode PathFinder
allows you to modify events and parameters that define the explosion.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select Group 2 in the Explode PathFinder, and in the command bar enter 15
mm for the explode Distance, and then press Enter. This will set a uniform
explosion distance.

Note
If you exit the Explode-Render-Animate application, or use the Unexplode
command to collapse the explosion without saving a display configuration, any
information about the explosion is lost.

▸ Choose the Home tab®Configurations group®Display Configurations command

.

▸ Click New to create a new configuration, type exp01, and then click OK. Click
Close.

▸ Click the Unexplode command to restore the assembly to the unexploded

state. When asked to delete the current explosion, click Yes.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

Step 2
Explode the assembly with the bind subassemblies option turned off.
▸ Click the Auto Explode command.

▸ Select Top-level assembly and click the Accept button.

▸ Click the Automatic Explode Options button.

▸ Deselect Bind all subassemblies and click OK.

A-8 Exploding assemblies spse01691

 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ On the command bar, click Explode, click Finish and then click Cancel The
results are shown.

Examine the results. All the parts exploded as if they were in the top level
assembly.

▸ Click the Display Configurations command .

▸ Click New to create a new configuration, and enter exp02, and then click OK.
Click Close.

▸ Click the Unexplode command to restore the assembly to the unexploded

state. When asked to delete the current explosion, click Yes.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

Step 3
Bind the clock hand subassemblies so that they do not explode, and repeat the Auto
Explode command.
▸ In PathFinder, select the subassemblies defining the clock hands.

▸ Click the Home tab®Modify group®Bind command .

▸ Notice the display in PathFinder has changed to indicate the subassemblies

are bound.

Note
If you need to unbind a subassembly, select the subassembly and click

the Unbind command .

▸ Repeat the Auto Explode command with Bind all subassemblies turned off.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Click Explode, click Finish and then click Cancel. The results are shown.

Examine the results. All the parts exploded as if they were in the top level
assembly except the clock hands.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ You will reposition the parts e_glass.par and e_SE_face.par in the explosion.

Choose the Home tab®Modify group®Reposition command .

▸ Select e_glass as the part to reposition.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select G07_60_15.par as the part to place the part next to.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-13

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select the side away from the clock housing to place the part.

Note
The flow line retains its length and may be longer than desired.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Reposition the part e_SE_face.par by repeating the steps above. The part to
place the part next to will be e_glass.par. The direction is towards the clock body.
This positions the face between the glass and the rest of the clock.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-15

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Click the Select command and in the Explode PathFinder, find e_glass.par and
e_SE_face.par and set the offset distance to 30 mm.

▸ Click the Display Configurations command .

▸ Click New, enter exp03, and then click Save. Click Close.

▸ Click the Unexplode command to restore the assembly to the unexploded

state. When asked to delete the current explosion, click Yes.

Step 4
Use the Auto Explode command with the Subassembly option set. This is the first
step in creating the final explosion. After the automatic explosion, use the manual
Explode command to further control the events in the explosion.
▸ Click the Auto Explode command.

▸ On the Auto Explode command bar, select Subassembly. Select e_housing.asm,

and then click the Accept button.

▸ Click the Automatic Explode Options button .

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select Bind all subassemblies. Set the Explode Technique to By subassembly

level and click OK.

▸ Click the Automatic Spread Distance button and enter a value of 15 mm.

▸ Click Explode, click Finish and then click Cancel. The results are shown.

Examine the results. Only the subassembly chosen exploded.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

Step 5
Now use the manual Explode command to refine the explosion events.

▸ Choose Home tab®Explode group®Explode .

▸ In PathFinder, in the subassembly e_housing.asm, select e_feltpad.par, and then

click Accept. This part is on the bottom of the housing and is positioned using a
ground relationship. You will explode it in the same direction as the foot pads.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select the e_case.par as the stationary part.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-19

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select the bottom face of e_case.par as the stationary part face to explode from.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select down as the direction to explode.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-21

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Set the offset distance to 35 mm and then click Explode. Click Finish, then
click Cancel.

Step 6
Using the manual Explode command, move the gears as a group. Gears will be
placed between the clock housing and the circular back plane that is used to position
the gears in the clock. You first need to correct the spread distance between the
housing and the back to make room for the gears.
▸ In the Explode PathFinder, select the Event 1 in e_back.par and change the
distance to 60.00 mm.

▸ Click the Explode command .

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ In PathFinder, select all the gears and the subassemblies that define the clock
hands, and then click Accept.

▸ Select e_back.par as the part to remain stationary.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-23

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select the circular face shown as the stationary face from which to explode.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select the direction shown as the explosion direction.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-25

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Set the parameters shown, then click OK.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Enter a distance of 25 mm and then click Explode, click Finish, then click Cancel.

▸ Click the Display Configurations command .

▸ Click New, and enter exp04. Then click OK. Click Close.

Note
You will overwrite this configuration at a later time. It is good practice to
incrementally save the exploded views in case you need to revert back to
the point at which you saved.

Step 7
Use the Move Exploded Part command to reposition a portion of the explosion.

▸ Choose Home tab®Modify group®Drag Component .

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ From the Explode PathFinder, select e_back.par, and then click Accept on the
Drag Component command bar.

▸ On the command bar, select Move .

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Drag the Z axis vertically.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-29

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Position the parts as shown.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ The result is shown.

▸ Choose the Select command, and in the Explode PathFinder, select the event you
just created. The vertical flow line will highlight. Set the distance to 50 mm,
and then click OK.

▸ Click the Drag Component command .

spse01691 Exploding assemblies A-31

A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select e_backplate.par, and then click Accept.

▸ On the command bar, select Rotate .

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Enter 45o as the angle to rotate about the Y axis. The results are shown.

▸ In the Configuration group on the ribbon, click Save Display Configuration.

Note
The Save Display Configuration command saves the changes to the
configuration name that is currently displayed on the ribbon. This is a
quick way to save a configuration.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

Step 8
Animate the explosion.
Note
Creating an animation of an exploded view is the only portion of the animate
command covered in this activity.

▸ Choose Home tab®Animate group®Animation Editor .

▸ Examine the Animation Editor.

The right pane is the time line for each of the animation events. A motor was
previously defined in this assembly. Controls for playing the animation are
displayed.

The left pane displays the animation events, and the right pane displays the
event duration bars. These can be used to define and sequence the events of
the animation.

▸ Click Animation Properties.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Set the values as shown, and then click OK.

▸ Right-click the Explosion event, and then click Edit Definition.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Set the parameters as shown.

• Initial State: Exploded.

• Speed: Explosion duration 5 seconds per event.

• Animation Order: Innermost first.

Click OK.

▸ The explosion events are populated in the left pane.

Note
During an animation, you can zoom and pan. It is good practice to
arrange the display window before the animation to fit the animation
in the view. To do this, choose the View tab®Window group®Arrange,
and then choose Horizontal.

▸ Click Play on the animation controls and observe the explosion.

▸ When the explosion is complete, click Stop on the animation controls.

▸ Click Go to Start on the animation controls.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Now change the sequence of the explosion. Right-click the explosion event, and
then click Edit Definition.

▸ Set the parameters as shown.

• Initial state: Collapsed.

• Animation order: Innermost first.

Click OK.

▸ Click Play on the animation controls and observe the explosion.

▸ When the explosion is complete, click Stop on the animation controls.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Click Go to Start on the animation controls.

▸ Now change the sequence of the explosion. Right-click the explosion event, and
then click Edit Definition.

▸ Set the parameters as shown.

• Initial state: Collapsed.

• Animation order: Outermost first.

Click OK.

▸ Click Play on the animation controls and observe the explosion.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ When the explosion is complete, click Stop on the animation controls.

▸ Click Go to Start on the animation controls.

▸ To exit the Animation Editor, click the Animation Editor command again. Click
Yes to save the changes to the current animation.

Step 9
To get all the fasteners to explode at the same time, move all the fasteners into the
same event group for animation purposes.
▸ In the Explode PathFinder, select the fasteners connecting the footpads
to the bottom of the case. Right-click and select Remove from Event

Group.
Note
The event group that contained these fasteners was dissolved because
it no longer contains any events.

▸ Right-click the fasteners and select Add to Event Group.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Either from Explode PathFinder or in the graphics window, select a fastener in

the group you are adding these fasteners to.

▸ The fasteners now all belong to the same event group.

▸ Click Save Display Configuration.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

Step 10
Replay the animation and observe the behavior of the fasteners now that they are all
in the same event group.

▸ Click the Animation Editor command.

▸ Update the animation with the configuration changes.

▸ Click Play on the animation controls and observe the explosion.

▸ When the explosion is complete, click Stop on the animation controls.

Note
Notice the fasteners exploded simultaneously.

▸ Click Go to End on the animation controls.

Step 11
Add a motion path to the explosion to control movement of the bottom fasteners.

▸ Click the Motion Path command on the animation controls.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Select the bottom fasteners as the components that follow the motion path,
and then click Accept.

▸ Press X on the keyboard as many times as it takes to lock the XY plane as shown.

▸ On the command bar, enter 35 as the frame count.

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 Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ Enter the curve approximately as shown and Accept. Click Finish.

Note
This curve is a free-form 3D space curve locked into the XY plane. Your
results may vary slightly.

▸ Play the animation. Notice the fasteners follow the motion path at the beginning
of the animation.

▸ In the animation time line, drag the motion path event bar to the right as far
as it can go.

▸ Right-click the event bar and check the Properties. These can be modified if
necessary.

▸ Run the animation from the beginning. Notice the fasteners follow the motion
path at the end of the animation rather than the beginning.

▸ Stop the animation and reset to the beginning. Save the changes by clicking
the Save Animation command.

▸ To exit the Animation Editor, click the Animation Editor command.

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A Activity: Exploding an assembly

▸ This completes the activity. Click Close ERA to exit the Explode-Render-Animate
application. Save the assembly.

Activity summary
In this activity, you used the Explode-Render-Animate application to explode an
assembly. You accomplished the following:
• Used the Auto Explode command to begin an exploding sequence.

• Defined the distances and directions of exploding parts along a time line.

• Used the manual Explode command to order and sequence the events of an
explosion.

• Grouped parts and subassemblies and controlled how they behave during and
explosion and when they explode.

• Created an animation time line to be used in an animation sequence.

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 B Activity: Manipulating flow lines
in an exploded assembly

Step 1
In this activity you open an assembly that has an exploded view that was previously
created. The event flow lines will be modified, then converted to annotation flow
lines with the drop command. During this activity, assembly components will be
repositioned along with the flow lines associated with each component.
▸ Open the assembly computer_speaker.asm with all the parts active.

▸ On the tools tab in the environs group, click ERA.

▸ On the home tab in the configurations group, click the display configurations
command.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the configuration named exploded. Click apply and then click close.

Note
The flow lines in this display configuration are event flow lines.

Step 2
The drag component command will be used modify an event flow line.
▸ Click the drag component command.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the assembly component woofer_tube1.par as shown and accept.

▸ Select the Z axis and enter the distance value of 50 mm.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Click the select tool to exit the drag command. The flow line has been modified
as shown.

Step 3
An event flow line will be repositioned.
▸ Click the modify command.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the flow line shown.

▸ Click the handle shown.

spse01691 Exploding assemblies B-5

B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the end point of the line segment shown.

▸ The flow line is moved as shown.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Save the display configuration.

Step 4
Event flow lines will be converted to annotation flow lines.
▸ Observe the explode pathfinder. Event flow lines are not displayed in explode
pathfinder.

▸ Click the drop command.

▸ Observe the explode pathfinder. The event flows lines have been converted to
annotation flow lines.

Note
The event flow lines have not been lost. The event flow lines are stored and
saved in the display configuration that was saved prior to dropping the flow
lines. A display configuration with the annotation flow lines should be saved
with a different display configuration name.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Click the display configurations command.

▸ Click New. Enter annotation then click OK. Click Close

Note
The display configuration containing the annotation flow lines has been
saved.

Step 5
An annotation flow line will be deleted and replaced by a new annotation flow line.
▸ In the explode pathfinder, select flow line 3.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Delete flow line 3.

Note
The deleted flow line was connected to the part grate2_1.par.

▸ Click the drag component command.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select grate2_1.par and accept.

▸ Move the grate2_1.par –300 mm in the Y direction, —100 in the X direction,

and 200 mm in the Z direction.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ A new annotation flow line will be created. Click the draw command.

▸ For the point of the flow line, click the circle shown.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ For the end of the flow line, click the circle shown.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Click the draw previous and draw next buttons to get the result shown. Click
Finish and then click Cancel.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

An annotation flow line is created.

Step 6
An annotation flow line will be repositioned.
▸ Click the modify command.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the segment handle as shown.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Drag the segment to the approximate position shown.

▸ Click the split flow line command.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the flow line shown in the approximate position shown.

▸ Click the modify command.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Select the segment handle as shown.

▸ Drag the segment to the approximate position shown.

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 Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Save the display configuration.

▸ Close ERA and save the assembly.

Step 7
Create a drawing sheet of the exploded view.
▸ Click the Solid Edge Application button. Then click New>Create Drawing. Click
OK when prompted for the default template.

▸ Select the display configuration named annotation in the drawing view wizard.

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B Activity: Manipulating flow lines in an exploded assembly

▸ Place the exploded view on the drawing sheet.

▸ Save and close all files. This completes this activity.

Activity summary
In this activity, you used the Explode-Render-Animate application to accomplish
the following:
• Modify event flow lines.

• Create and modify annotation flow lines.

• Delete annotation flow lines.

• Split annotation flow lines and then modify them.

• Place an exploded view on a drawing sheet.

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