Why Onshape’s Exploded Views Top All Else in CAD

Much of Onshape’s functionality evolved the way it did because our development team had the opportunity to do it from scratch – fueled by the belief that we could deliver a better experience and the confidence that we were solving a solvable problem.

Onshape’s assembly mates are one example of us not replicating the product development tools of the past. We could have implemented mates in assemblies – like we did with constraints in part sketches – using an approach that many existing CAD users would find familiar. However, unlike with sketches, our experience informed us that there had to be a better way.

From our perspective, mating has been far too abstract and complex in other CAD products. So, we implemented mates that are more akin to physical relationships between components than mathematical constraints between geometry.

Onshape’s Reinvention of Exploded Views

Exploded views are another example of how we rethink the traditional approach to CAD as we develop and implement highly requested features. As with the above examples (and configurations, BOMs, sheet metal, and so on), we wanted to take the time to really dig into what an engineer wants from such a tool, how they are going to use it, the changes they will need to make, and what they want to do with exploded views once they have created them.

Here’s a quick overview of what makes Onshape’s exploded views different from anything you’ve seen in other CAD platforms.

Onshape’s exploded views are:

Quick, Efficient, and Understandable

The UI is simple to use with on-screen grab handles for rapid explode step creation and editing.

Built from a Preset Initial Position

Assemblies with motion do not affect the exploded view when parts and subassemblies are moved.

Able to Robustly Handle Errors

Exploded views continue to function when parts and assemblies are changed, deleted, or when different top-level and subassembly configurations are used.

Fully Configurable

Part selection, explode direction, and distance can all be configured with Onshape’s unique Assembly Configurations. This means the same exploded view does not need to be recreated for each configuration, named view, or display state.

Accessible to View-Only Reviewers

Your colleagues and external partners can interrogate exploded views and roll back and forward to get a better understanding of the design and the assembly process without needing to install special viewer software, ask for edit permissions, or even have an Onshape account.

Rest assured, there’s more to come with Onshape’s exploded views. One of the greatest aspects of Onshape is that we can push functionality out when it is ready and useful, and follow up with improvements within months – not years.