mailee
Established Member
I have been trying to search for a sketchup plugin that can explode the model into its components for an exploded view. I seem to remember reading it on here a while ago but can't find it anywhere now can anyone help? :?
Explode model?
- Thread starter mailee
- Start date
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RogerS
Established Member
Shame on you!
Search Sketchup and explode gives you this one!!
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/expl ... %20explode
HTH
Search Sketchup and explode gives you this one!!
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/expl ... %20explode
HTH
SketchUp Guru
Established Member
FWIW, although there are now two plugins that I know of to create exploded views and I have both of them, I don't use them. I prefer to explode my models by hand because different components have to get moved different distances to be visible and to avoid blocking views to other components.
Before I make an exploded view I do two things. First, I make the layer associations for the various components. i.e. Legs, Drawers, Aprons, Top, etc. Then I select the entire assembled model and copy it over to one side, usually down the red axis. Use the Move/Copy function not Ctrl+C. This copied model is the one I use to make the exploded view(s) and it leaves the original copy of the model intact.
Two things to note:
1. If you do something silly like make nested components, you'll need to make those nested components unique in the copy before exploding.
2. If you use groups instead of components and you later find you need to edit the model to change dimensions, remember you must edit all instances of those affected groups. This is one of the reasons I espouse using only components.
When I make the exploded view, I select a number of components and move them in one direction. Then I'll change the selection set and move them. Generally this involves selecting fewer and fewer components until I have everything placed about where I want it. I also make a scene that I can quickly return to so I can check to see that things that need to be visible are.
Before I make an exploded view I do two things. First, I make the layer associations for the various components. i.e. Legs, Drawers, Aprons, Top, etc. Then I select the entire assembled model and copy it over to one side, usually down the red axis. Use the Move/Copy function not Ctrl+C. This copied model is the one I use to make the exploded view(s) and it leaves the original copy of the model intact.
Two things to note:
1. If you do something silly like make nested components, you'll need to make those nested components unique in the copy before exploding.
2. If you use groups instead of components and you later find you need to edit the model to change dimensions, remember you must edit all instances of those affected groups. This is one of the reasons I espouse using only components.
When I make the exploded view, I select a number of components and move them in one direction. Then I'll change the selection set and move them. Generally this involves selecting fewer and fewer components until I have everything placed about where I want it. I also make a scene that I can quickly return to so I can check to see that things that need to be visible are.
RogerS
Established Member
Brilliant advice as ever, Dave! Thanks for those tips
Roger
Roger
mailee
Established Member
Thanks once again Dave and Roger. I did find the explode plugin finally and have installed it. I also move the seperate components about to show an exploded view but this is much quicker to part all of the components. I can then move any that need it by hand. I was just getting fed up with moving each component by hand as it was taking too long. Many thanks again guys you are a wealth of information. 
