CAD foundations · Lesson 13 · Approx. 7 minutes including practice
Exploded views
Exploded views separate components to show relationships and identification. Choose spacing and orientation that keep callouts readable. An exploded illustration is not a safe dismantling sequence unless a reviewed procedure explicitly establishes it.
Step 1: Select configuration
A documentation workflow, not an equipment operating sequence. Animation starts only when you choose Play.
Show relationships without implying a procedure
An exploded view can help readers identify components and understand their relative positions. Keep a stable viewing direction and move parts far enough to separate them without losing their relationship to the assembly. Group connected items where that makes the structure easier to read. Use leader lines that point clearly to the intended part and avoid callout collisions. A visual separation is not evidence that the parts can safely be removed in that order.
Prepare and check the work
Choose a representative configuration and confirm that the parts list matches it. Reconcile every balloon with one item row and check unballooned items. Make the assembly boundary visible, especially where adjacent equipment might be mistaken for part of the supplied unit. Check legibility at the final publication size rather than only on a large CAD screen. Keep any maintenance sequence in a separately approved procedure.
Worked example · demonstration only
An exploded illustration shows a cover before an internal spring. A novice might assume that removal is safe. Label the illustration as identification only and refer to the approved procedure; the technical reviewer must establish the actual precautions and authorised task sequence.
Guided practice and review evidence
Use only a demonstration dataset for this exercise: Annotate an assembly image with a consistent set of balloon references. Before starting, write down the question the finished record should answer and identify the source information you would need on a real job. Keep a separate list of missing inputs. Prepare a first draft, then compare it with the topic-specific checks above. Ask another person to follow your references without explaining them verbally. Record where they hesitate, what information they cannot locate and any different interpretation. Keep a brief review log with four columns: observation, proposed action, responsible reviewer and closure evidence. Revise the example and repeat the information-finding check. Your evidence of completion is the revised demonstration record plus that log, not simply time spent reading. Do not upload client information to the academy or practise on operating equipment.
What good completion looks like
A useful result can be understood by someone who did not prepare it. They can identify its purpose, applicable item, source and review status, and they can distinguish confirmed information from unresolved questions. Pay particular attention to this failure mode: Do not imply removal order from the visual order of components. Check the output in the format the recipient will use. A native file, spreadsheet and exported PDF can expose different problems. Keep the source revision and the issued output linked, and record any limitations of the handover. On a real project, follow the customer's authorised checking and approval arrangements before the information is used. The knowledge check below tests understanding of this lesson; it does not assess practical competence or authorise regulated work.
Practical workflow
- Establish the source: identify the approved input, document revision and person responsible for its technical content. Record missing information as an open question.
- Prepare a small representative example before applying the approach to a whole project. Check identifiers, units, references and the intended reader’s needs.
- Ask the nominated reviewer to check technical meaning. Capture the response, resolve comments and issue only under the agreed document-control process.
Review checklist
- Can another reader identify the source and applicable revision?
- Are assumptions and unresolved decisions clearly recorded?
- Is there evidence of the required review before issue?
Educational material and demonstration examples. Not accredited training, practical competency assessment or authority to perform regulated work. Use current approved sources and your responsible technical authority on real projects.