The explode template creates, in one click, an animation that moves the parts of an assembly outward one step at a time. You can then adjust part positions in each step.
Apply it
- Open the project in the 3D editor (on a computer).
- Click Apply explode template in the step timeline at the bottom. If there are already steps, you'll be asked whether to replace them.
- Click Play to check it from start to finish.
How it's built
- The parts (or sub-assemblies) directly under the assembly move from the model's center toward each part's center by 0.6 times the model size.
- The part farthest from the center moves first, one part per step, for up to 8 steps. Any remaining parts move together in the last step.
- Parts moved in earlier steps stay moved in later steps.
The Assembly template does the opposite: starting fully exploded, parts return to their places one at a time.
Fine-tune the steps
- Click a step card to go to that step.
- Select a part and change its position (mm) and rotation in the properties panel on the right, or move it with the arrow keys (hold Shift for 10×).
- + Add step duplicates the current step. Drag cards to reorder them and remove them with × (except STEP 0). See Add and reorder steps.
- Changes are saved automatically after 2 seconds.
When you can't use the template
Models with only one part (some GLB files and AI-generated models) can't have step animations. Upload an original CAD file in which the parts are separate.