Overview#
A drawing can hold several sheets. Use them to separate the part detail from the assembly view, or to put each part of a multi-part design on its own page with its own title block. An exploded view shows an assembly with its components moved apart along their assembly axes; in Fusion you create it in the Animation workspace and then use that animation as the source of a drawing view.
Where to find it#
- Sheets: The Sheet Bar at the bottom of the canvas shows a thumbnail per sheet. The + button adds a sheet; right-click a thumbnail for Add Sheet, Duplicate Sheet, Rename Sheet and Delete Sheet. Sheet size is under the Sheet Settings node in the browser.
- Exploded views: Build them in the Animation workspace, then use File > New Drawing > From Animation and choose the storyboard in the Create Drawing dialog.
Working with sheets#
Step by step#
- Click + in the Sheet Bar. The new sheet is added last and made active, with no dialog; by default it inherits sheet size, border and title block properties from the active sheet. Right-click a thumbnail and choose Add Sheet to insert after it (this opens the Add Sheet dialog, where you can base the sheet on another source, including a sheet in a template with the same Standard and Units).
- Right-click the thumbnail and choose Rename Sheet; use meaningful names such as "Assembly", "Plate", "Bracket".
- Select the sheet and use the Sheet Size dialog (Sheet Settings in the browser) to set size, orientation and custom dimensions per sheet.
- Place views on each sheet; Duplicate Sheet copies all elements and makes the copy independent of the original.
- The title block shows the current sheet number and total sheets, updating automatically as sheets change.
- Drag a thumbnail to reorder; the sheet's number stays the same.
Common sheet strategies#
| Strategy | Layout | When |
|---|---|---|
| One part, one sheet | Single sheet with 3 views plus notes | Simple parts |
| Part detail + assembly | Sheet 1 assembly with BOM, then one per part | Mechanical products |
| Flat pattern + bend table | Sheet-metal parts | Fabrication |
| Revision sheets | Duplicate and mark superseded | Controlled documents |
Exploded views from animation#
Step by step: build the exploded state#
- Open the design and switch to the Animation workspace.
- Create a new storyboard (the default storyboard is created for you).
- Use Auto Explode (one level or all levels) to move components apart quickly, or Manual Explode to move specific components along a chosen axis and distance. Auto Explode gives a quick base arrangement; Manual Explode fine-tunes it.
- Add Trails (trail lines) between the exploded components and their assembled positions if you want assembly lines on the drawing. Verify that trails carry through to the drawing in your version.
- Position the playhead on the storyboard at the exploded state you want.
- Optionally rename the storyboard so it is recognizable.
Step by step: put it in a drawing#
- Choose File > New Drawing > From Animation.
- In Create Drawing, select the Storyboard and your standard, units, and sheet size.
- Place a base view (Representation: Storyboard). Choose an isometric orientation.
- Add a Table (parts list) from this view and Balloons on each exploded component.
- Optionally add a second base view with the Model representation to show the assembled state.
Notes about animation-based views#
- The view is a snapshot of the animation at the chosen point. If you change the animation, update the drawing view.
- Views from animation support style choices (shaded, visible edges) and scale like any base view. Hidden lines are rarely appropriate.
- Autodesk says only orthogonal views can be dimensioned, so an isometric exploded view carries notes, balloons and tables rather than dimensions.
- Standard parts in the exploded state still appear in the parts list.
Options reference#
| Option | What it does | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Add Sheet (+) | Adds a sheet inheriting the active sheet's settings | Name each sheet |
| Sheet Size | Standard sizes, Custom, Orientation | Per sheet |
| Duplicate Sheet | Copies all elements independently | Use to start a new revision sheet |
| Delete Sheet | Removes the sheet | |
| Auto Explode | Quickly separates components | One level or all levels |
| Manual Explode | Move components along axes | Fine control |
| Trails | Lines showing assembly path | Optional |
| Animation source | Selects animation/frame for view | Set in Create Drawing |
Tips and pitfalls#
Tip: Explode in logical assembly order, along the axes parts actually travel, with a consistent spacing. Readers infer assembly sequence from the layout.
Tip: Number balloons in order of assembly and keep leaders from crossing.
Tip: If the exploded drawing view looks stale, edit the view to re-select the animation frame.
Warning: Creating the view from an animation is a snapshot; if components change in the design, check both the animation and the drawing.
Warning: DWG export depends on format: Simplified DWG exports the current sheet only, AutoCAD DWG exports every sheet as its own Layout tab (see export page).
Verified: placing the exploded view#
Autodesk's Animation help documents exploding one level, all levels or manually, and exposing trails. In the drawing, the base view Representation is Storyboard (versus Model for the static assembly) and is set only when the view is created. If you change the explosion afterwards, click Get Latest to update the drawing.
Note: not confirmed in Autodesk's documentation: whether trail lines carry into the drawing view.
Sheet planning with numbers#
Suppose an assembly drawing set for a small enclosure with six parts. A practical plan is: Sheet 1, assembly isometric with balloons and parts list (A3); Sheet 2, exploded view with balloons (A3); Sheets 3 to 8, one per manufactured part (A4 or A3 depending on size); and, if needed, a final sheet for notes. Title block fields for sheet number and total sheets then read 1/8, 2/8 and so on automatically. Autodesk's Sheet Size dialog works on the current sheet, so sheets can differ in size; a single size per drawing is still the simplest plan.
Sizing the exploded view: if the assembly is 120 mm tall assembled and the exploded stack adds 150 mm of travel, total height is about 270 mm. On A3 landscape (usable height about 250 mm) that would need 1:2 or smaller; at 1:2 the stack is 135 mm tall, leaving room for a 60 mm wide parts list and balloons. This is the same exercise as in the base view page, but the explosion makes it a height problem, so plan the distances in the Animation workspace with the sheet in mind.
Duplicating sheets for revisions#
Duplicating a sheet is useful for a revision history: copy Sheet 2 before a change, rename the copy "Sheet 2 - Rev A (superseded)", and add a note in the title block. Keep the superseded sheets out of the exported PDF by exporting a selected range. Be aware that duplicated sheets duplicate views, so the update warnings appear on every copy.
Failure modes and fixes#
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing shows the assembled state | Representation is Model, not Storyboard | Representation cannot be changed later; create a new base view with Storyboard |
| Exploded view is stale | Animation changed after placement | Click Get Latest and view the sheet |
| Parts overlap in the exploded view | Auto Explode distances too small | Increase the distance or use Manual Explode |
| No trails in the drawing | Trails off, or not carried over (unconfirmed) | Enable trails in the Animation workspace and check the view |
| Sheet numbers all say 1 | Typed text, not title block attributes | Use the title block's sheet number and total attributes |
| A view appears on the wrong sheet | Views belong to one sheet | Delete and recreate on the correct sheet, or duplicate the sheet |
| Balloons overlap the view | Placed before the explosion was finalized | Finalize the explosion first, then place balloons |
| Multi-sheet export has one sheet only | DWG scope setting | See the export page: Simplified DWG exports the current sheet only |
Workflow advice#
Organize sheets by reader: the assembler needs the exploded sheet and the parts list; the machinist needs one sheet per part; the inspector needs the part sheets with GD&T. Name every sheet by its content, and keep the numbering consistent across a product family. For the exploded view, build two storyboards: one for the drawing (one-step, static, with trails) and one for demonstration video (sequential, camera moves). That avoids breaking the drawing when you tweak the animation timing.
Place balloons after the explosion is final and number them in assembly order, clockwise. If the assembly changes, update the animation first, then the drawing, then re-run Renumber. A short checklist before release: every sheet named, every view updated, every balloon matched to the parts list, title block fields filled, PDF exported with all sheets.
Practice exercise#
- Use the three-part assembly (plate, bracket, bolt used twice). In the Animation workspace run Auto Explode: One Level with a distance of 50 mm, then a Manual Explode that withdraws the bolts a further 40 mm along their axis. Turn on trails.
- Create a drawing from the design on A3 landscape. Use Create > Base View and set the Representation to the storyboard; choose an isometric orientation and a scale at which the stack fits with 60 mm free for the parts list.
- Add a parts list and balloons in assembly order, clockwise.
- Add a second sheet named "Plate" with a Front view and a dimensioned plate, and a third sheet named "Bracket".
- Confirm the title block sheet number and total sheets read 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 (or the equivalent attributes in your title block).
- Change the explode distance in the Animation workspace to 70 mm, return to the drawing, click Get Latest and check balloon leaders.
- Duplicate sheet 1 as "Rev A (superseded)" and export a PDF that omits it.
- Expected result: a three-sheet drawing with an exploded assembly and BOM, two part sheets, automatic sheet numbering, and a PDF of the current sheets only.
Related#
- Tables, parts lists, balloons, and hole tables
- Templates and standards
- Drawing workspace overview