# Creating quick exploded views

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Created:** [March 6, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476 "2015-03-06T17:02:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![felttippen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/felttippen/32/451202_2.png) [@felttippen](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/felttippen)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/1 "2015-03-06T17:02:10Z")

</div>

Hi,

Just wondering if there is a way to quickly crate an exploded view of a model (like you would get with Lego instructions etc.) without having to select items and move them by a set amount on various axis.

Could a script be written to move all parts away from each other by a set amount on a set axis or intelligently move all parts away from each other on various axis?

Just trying to save a little time!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pascal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/pascal/32/479395_2.png) [@pascal](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/pascal)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/2 "2015-03-06T17:16:09Z")

</div>

It is possible to script, I believe- but a fair bit of work to make it work to make it work cleanly. For now, NamedPositions should be a help in setting these things up. Also, testScalePosition.

-Pascal

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![schultzeworks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/schultzeworks/32/771150_2.png) [@schultzeworks](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/schultzeworks)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/3 "2015-03-06T17:27:39Z")

</div>

Here’s a tip for using the NamedPositions (that I found out the hard way!)

1. Before you move anything, **select ALL geometry** and name it something  
like “Original Position” or “Start”
2. Then, move stuff around and save each stage with a unique name.
3. Repeat as needed.
4. With the first step complete, you’ll always be able to get back to the  
original / beginning state.

I also recommend opening and docking the NamedPosition side-panel – and then using the thumbnail option for quick and easy access to all of the NamedPosition states.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/wim/32/747482_2.png) [@wim](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/wim)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/4 "2015-03-06T17:48:51Z")

</div>

I suppose you could try eVe | explode - though by the sound of it, it is still rather basic.  
[http://www.food4rhino.com/project/eveexplode?etx](http://www.food4rhino.com/project/eveexplode?etx)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![schultzeworks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/schultzeworks/32/771150_2.png) [@schultzeworks](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/schultzeworks)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/5 "2015-03-07T01:43:35Z")

</div>

> [@wim](#):
>
> eVe | explode

That is pretty cool. I will have to see if I can animate it and then also render with V-Ray … could be GREAT if that is possible, 💣 boom.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![felttippen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/felttippen/32/451202_2.png) [@felttippen](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/felttippen)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 12:20pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/6 "2015-03-09T12:20:12Z")

</div>

Thank you all,

What a fantastic plugin. Knew I wouldn’t be the only person who’d thought this.

The other plugins by Programming Architecture look really good too.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CCBB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/ccbb/32/657590_2.png) [@CCBB](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CCBB)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/7 "2019-06-11T14:56:20Z")

</div>

Hello,  
Trying to employ named positions. This could be great for me but something is not right.!  
The first screenshot is the original position and I save it as such.

 ![NamePosition3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/5/3/53b142a7697aadf376c6f7d6dc56f2ec896e8bf9.jpeg)  
The 2nd is the exploded view I am trying to save.  
 ![NamePosition2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/9/a/9a9d7da977c988931e001b2cfe6c263c0ae68dda.jpeg)  
The 3rd shot is what it does when I double click on the named position for screenshot 2.  
 ![NamePosition1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/3/5/3505cfc1fb11eff7885e2ad3f42acee265a06cc5.jpeg)  
It will not put the highlighted object into the exploded view. It will move the outside most one into exploded view, but not the middle one!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CCBB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/ccbb/32/657590_2.png) [@CCBB](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CCBB)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/8 "2019-06-11T15:05:38Z")

</div>

Of course I figured it out…I needed to use “Append Named position” not “Update named position” to save the corrected layout.

However, it in layouts, is there no way to create two details side by side in a layout showing both the original position and the named position. that would be great…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/wim/32/747482_2.png) [@wim](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/wim)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/9 "2019-06-12T09:08:54Z")

</div>

> [@CCBB](#):
>
> is there no way to create two details side by side in a layout showing both the original position and the named position.

Hi - that’s correct. You’ll need to make a copy of the objects and place those in the “exploded” positions and then, in each detail either pick layers to show or objects to not be visible in a specific detail.  
-wim

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CCBB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/ccbb/32/657590_2.png) [@CCBB](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CCBB)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/10 "2019-06-24T14:24:35Z")

</div>

Thank you

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RBFD](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rbfd/32/767094_2.png) [@RBFD](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/RBFD)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/11 "2022-05-01T21:04:04Z")

</div>

Yes, this will be really nice, other wise… you need to save as, not a good idea

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Henry\_Witzke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/john_henry_witzke/32/684709_2.png) [@John\_Henry\_Witzke](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/John_Henry_Witzke)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/creating-quick-exploded-views/17476/12 "2025-11-17T15:30:40Z")

</div>

I had need of this operation, too. I used Gemini to help me write a script that “explodes” the parts axially, then radially. It’s not perfect, and depending on the complexity of your components, may require a bit of manual moving around, but it ends up saving me a lot of time when I’m making drawings.

[blowup2.py](https://discourse.mcneel.com/uploads/short-url/fUrkc1Fp01BydKZB0UQ2BcCbrn3.py) (5.2 KB)