Exploring Section Views & Exploded Views

Exploring Section Views & Exploded Views

CAD Viewer

Exploring Section Views & Exploded Views

CAD ROOMS Viewer provides two powerful visualization tools for understanding internal structure and assembly relationships:
  • Section View lets you cut through a model to inspect internal geometry.
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  • Explode Mode separates components in an assembly to reveal structure, hierarchy, and fit.
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Together, they enable fast design review, manufacturability checks, and clear team communication directly in the browser.

Feature Scope

Feature
Part
Assembly
Section View
✅
✅
Explode Mode
❌
✅
 
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Section Views for Parts and Assemblies

Section Views allow you to cut through geometry to reveal internal features of a model, helping you visualize the hidden details inside. This tool is available for both individual parts and full assemblies in CAD ROOMS.

Enable Section View

  1. Open a Part or Assembly in the CAD ROOMS Viewer
  1. Click Section View in the left toolbar
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  1. The Section View control panel appears as a floating window
Tip: The panel is fully draggable, so you can move it away from dense geometry while inspecting details.

Step 1: Position the Section Plane

Start by moving the cutting plane to the area you want to inspect.
  • Offset
      • Moves the section plane forward or backward through the model
      → Use this first to reach the correct region

Step 2: Adjust the Cutting Angle

Once positioned, refine the cut to match the geometry.
  • Pitch
      • Tilts the plane to inspect angled or sloped features
  • Roll
      • Rotates the plane for fine alignment and precision
These controls help you target specific internal features without guesswork.

Section View Controls

These tools affect only Section View:
  • Show / Hide Section Plane
      • Display the cutting plane while adjusting, then hide it for a cleaner view or screenshots
  • Reverse Direction
      • Flip the cutting direction to inspect the same area from the opposite side
  • Cutting Color
      • Change the color of cut surfaces to improve contrast and readability
      → Especially useful for complex geometry or design reviews
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Best Practices for Section View

  • Use Offset first to reach the approximate region, then refine with Pitch and Roll.
  • Show the Section Plane when adjusting, hide it when reviewing or presenting.
  • Adjust Cutting Color when internal faces blend into surrounding geometry.
  • Combine with visual styles (e.g., X-Ray or Wireframe) for deeper inspection.
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Exploded Views for Assembly Inspection

Exploded Views are specifically designed for assemblies, providing an intuitive way to visualize how individual components relate to each other. This view allows you to spread out the parts of an assembly, making it easier to understand how they fit together and ensuring that no component is overlooked.
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When to Use Explode View

Use Explode View when you want to:
  • Understand assembly structure and part hierarchy
  • Inspect internal components without cutting geometry
  • Communicate how parts fit together during design reviews
Explode View is available only for assemblies.

Enable Explode View

  1. Open an Assembly in the Viewer
  1. Click Assembly Explode in the left toolbar

Control Explosion Distance

  • Use the slider at the bottom of the viewer
  • Slide right to increase separation
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  • Slide left to return toward the assembled state
This lets you quickly switch between an overview and detailed inspection.

Choosing the Right View

  • Use Section View when you need to inspect internal geometry
  • Use Explode View when you need to understand how parts relate to each other
  • Combine both during reviews to fully understand complex assemblies
Section View and Explode View are core inspection tools in CAD ROOMS, helping teams review designs faster, spot issues earlier, and communicate more clearly—without leaving the browser.

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