Exploded view online: open a STEP assembly and pull it apart in your browser
A vendor sends you a 30-part gearbox assembly as a single STEP file. The purchase team wants to know what is inside it, the shop floor wants to see how it stacks up, and nobody wants to install a seat of CAD just to look. You need an exploded view, and you need it now.
An exploded view online is simply a 3D assembly shown with its parts separated along their assembly axes, so you can see every component and how it fits, straight from a web browser. This guide explains what an exploded view is for, how to create one from a STEP or IGES assembly without any software, and the small mistakes that make an exploded view harder to read than it should be.
What an exploded view actually shows
An exploded view pulls each part of an assembly outward along the direction it was installed, keeping the alignment so the eye can follow how the pieces mate. It is the picture on the last page of an appliance manual, and it does three jobs at once.
- Part identification. Every component is visible and separated, so you can count them and match each one to a bill of materials line.
- Assembly sequence. The order of parts along an axis shows how the unit goes together and comes apart.
- Communication. Procurement, quality and the shop floor read a picture faster than a nested BOM tree.
Why do this online instead of in CAD
Desktop CAD makes excellent exploded views, but it asks a lot: a licence, an install, a trained operator, and a machine strong enough to open a heavy assembly. For a quick look at a supplier file, that is a poor trade. A browser-based viewer opens the same STEP or IGES file in seconds, runs on any laptop, and keeps the file on your own computer.
How to create an exploded view online, step by step
Step 1: Open the assembly file
Drag a .step, .stp or .igs assembly into the CadNexa 3D viewer. It runs in the browser, so nothing uploads to a server and nothing installs. If you are new to opening these files, our guide on the online STEP file viewer walks through the basics of rotate, pan and zoom.
Step 2: Read the assembly tree
A well-built STEP file carries the component hierarchy. The viewer lists every part and sub-assembly, so before you explode anything you already know the part count. This is the same tree that feeds the bill of materials.
Step 3: Explode the assembly
Trigger the exploded view and the parts separate along their assembly axes. Adjust the spacing so nothing overlaps and every component stands clear. A moderate explosion that keeps parts near their neighbours reads better than one blown so far apart that the relationships are lost.
Step 4: Measure, then export the BOM
With the parts separated you can measure a bore or a face, and generate the parts list. The viewer produces an auto-BOM from the STEP file with part names, quantities and estimated weights using Indian material prices, which you can export to CSV for costing or an RFQ.
Common mistakes that make an exploded view hard to read
- Over-exploding. Parts flung so far apart that you can no longer see which fits where. Keep the spacing tight enough to follow the axes.
- A flat assembly. If the source STEP was saved as one fused body rather than separate parts, there is nothing to explode. Ask the supplier for an assembly-structured STEP.
- Ignoring the tree. The part count in the assembly tree is your check. If the exploded view shows fewer bodies than the tree lists, a part is suppressed or hidden.
- Wrong format for the job. IGES often loses assembly structure, so a STEP AP214 file usually explodes more cleanly. See STEP vs IGES for which to request.
How CadNexa helps
CadNexa's browser 3D viewer opens STEP and IGES assemblies, shows the full component tree, separates the parts into an exploded view, and lets you measure and auto-generate a BOM in the same window. Nothing installs, the file stays on your machine, and the free tier covers everyday supplier reviews. For the wider toolset, browse the CadNexa learning centre.
See any assembly in seconds
Open a STEP or IGES file, explode it, measure it and export the BOM — free, no card required.
Open the 3D Viewer — Free →Frequently asked questions
Can I create an exploded view online for free?
Yes. Open a STEP or IGES assembly in a browser-based 3D viewer such as CadNexa, trigger the exploded view, and the parts separate along their axes. The free tier is enough for everyday supplier and drawing reviews, and nothing installs on your computer.
Which file format works best for an exploded view?
A STEP file (AP214 or AP242) that was saved with its assembly structure works best, because it carries the component tree the viewer needs to separate parts. IGES can work but often flattens the assembly, leaving nothing to explode.
Do I need the original CAD software?
No. STEP and IGES are neutral formats defined by ISO 10303, so any compliant viewer reads them regardless of whether the part was modelled in SolidWorks, Creo, NX or Fusion. You do not need a licence for the source system.
Can I get a bill of materials from the exploded view?
Yes. Because the assembly tree lists every component, the viewer can auto-generate a BOM with part names, quantities and estimated weights, and export it to CSV for costing or to send with an RFQ.
Is my file safe when I view it online?
In CadNexa the STEP or IGES file is parsed in your own browser and is not uploaded to a server, so the geometry never leaves your computer. That matters when the assembly is a customer or supplier's confidential design.
By Rajadurai R — Founder, 14 years plant-head experience.