Import a CAD model and create an Exploded View animation in Blender 3.0

[@unp2louad]

8-9 months ago I watched your videos, repeated the lessons, and now I can do whatever I want without any tutorials. Thank you for your efforts, prosperity and success!

[@DerekElliott]

Love to hear it

[@paularnold2124]

I was actually thinking about how to do something like this in blender then comes Derek to bless my day...your a real life saver

[@freelance3danimator]

Dude.!!! This was awesome. This has been help AF to my team members, as I can't seat and do teach them all of this at a stretch. Your video is sooo precise and simple. Thanks for the great work.

[@JaredOwen]

This was great Derek - thanks for sharing your workflow!

[@DerekElliott]

Thanks Jared, love your videos!

[@sadafrani1921]

​@@DerekElliottfrom where to download obj model of gravgrip?

[@original_M_A_K]

THIS is exactly what i needed to know... as im a (new) kitchen designer working with CAD models like faucets, sinks, ovens fridges etc... & my CAD .dae kitchen designs you, are, a, legend! thank you so much

[@r3dshed]

Coming from Fusion and only started learning Blender...this is going to take static CAD models to a whole new level!

[@DerekElliott]

Let me know how it goes!

[@rastlan100]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. You have gained a new follower. I look forward to more such animation videos.

[@jamesriley5057]

I use this workflow a TON. I like that you use the autokey and different colors for each object, and the randomize transform flare

[@muwacodjooy]

This is an amazing lesson! I really hope that you will have the desire to tell more about this topic. I work as a designer in a factory, and mastering blender from your lessons is great progress for me. Thank you!

[@emilylynn4578]

At the time of writing this, I'm only halfway through the video. But I wanted to thank you, so much, for created such a detailed video going over your process in Blender. Absolutely phenomenal.

[@efn2024]

Man your channel is one of the best most informative channels amongst other blender ones, I appreciate it.

[@salarycat]

Awesome tutorial, I learned a lot of important information here, how to handle origins, how to manipulate animation and more. Thanks Elliott!

[@fadhil4008]

That animation in the end video was soo cool, much appreciated for giving this tutorial for free!

[@zeeshanmahmood9168]

I don't normally comment on videos but i gotta say that U dont even know how much we learn from your videos. Much love and respect for you from Pakistan 🇵🇰🤎

[@DerekElliott]

thanks for letting me know

[@akarmdit2267]

just keeps gettin' awesome indeed ... kudos B and all

[@theDesignClass]

This trick with OBJ files is fantastic! I've been using Stepper for the past 18months and it is fantastic, but having this OBJ technique will help so much! Thank you Derek!

[@buell41]

dude. Separate by loose parts. How did I not know that was there? I just saved this final animation the other day as inspiration. Had no idea you made it. Loads of handy stuff here. Thanks.

[@heinschultz8970]

Not sure if it was mentioned below in the comments, but I've found that FBX exports from Fusion 360, keeps the object orientation and scale as the engineers had it in Fusion. OBJ's I've found to be randomly large, strange orientations and especially the normals being all screwy. FBX didn't have any of those issues....for me.

[@rosengrozev3326]

Derek does it again ... Thanks for the massive value!

[@OldSoulsJazz]

Great tut, thanks Derek! Love the random colors in the viewport tip, haven't used that, super useful. Love hearing you explain how some of this stuff is actually engineered and fabricated too, what a fascinating world, very inspiring!

[@DerekElliott]

Yes this type of thing can always be done better with more understanding. A lot of time projects like this start with many many questions to the designers/manufacturers

[@killme9909]

So excited for the new tutorial :)

[@jirongzhang3237]

this is what I am looking for days. Thank you.

[@peggylu9705]

THIS tutorial SAVE me😳 Thank you Derek🥺🙏🏻

[@essentialelephant8850]

Alright one thing I did see missing here is that when you upload big CAD files sometimes they can come with thousands of material slots and many people are having problem with the "remove unused slots" function ... for me it literally does nothing. SO a good work around is to add a basic cube ... select all the parts that have these slots and then join them to the cube... they will then conform to the active object and clear all these slots out for you. Hope it helps and hopefully Blender fixes that soon. ( PS I found this out after removing 600 slots manually AHAH!! )

[@DerekElliott]

Yeah this does tend to be a PITA. Good tip!

[@ArthurBittar]

wow this is perfect, straight to the point

[@johnleighdesigns]

Amazing - I had attempted exploded view in the past but wasnt satisfied with the result - this is fabulous thanks so much for figuring it out and sharing with the community!

[@DerekElliott]

Aye aye John!

[@johnleighdesigns]

@@DerekElliott Oh Derek - Im so annoyed with myselff - due to necessity I have had to handle non 3D projects around product photography, design and video/motion - i feel so far behind on my Blender passions Ive just got to get more strict on myselfget back up to speed

[@DerekElliott]

@@johnleighdesigns tis a slow but fruitful process

[@yusufkor5900]

That's AWESOME! I love that!

[@company4863]

After watch this tutorial 😑 my whole blender life was a lie 😑 I was keyframing all part separately, but now Know the best way watching this tutorial. Thanks bro

[@harirachit1585]

Really a great teacher , truly appreciate your contribution

[@farhadsamadov3598]

Thats maaa boyy! Love you Derek!

[@Miguellahablios]

Derek, this is so amazing and helped me a lot!!! So clean and perfect introducing!!! I really appreciate your sharing, bless you!! 💯💯💯💯

[@reignandbongao9497]

I'm learning blender for a kickstarter project lmao. So much great info to apply tp my project. many thanks!

[@RomboutVersluijs]

I guess it could be handy when you have pulled all the pats apart, is to keyfame them outside the time line. So add location keys and move those keys to -10 frame or so. Very esay to switch back and see how things connect with each other.

[@DerekElliott]

Yes I definitely have done this

[@huluinfo1]

you are trully god of blender

[@karmapanicker7740]

this is freaking amazing!

[@yesman.]

BRO THANK YOU. I was looking something like this and you saved me

[@SHAP00PIE]

Exactly what i needed. Thank you so much! You gained a new sub

[@alexandrnaryshev3552]

on 03:18 it looks already perfect for me ;) Nice work!

[@yaoyaosam]

This is an amazing lesson, learn a lot.

[@ilbailba]

Çok güzel bir video! eminin (ben de dahil) birçok insanın işine yarayacaktır :)

[@brawyougood2454]

I love your tutorial

[@_m3atball]

Great Tutorial! Been wanting to mess around with exploded views from grabcad for a while so this is perfect. Thanks man!

[@RomboutVersluijs]

Hahaha this must be the smoothest ad added in a KZbin video ;)

[@brainpower3997]

Awesome tutorial. I work with an engineering team and am often sent OBJ files. One trick I aslo found was when you import if you twirl down the Geometry option and select split by group. It usually does the separation part you went through in edit mode, but it does this automatically. Its not perfect, but does work very well. Cheers.

[@DerekElliott]

Thanks I'll try that next time!

[@xDaShaanx]

Wow a new tutorial from derek :o

[@shabbirmerchant7678]

You can seperate parts as seperate objects during the Obj import window by checking-in (selecting) option "Split by Groups" in Geometry options.

[@DerekElliott]

Oooo need to try

[@IbnAbdssalam]

great tutorial, thanx derek ✨

[@PrintThatThing]

Awesome! So cool. Thanks for sharing this. :)

[@wingmansion]

We use PIXYZ and VRED for CAD tessellation for large assemblies (around 80 million poly) and Blender for clean-up of small sub-assemblies. VRED tessellation is not good and you end up with each patch surface being an individual part. Merge vertices destroys the custom normals. PIXYZ tessellation is very good and it works great with Step files. Has some issues with our JT files, though.

[@adityagawade7593]

Loved it !!!

[@stanleychukwu7424]

Nice to see you here again Elliot, been a minute, I believe everything is going well for you and your family!!!! Super great contents on your channel! Merry xmas and a happy new year soon Elliot!

[@mjmuftah271]

Like always great value 👌 🧡❤

[@Tamer_Gomaa]

Great detailed explanation, thanks for sharing About your question in 0:18, I think, as you said, that industrial designers showing their hard work, or innovativeness.

[@RomboutVersluijs]

I always love these really practical and very useful vids you make. I still need to finish that camera video. Hahah thanks for reminding me ;

[@vasyl_zinych]

Thank you!

[@MichaelBattlefield]

THANK YOU

[@FurkanGns]

Amazing bro thanks!

[@krzysiekmaslejak4406]

amazing tut!!!!

[@JesTheii]

omg this explodes mind

[@evanlane1690]

Something that may be really helpful is that rendering video. A lot of bad topology with CAD models, and I'd like to hear your rendering tips to get good looking materials with junk geometry.

[@DerekElliott]

Yes I'll have to do more CAD related

[@fvalduga]

Exactly. The main issue I had when trying to import CAD models to Blender is having a good topology for easily laydown a good UV map for texturing, usually they have even worse topology than what was shown in this video. I'm yet to find a better solution than importing STEP file in 3ds Max and keep as "body object", so you have perfect UV straight out of the box.

[@fvalduga]

One more thing...If topology is important for texturing a CAD model, I've seen some videos where people use MOI3D to export a mesh file (fbx or obj) with very clean topology. Never tried myself, but I will take this approach if I would have to stick to Blender as a render package.

[@DerekElliott]

@@fvalduga usually with bad topology if it absolutely needs a uv unwrap then working with smart uv project, project from view, cube project, etc or a combo will work out. Mostly with mechanical stuff though I'm using basic procedural textures though and UVs not required

[@Oridavis]

Whole 2 mins into the video and I had to subscribe,

[@DerekElliott]

Just had to huh

[@blenderman4174]

I want to follow this video like you. Where can I download the modeling file? Is it impossible?

[@leekolb2027]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@MRLEGOMAN1]

Thanks for this its brilliant

[@DavidStoddarddesign]

very helpful! thank you!!

[@onemanshow6566]

Thnx man from libya 🇱🇾

[@3DIYOriginal]

Awesome !!! 😎👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@ygsg]

Nice tut as always!🔥🔥🔥 Will be eagerly waiting for the one you do on the graph editor!

[@pinkandreas]

Great Show. Thanks. Ist would be Great to see the detail work on the beziers for that cool camera movements incl slow mo parts. Love it

[@patomariano]

Great video, thank you for sharing

[@jtwo6307]

this is mega cool tutorial!

[@87osvald]

Great video Derek!! Exactly what I have been looking for for a while. Can you please continue to make more videos on cad to Blender? The whole workflow (means more complex animations than in this video. And also assign materials and so on)

[@DerekElliott]

Sure! At a certain point they're just blender videos but what else do you think would be cad specific you'd like to know?

[@87osvald]

@@DerekElliott yeah that's true... I think it's just something about the workflow when modeling products made as cad that it useful. Even if isolated tasks are possible to find in other tutorials. I would suggest animation follow a path, both camera and objects. Physics. Is it possible to animate snap fits based on when they hit other parts? Like simulation of clips basically. Also water splash, xray beams, fog, and such things could be useful. And also add metarials and textures for typical engineering materials (plastics, metals, wood and so on). Alternatively, where to find ready material for blender, for free. Don't know if all this makes sense?

[@josipasimic3245]

Hey Derek, this is exactly what Ive been looking for. Once question, do the CAD files keep their materials when imported to blender?

[@Einhorn-ut1mm]

Great help. Thx

[@Greannn]

I have the plugin step importer. For my workflow pretty neat. This keeps the groups already made in cad.

[@DerekElliott]

is that different than STEPper? I'll have to try

[@Greannn]

@@DerekElliott I just got the name wrong...Sorry. #dontpostlate

[@MrCshx]

You are my saver. Thanks a lot

[@rallysahil]

We have the similar use case wherein we need to create exploded views and render it in the React Frontend. Could you Please provide direction on how that can be accomplished efficiently. Moreover we need to click different parts and do action on it.

[@Martin-4D]

Nice!👍

[@elafalsalman-5626]

that is so helpful thank u

[@andressolar517]

excellent tutorial (!)

[@ThadeousM]

Thank you Derek always love working through you tutorials! Could you consider adding a summary to the end of your next one.. maybe once you'r done recording you could compile the critical workflow steps as snippets.. I imagine this would work well as content for insta also.... Appreciate you👊

[@DerekElliott]

Great idea thank you

[@bigfilsing]

In grabcad there's normally a 3D view available and in that 3D viewer there's an "explode" option. That will at least give you some idea of how many individual parts there are "in" the model and save you from downloading and importing into Blender to evaluate.

[@DerekElliott]

Very cool

[@_blender_man_]

👍🏻 nice !

[@avati804]

great

[@donegan50]

Dope!

[@laddagardenshop]

Thanks

[@Biru_to]

2:28 It sounds like you don't understand why this happens. By default blender uses 1 unit = 1 meter. Typically CAD files are set up to use 1 unit = 1mm, so when you don't change the import unit scale, they'll most likely be 1000× times too large. 1 unit = 1cm is also used, so then you'll indeed need to scale it 0.1, and again 0.1 (or just 0.01 once, which is 1/100th the scale, aka 1m > 1cm). If you were using the default unit setup, the model you're using is being displayed as a 16 meter wide phone grip (based on your grid). Considering the model seems to be a iPhone 13 Pro Max, that would make sense, since that phone is about 16cm tall.

[@DerekElliott]

Good explanation

[@multiengineer9199]

Thanks sir

[@MsDexter47]

what CAD made such cool obj models.

[@DerekElliott]

I think this might have come from fusion 360

[@RomboutVersluijs]

Those kind of CAD models are always tricky to work with.most of times it's one big mess with tons of separated parts. It is however a quick way to get these nice models though. It just needs lots of cleaning, mesh merging and fixing :(

[@andymclanza]

about the scaling, CAD usually works in mm instead Blender use cm

[@martined7366]

Thank you so much

[@mohamedaymanennachet8490]

I just found your channel it s realllly good thank youu so much, i was wondering if you can do a tuto on the fancy animation you did in the beginnig of the video.

[@luchod9339]

the yada yada part made me watch seinfeld again

[@mukullingwal6570]

soo coooolll :D

[@huebert-design]

Hi, thank you for the tutorial. Can you help me to understand how the models are exported? Because your Mesh looks very clean. My customers export messup, that I have to clean up the whole day. Is there a easy solution for solidworks for example, how to export files? Maybe you know something, thank you.

[@dougieladd]

Excellent... would love a follow up on this kinda thing.. thanks man.

[@DerekElliott]

Sure Dougie what you got in mind? Where do we go next !?

[@dougieladd]

@@DerekElliott Ohh you got me there... I was thinking of 'infographic design' - you know those news graphics you see when they show exploded views of a building...? Or those animations you see in those "buy/build a house" type programmes.. where the views of the object/house kinda build up? Also the animations that show 'the inside' of something... I dunno man I'm a beginner :D :D :D (not really.. just have no talent) :D

[@katarmp4786]

hey derek, ive recently checked your instagram and i was amazed by your furniture projects, especially with the chairs! would loove to see some modeling tutorial on those things because ive notice theres no furniture modelling tutorial in this channel, maybe add in something like rotation animation tv commercial style, thatd be great!!

[@DerekElliott]

I'll have to do more soon!

[@gusty2333]

I wish I saw this before my design presentation😭

[@chidharthm4987]

For any Creo users facing problem with their CAD models to perform separating by loose parts after importing an assembly into blender, check the "Split by group" option under Geometry tab on the right side of import window.

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

Is it not easier to just use Keyshot.