What is an assembly drawing?

An assembly drawing is a technical drawing that uses action illustrations to show how parts fit together. Multiple drawings are used together in sequential sets to give a reader instruction on how a product is assembled.

Assembly drawings are also sometimes referred to as exploded view drawings, and they are drawn in a specific sequence leading up to a finished product. Side products or sub-assemblies that need to be completed before the main project is finished will also have assembly drawings. Parts in the drawings are often numbered and can be referred to a parts list, also called a bill of materials.