Exporting Sheet Metal Parts to DXF or DWG Files

You can create *.dxf files of sheet metal flat patterns from sheet metal part documents without flattening the model or creating a drawing. This helps to export Dxf files to other applications, such as punch press or laser-cutter programming software.

• Click File > Save As and select Dxf (*.dxf) for Save as type.
• Right-click Flat Pattern in the FeatureManager design tree and select Export to DXF/DWG.

You can map bend line directions to specific layers when you export sheet metal models as .dxf or .dwg files. For example, in sheet metal parts with up and down bend directions, you can map the different bend line directions to separate layers when you export the part.

1. Click File > Save As.
2. For file type, select .dxf or .dwg.
3. Click Options.
4. Under Custom Map SolidWorks to DXF/DWG, select Enable.
5. Set other export options and click OK.
6. In the DXF/ DWG Output PropertyManager, under Entities to Export, select Bend lines.
7. Select other options and click .
8. In the SolidWorks to DXF/DWG Mapping dialog box:
   1. Assign layers to entities.
   2. Map other properties.
   3. Click OK.

When exporting a sheet metal part as a .dxf or .dwg file, you can export the bounding box and assign the bounding box to a specific layer.

1. Click File > Save As.
2. For file type, select .dxf or .dwg.
3. Click Options.
4. In the DXF/ DWG Output PropertyManager, under Entities to Export, select Bounding box.
5. Select other options and click .
6. In the SolidWorks to DXF/DWG Mapping dialog box:
   1. Assign layers to entities.
   2. Map other properties.
   3. Click OK.