Export Sheet Metal Parts to 1:1 Flat Pattern DXF

Exports sheet metal parts as 1:1 flat pattern DXF files.

Note

This setting and its Flat Pattern Settings dialog are shared by the PDM task and SOLIDWORKS add-in.

Sheet Metal Flat Pattern Settings

Select Flat Pattern Settings beside the main option to control which entities PDMPublisher writes to the DXF.

Option	What it does
Export flat-pattern geometry	Exports the flattened outside profile, internal cutouts, and other visible flat-pattern edges. This is the normal starting point for a manufacturing DXF and is selected by default.
Include hidden edges	Adds edges that are hidden in the flat pattern. Leave this cleared for most laser, plasma, or waterjet workflows unless the downstream process specifically needs hidden geometry.
Export bend lines	Adds the bend lines from the SOLIDWORKS flat pattern so manufacturing can identify where bends occur.
Include sketches	Includes visible sketch entities from the sheet-metal part in the exported DXF. Use this for manufacturing marks or other sketch geometry that must accompany the profile.
Merge coplanar faces	Merges adjacent faces that lie on the same plane, removing unnecessary lines between those coplanar regions.
Export library features	Includes geometry created by SOLIDWORKS library features.
Export forming tools	Includes geometry representing forming-tool features such as louvers, lances, embosses, or similar formed features. The exact result also depends on the part's SOLIDWORKS sheet-metal document settings.
Export bounding box	Adds the rectangular bounding box around the flat pattern. This can be useful for estimating stock size or nesting.
Only export the inner diameter of countersink holes (Hole feature)	For countersinks created with the SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard, exports the inner hole diameter and omits the larger countersink outline. This can provide cleaner cutting geometry when the countersink is created in a later operation.
Export flat pattern bodies separately (Multi-body sheet metal parts)	Reserved for exporting each sheet-metal body into a separate file. This feature is marked not implemented yet in the current dialog and should not be used.
Append -FlatPattern to the flat pattern DXF file name	Adds -FlatPattern before .dxf. Enable it when a drawing and its associated sheet-metal part can both export to DXF, preventing one output from overwriting the other.

Tip

For a typical fabrication DXF, start with Export flat-pattern geometry and Export bend lines. Add sketches, forming tools, or the bounding box only when your manufacturing process consumes those entities.

Model Views to Export

The lower section of the dialog lets you export SOLIDWORKS model views to DXF. The predefined choices are:

View	Direction represented
*Front	Front view
*Back	Back view
*Top	Top view
*Bottom	Bottom view
*Left	Left view
*Right	Right view
*Isometric	Isometric view

Select the checkbox beside every view you want to export.

Important

Selecting one or more model views changes the export from a sheet-metal flat-pattern export to a SOLIDWORKS annotation-view export. If your goal is a manufacturing-ready unfolded profile, leave all model views cleared and use the flat-pattern settings above.

Add a custom view

You can also export a named view saved in the SOLIDWORKS part:

1. Enter the exact SOLIDWORKS view name in the text box.
2. Select the checkbox beside the text box if the new view should be enabled immediately.
3. Select + to add the view to the list.
4. To remove a custom view, enter its name and select -.

Custom view names must match the names stored in the SOLIDWORKS model. The standard views use their SOLIDWORKS API names, including the leading *.

Recommended configurations

Goal	Recommended selection
Basic cutting profile	Export flat-pattern geometry
Cutting and bending	Export flat-pattern geometry and Export bend lines
Include manufacturing marks	Add Include sketches
Show formed features	Add Export forming tools
Record required stock size	Add Export bounding box
Avoid a drawing DXF filename collision	Enable Append -FlatPattern to the flat pattern DXF file name
Export a projected model view instead of the unfolded pattern	Select the required entry under Model views to export

Note

The DXF file format does not need to be selected separately for this flat pattern feature.

The first eight geometry controls and the bounding-box control correspond to SOLIDWORKS sheet-metal DXF export options. For additional technical background, see the SOLIDWORKS IExportToDWG2 API documentation.