Sheet Metal Automation Tasks

• Export Flat Patterns

This task helps to export the flat patterns from parts and multibody and saves the output in DWG/DXF format. User can specify the Output Folder to save the DWG files. User can specify the Units. User can select a Output File Name by either typing in text or composing them using placeholders. User can select from a range of export options. The tool requires that the input SOLIDWORKS files has ‘Sheet Metal’ feature in its Feature Manager Design Tree. The output file is named in the following format: __ mm.DWG. Tip: Use Insert Bends”” to Convert Standard SOLIDWORKS Parts into Sheet Metal components and then execute Export Flat Patterns” to generate DXF files.

• Sheet Metal Drawings

This task provides the feasibility to create SOLIDWORKS Drawings for Sheet Metal components.  A single SOLIDWORKS drawing file is generated from all SOLIDWORKS part files present in items scope. Option to specify a name for the Output File. User can type in the name for the new file or choose from a list of placeholders like Current Date, Custom Property Value, SOLIDWORKS Title, SOLIDWORKS Configuration or Sheet Name. Choose a destination folder where the Output files must be stored. Choose a path to the template file.

• Modify Sheet Metal Properties

This task allows users Edit/Modify Sheet Metal feature present in the feature tree for the selected SOLIDWORKS components. Task works with SOLIDWORKS Parts only [*.SLDPRT]. Can be used to modify bend radius for all the files in a single run. User may choose either to Replace the existing value of Bend Radius with a new one. Increment / Decrement Bend Radius by a specific value throughout. Thickness filter can be used to filter out individual bodies from a multi body part. Values must be entered in millimetres only (mm) irrespective of the document units. User must convert inches to millimetres.

• Update Cut List

This task allows the user to update the cut list items for the selected list of SOLIDWORKS files. Provides the capability to ensure that Cutlist Items are updated before Weldment Cutlist table is generated. Can be used to Checking Cutlist Table before sharing information with Cut Shop or Fabrication department. Used when Automatic Update is disabled. Task works with SOLIDWORKS Parts only [*.SLDPRT].

• Cut List Report

This task processes the Cutlist table present in each SOLIDWORKS part file and saves it to a single output report as CSV file. Default report name is set to “cutlist_report.csv”. It may contain text or placeholders. User can directly enter the path to destination folder or use the browse control to choose one. It is recommended to enable “Open Read Only” setting.

• Modify Sheet Metal Thickness

This task helps users to change/modify the Sheet Metal thickness. Any values entered, is in document units. Changes are done to the top-level Sheet Metal feature in Feature Manger Design Tree. Task works with SOLIDWORKS part file only. User can Enter value for new thickness. User can filter the bodies based on its thickness using thickness filter. User can Increase or decrease the present thickness based on coefficient. All bodies that are filtered based on settings will be multiplied by the coefficient value to calculate their new thickness.

• Add Area to Cut List Property

This task processes all SOLIDWORKS Part file to generate a new Custom Property ‘Area’ and assigns a calculated value as text into Cutlist Table. Processes SOLIDWORKS Parts with Cutlist. Units are specified in meters m^2. Area is calculated based on the two largest dimensions of the Cutlist body.
The ‘Area’ property can be used to drawing Cutlist to provide additional information about the bodies in the model.

• Insert Bends

This task allows user to process SOLIDWORKS Part files which contains geometry and convert them to Sheet Metal files. Sheet Metal and a Bend is feature is inserted into Feature Tree and a Cutlist is generated. The Flat Pattern / Development view for the selected model is present. Provide options to specify a table as an excel file / directly specify values against K-Factor, Bend Allowance and Offset Ratio. User can choose to ‘Add Auto-Relief Cuts’ and/or ‘Insert Flatten-Bends’. The task considers units as set in document settings for each SOLIDWORKS Part file.