MacroSolid - DXF

The DXF macro is a generator of DXF files from unfolding operations, i.e., parts modeled with tools from the "Sheet Metal" tab. You can generate DXFs for all sheet metal parts of the active assembly (1), active part or from the BOM tab for all components (2) or only selected (3) of the BOM table.

In SOLIDWORK®, you can export DXF files from sheets from the active model using option "save as" or after starting the "Exports to DXF / DWG" option from the context menu, after selecting the unfolding operation (4). Before generating the file, you set what, apart from the external contour of the unfolded sheet and holes, should be additionally shown in it, e.g., bending lines, sketches not absorbed by operations, …. (5) DXF export is always performed from the fixed face of the unfolding operation in relation to the export settings defined in "System options" (6). You can also save a 2D drawing sheet and a selected view to DXF.

Preparing files for burning for a large order is a real challenge. You need to open each file, save the layout as DXF with a specific name to the location you specify. To this must be added the time necessary for the processing / verification of such files. Definitely - the automation of this task is a great potential for savings in the company, and this is where the DXF macro comes in handy. It allows you to plan the name of the generated file based on data previously downloaded from the model, such as: material, sheet thickness, number of pieces or information "pressed" into the file properties (7). You have six parts at your disposal, from which you can build a name, between them you can enter a separator, e.g., an underscore. Some machines, nesting applications can automatically "extract" information from the file name from the adopted naming scheme and use it further. If you enter the material, thickness and number of pieces to be burnt into the DXF name or at least the name of the folder in which the DXF will be saved, in addition to the part file name, then you will not have to define this information inside the DXF or you will not have to transfer it to production in another way.

You can configure the file saving destination (8). You will save the DXF next to the part file, next to the part file, but in a separate folder or even deeper in a subfolder. DXF can be exported in one indicated location, e.g., with an active assembly from which the macro is run. The saving path can be more complicated, created on the fly, taking into account, for example, a property, order number.

Thanks to the built-in functionalities, it is possible to further organize and sort DXF files into subdirectories according to material, sheet thickness and information whether the sheet has bends or not (9).

You can use the *DXF and *DXF–Date columns to show you the current status of the documentation (10).

In addition to the export options provided by SOLIDWORKS® itself, the macro can suppress blind holes, replace counterbore and countersink holes with normal ones, and remove external countersinks in holes modeled with the hole wizard, thanks to which DXF editing of non-standard sheets in external applications is shortened to the necessary minimum (11). ATTENTION!!! The program interferes with the operations that create the model, hence all dependent files running in the background will be automatically closed, and after exporting DXF, the part model will also be closed - without saving changes. It is therefore important to run the generator on a saved and rebuilt model.

The DXF file can be mapped, i.e., you can specify what should appear on its layers, using what line and color. Set what else should be shown apart the contours to be burned: hidden edges, bend lines, sketches not absorbed by operations, bounding box. If the "Enable" option of mapping customization is selected, a window will appear each time before export, in which you can define layers and appropriate mapping of elements for them. Save to a file and pin this file in "System Options" and in the DXF macro.

The DXF macro also has an unconventional generating mode - the macro opens the DRWDOT template, places the layout view on the sheet and saves the document to a DXF file according to the macro settings. If notes linked to properties are provided in the DRWDOT template, they will be completed automatically as you drag the view onto the drawing. Other elements that would appear in the DXF file along with the drag depend on the settings of the DRWDOT document properties, in particular on the "Detailing" tab. This is where you will find the special "Insert automatically on view creation" option. If you do not attach your template, ours will be used - C:\Program Files\MacroSolid\SWTemplates\dxfTempView.drwdot