Broken line in DXF for laser cut in place of a bend

daniel_humburg

I wish to have parts cut in thin sheet metal on a laser.  I intend to replace bends done with a brake with a broken cut line (stop-start, stop-start) to make the part bend preferentially on the line, and by hand.   I've generated my sheet metal models and flat drawings.  Now I need a DXF with the "strop-start" line type to replace the bend line, which does not show up in the DXF.  I suspect that there is some way to edit the DXF in software such as Adobe Illustrator or others.  However, since the bend lines don't show in the DXF any additions or edits I might do would be less accurate than the original model.   Is there any way within Onshape to create a drawing modification that would show as my intended stop-start line type over the bend lines so that the DXF will include the perforation cuts for my bends?   I'd like a 50 % cut as a starting point so perhaps cut 1/2 inch and skip 1/2 inch.

D. Humburg 

NeilCooke

@daniel_humburg you could do this easily using FeatureScript. Not sure if anyone has written a feature to do this? Anyone?

onshape.com/featurescript

lana

@daniel_humburg

The bend lines are actually present in dxf/dwg file for sheet metal flat pattern. The are put on layers which are hidden by default. If your DXF viewer handles layers, please look for SHEETMETAL_BEND_LINES_DOWN and SHEETMETAL_BEND_LINES_UP layers

lana

I don't know about DXF, but Teigha viewer from https://www.opendesign.com/ is a pretty powerful DWG viewer, with layer manager allowing control over visibility of layers and export to dxf format

NeilCooke

@daniel_humburg you could do this easily using FeatureScript. Not sure if anyone has written a feature to do this? Anyone?

onshape.com/featurescript

lana

@daniel_humburg

The bend lines are actually present in dxf/dwg file for sheet metal flat pattern. The are put on layers which are hidden by default. If your DXF viewer handles layers, please look for SHEETMETAL_BEND_LINES_DOWN and SHEETMETAL_BEND_LINES_UP layers

daniel_humburg

Helpful answers.   If I can figure out featurescript I may be able to add the broken lines for these cuts.  
Lana, is there a preferred viewer for DXFs?   Can I edit the DXF directly to add the broken cut lines as a layer?
DSH

lana

I don't know about DXF, but Teigha viewer from https://www.opendesign.com/ is a pretty powerful DWG viewer, with layer manager allowing control over visibility of layers and export to dxf format

daniel_humburg

Thank you.  I've downloaded DraftSight from Solidworks, which seems to be a very capable editor for DXF and DWG files.  I was able to create my own line type for the perforation cuts I want in place of bend lines in that layer.  Next question will be if that layer is "hidden" from the CNC laser or if it can be toggled on to create those cuts.  Perhaps I will need to edit in those perforation lines onto the basic outline.   I'll ask the engineer at the custom fab shop about that.
DSH