Sheet metal export

ian_elvar

Hi

I've got a couple of questions about sheet metal exports I couldn't find answers to:

Is there a way to export all sheet metal flat patterns in a part studio, assembly or document? I have a document with a complex sheet metal structure which is slow and frustrating to export by finding the flat patterns and right clicking on individual parts to export when issuing a new version. 

Also, is there a way to modify how files are named on export? As it is, the name of the part is OK, but a part number too would be even more helpful.

Many thanks!

Ian

philip_thomas

@ian_elvar - These are great points.

Re the export of multiple files simultaneously, we already do this for STL (from an assembly) and have an enhancement on the books for doing it for any file format. The workflow would be to drop each of the sheet metal parts (flattened) into an assembly one time, and then export as separate files in one go upon release. To have your Pro-Vote added to the list of requesters, please submit a feedback ticket.
As for naming the parts on export, you only need to rename the part to be the part number one time and they will be called that in all operations moving forward.

I hope this helps - Philip.

ian_elvar

Hi Philip 

Thanks for the swift reply, I'll get a feedback ticket raised.

kent_henderson

I think this thread has gone dead. Can I ask that it come back to life? I agree with Ian. I live in Onshape's sheet metal which I find mostly excellent BTW. But exporting each piece individually is painfully time consuming and prone to errors. Here is a bin made from 20,000 lbs of plate steel containing 28 pieces. It would be so nice to grab all of them and export them as individual dxfs. In this example I screwed up and missed exporting an 8' x 12' yellow piece and I exported (1) too many of the smaller purple triangles. We use Onshape because we're able to hit our dimensions every time on our burnouts. It saves us money. Being able to export all the sheet metal pieces at once would save me even more.

lana

@kent_henderson
Not exactly what you are asking, but there is a batch option in sheet metal dxf export - notice the last check box here

pmd

@lana - the batch option in sheet metal export only batches the flats for the currently selected sheet metal feature. Most of the time I have a part studio with multiple sheet metal features and most of these only produce one flat item so the checkbox is not useful.

What would be most useful, to many people I believe, would be a batch download of all flat pattern dxfs in the entire part studio using the Part Number as the filename (or at least part of the filename) within the zip.

lana

@pmd Thank you for clarifying.

kent_henderson

Very nice. I'm not sure how I missed that. 

castor1967

Just wondering if this feature to export all the flat DXFs at once ever got added?

AaronS

Bumping this thread. Exporting all flat DXFs in a part studio would be extremely useful. 

arjan_bok

An export of al sheets in dxf would indeed be very useful.

And also a way to automatically add the sheet thickness to the name of the file.

robert_stiles

Hello, any update on this? We found the "down load all flat patterns as a zip" function, but the naming is a pain. Can the name of the flattened pattern not simply be a derivative of the sheet metal part name it comes from please? Thanks

adam_janney

Any updates yet on this feature? Sheet metal in Onshape is a phenomenal tool but Exporting can be time-consuming. My only other add would be a possible checkbox for layer data for sheet metal thickness on export!

arjan_bok

Any news on this feature? I realy need automatic thickness in names to ease up ordering process of sheet parts

caden_armstrong2

CADSharp has created a tool that allows for exporting all sheet metal flat patterns from an assembly.
It can also gathering drawings, and 3d files.
You can check it out in the Onshape app store, and try out the free 30 day trial.

chris_pettit573

Can now be done, amazing!
IMPROVEMENTS TO ONSHAPE - SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2023 — Onshape

Would be great to have more control over the output file name.
My fabricator often wants a file name in this foremat:
"Project ID" "Part ID" "Material Thickness" "Material Grade" "Material Finish" "Quantity"
Eg: Job 9920 -  Part 120.1000.01 - 2mm SS304 N#4 - QTY 7