About Export of Faces and Sheet Metal Flat Patterns

What's New: 2023.2, 2024.2

Export Face As

With a single model face (or flat pattern) selected, you can use Export Face As (from the context menu) to export to different file formats.

Use Export Face As to export all loops on a single planar face. The command is available within the part, sheet metal, or assembly environments. You can export the face loops to either .DXF or .DWG file format. The loop data is processed during the publishing routine. All geometry moves to a location where coordinates have positive values, and the outer profile converts to a polyline. This option is helpful for certain types of manufacturing equipment that require a polyline for direct consumption of .DXF and .DWG data. With Inventor, Export Face As is available while working on the flat pattern of a sheet metal part to export the entire flat pattern when the creation of a polyline is required.

In the sheet metal environment, Export Face As is available for both the flat pattern and the folded part.

Save Copy As

Use Save Copy As to export sheet metal flat patterns to .stp, .sat, .DXF, and .DWG file formats. You can export the entire flat pattern by selecting Save Copy As from the flat pattern browser node context menu.

Note: Exporting to STEP doesn't require the flat pattern to be displayed.

We recommend the Save Copy As command if there is no polyline requirement for the exported flat pattern. Save Copy As produces the most complete and accurate representation of the flat pattern. For example, the loops on all faces are exported; all data are classified and exported to appropriate layers; countersunk holes show the correct inner diameter, sketch text is exported as text objects, and so on.

Click Options in the Save Copy As dialog box to customize the file version being exported. For flat patterns, the options button doesn't enable, instead the options dialog displays when you click Save. For .DXF and .DWG file types, more options are available to customize postprocess routines using an .xml script.

There are two controlling .xml files. FlatPattern.xml is used by the Save Copy As command when exporting from the flat pattern. FaceLoops.xml is used by the Export As Face command. Before you export, depending on your particular workflow requirements, set up the flat pattern export options in the relevant .xml file.