Description
The macro processes an active SOLIDWORKS assembly file (.SLDASM) in a systematic fashion, finds each sheet metal part, and exports its corresponding flat pattern geometry to a DXF file.
System Requirements
- SOLIDWORKS Version: SOLIDWORKS 2017 or higher
- VBA Environment: Pre-installed in SOLIDWORKS (To access, select Tools > Macro > New or Edit)
- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or higher
Pre-requisites
In order to run the macro, the following requirements must be met:
- The active document must be an assembly document (.SLDASM) inside SOLIDWORKS.
- The components in the assembly must have valid sheet metal parts created with a formed flat pattern.
- In order to run the macro, SOLIDWORKS must be installed and opened on the computer.
Results
- A DXF file is generated for each distinct sheet metal part that we process, which contains the flat pattern.
- The DXF files are placed in the unique directory intended for their SOLIDWORKS part file source.
- The macro calls the ExportToDWG2 method so that the flat pattern can be issue accurate and complete with bend lines.
Steps to Set Up the Macro
- Register Macro File: Either from SolidWorks opened already or not, go to Tools > Macro > New…
- Name Macro File: To help identify your macro in the future, a good practice is to name the macro something relevant. For example, if you are creating a SolidWorks macro to export sheet metal to DXF in SOLIDWORKS, you might call the file “BatchSheetMetalDXF.swp”. Once you have named the macro, you can hit save. A new editor window for your VBA editor should open automatically.
- Paste the code: Download the VBA code we have provided for you below and place it in your editor.
- Run Macro: Exit out of your editor and save your work when prompted. With a Sheet Metal assembly active (the sheet metal option should check under “View>Hide/Show>Sheet Metal”), you are now able to run your macro via Tools > Macro > Run, or via your previously assigned shortcut.
VBA Macro Code
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Option Explicit ' ******************************************************************** ' DISCLAIMER: ' This code is provided as-is with no warranty or liability by ' Blue Byte Systems Inc. The company assumes no responsibility for ' any issues arising from the use of this code in production. ' ******************************************************************** ' Enum for Sheet Metal export options Enum SheetMetalOptions_e ExportFlatPatternGeometry = 1 IncludeHiddenEdges = 2 ExportBendLines = 4 IncludeSketches = 8 MergeCoplanarFaces = 16 ExportLibraryFeatures = 32 ExportFormingTools = 64 ExportBoundingBox = 2048 End Enum ' solidworks app variable Dim swApp As SldWorks.SldWorks Dim swModelDoc As ModelDoc2 Dim swAssemblyDoc As AssemblyDoc Dim swComponents As Variant Dim swComponent As Component2 Dim swComponentIterator Dim processedFiles() As String Sub Main() ReDim processedFiles(0) processedFiles(0) = "" Set swApp = Application.SldWorks Set swModelDoc = swApp.ActiveDoc Set swAssemblyDoc = swModelDoc swComponents = swAssemblyDoc.GetComponents(False) For Each swComponentIterator In swComponents Set swComponent = swComponentIterator Dim swComponentModelDoc As ModelDoc2 Set swComponentModelDoc = swComponent.GetModelDoc2 If Not swComponentModelDoc Is Nothing Then If ExistsInProcessedFiles(processedFiles, swComponentModelDoc.GetPathName()) = False Then addItemToProcessedFiles processedFiles, swComponentModelDoc.GetPathName() PrintDXF swComponentModelDoc End If End If Next swComponentIterator End Sub Function ExistsInProcessedFiles(ByRef arr() As String, fileName As Variant) As Boolean Dim i As Long For i = LBound(arr) To UBound(arr) If arr(i) = fileName Then ExistsInProcessedFiles = True Exit Function End If Next i ExistsInProcessedFiles = False End Function Sub PrintDXF(ByRef swmodel As ModelDoc2) If swmodel.GetType() = swDocumentTypes_e.swDocPART Then Dim swPart As PartDoc Set swPart = swmodel Dim modelPath As String modelPath = swmodel.GetPathName Dim outPath As String outPath = Left(modelPath, Len(modelPath) - 6) outPath = outPath + "dxf" swmodel.Visible = True Dim saveDXF As Boolean saveDXF = swPart.ExportToDWG2(outPath, modelPath, swConst.swExportToDWG_e.swExportToDWG_ExportSheetMetal, True, vbEmpty, False, False, SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportFlatPatternGeometry + SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportFlatPatternGeometry + SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportFlatPatternGeometry + SheetMetalOptions_e.ExportBendLines, vbEmpty) If saveDXF Then Debug.Print swmodel.GetTitle() & " saved" Else Debug.Print swmodel.GetTitle() & " failed to save" End If swmodel.Visible = False End If End Sub Public Sub addItemToProcessedFiles(ByRef arr() As String, ByVal processedFile As String) Dim arrLength As Long arrLength = UBound(arr) If arrLength < 0 Then ReDim arr(0) arr(0) = processedFile Else ReDim Preserve arr(arrLength + 1) arr(arrLength + 1) = processedFile End If End Sub |
Macro
You can download the macro from here.
Need Customization & Expert Support?
Our specialized team at Blue Byte Systems Inc. develops custom macros and add-ins to meet these advanced workflow needs.