DXF/DWG settings

Here you will find settings for processing exported files. The majority of the settings apply only to the DXF files. Any changes you make here are automatically saved when you exit the program.

Flat pattern settings

This area includes the basic settings for the creation end export of flat patterns. This is valid for both the DXF and DWG files:

Replace splines – splines will be approximated using linear segments or arcs (only Inventor 2023) with selected tolerance. Approximation precision is controlled with Tolerance value.
The meaning of tolerance value for linear and arc approximation is shown below:

Merge profiles into polyline – lines and arcs will be joined to polylines.

Rebase geometry to 1^st quadrant – all the geometry in DXF will be created in 1^st quadrant so all the X and Y coordinates are positive.

Trim centerlines at contour – trim bend centerlines where they cross holes in bends

Automatic detection of threaded holes (DXF only)

AutoDXF can automatically detect threaded (tapped) holes on flat patterns and place them on a separate DXF layer. This is useful you do not want to laser cut threaded holes but only want to laser sign their location to make them later.

If Place threaded holes on a separate layeris selected, then all threaded holes will be placed on a separate layer (AutoDXF Threads). You can change the thread layer name, color and visibility in the Layers tab.

Create points in thread centers defines that Point objects will be created in centers of threaded holes. The points are placed on a separate layer (AutoDXF Threads Points). You can change the layer name, color and visibility in the Layers tab.

Bending information (DXF only)

This option places texts with bending angles, directions, and radii on the middle of bend lines in the DXF files. It can be used to laser sign the bending angles and directions on the sheet metal parts to simplify the bending process.

Check the option Write bend angle, direction, and radius on bend linesto enable this feature. The texts are placed on a separate layer (AutoDXF Bend Info) – you can set its name, color and visibility in the Layers tab.

The content of bend information is set with a Scheme. There are 3 attributes available:

<ANG> - bend angle
<DIR> - bend direction
<RAD> - bend radius

Those will be replaced with actual values. Anything else will be treated as static text. Here are few scheme examples and the outcome text (for angle 90, radius 2 and direction UP):

Scheme Resulting bend information
<ANG> - <DIR> -R<RAD>              90 – UP -R2
<ANG>, bend <DIR>                       90, bend UP
<RAD>mm <DIR>                            2mm UP
<RAD>mm <DIR> <ANG>deg      2mm UP 90deg

Click reset button () to reset the scheme to the default setting: <ANG> - <DIR> -R<RAD>

You can also define text height (in mm or inch), decimal places and optionally remove trailing zeros for the bend values.

Labels for UP and DOWN bend location can be customized. Enter the values in Up label and Down label fields. Leave the values empty if you do not need the directions.

This is an example of exported DXF file with angles included using a scheme <ANG>  <DIR> R<RAD>::

Text data (DXF only)

You can include text descriptions in the DXF files. Checking Add text descriptions to DXF will enable this option.

Available properties to include as texts are listed in the Property column: Material, Thickness, Quantity, Part Number, Stock Number, FPlen, FPwid, Unit, Item, Project and Revision Number.

In addition, there are also added custom iProperties available in the list.

Properties that are checked in the select column will be included in the DXF text.

You can change the prefix (green column) – that is fixed text that will be written before specific property.

You can change the order of properties by dragging and dropping them up and down the list.

The text is created on a specific layer (AutoDXF Texts). You can set its name, color and visibility in the Layerstab.

Set the text height as a fixed value (in mm or inch) in Text height or check Set text height as a fraction of max. flat pattern dimension to dynamically define the text height depending on the flat pattern size. The value in % of max flat pattern dimension defines the text height as a percentage of the maximum flat pattern size (length or width).

Select Text alignment with one of the options:

Position text using a point uses a sketch point from the first sketch on the flat pattern as the placement position of the text. If this is selected you can also define Attach. point to set which corner of the text box attaches to the position point:

If there are multiple sketch points found on the flat pattern sketch then the first one is used.

Please ensure that the Unconsumed Sketches layer is selected for export in the Layers tab if using Position text using a point option.

Example of a sketch point and exported DXF text with included Part Number iProperty:

If Position text using a point option isn’t selected, the text is placed approximately in the center of the flat pattern geometry. Use Default () text alignment if your text is shifted.

Select Single line text to write DXF text in a single line instead of each property in its own row. If this is selected you can also define a Separator to be used between properties written in one line.

Example of a text included in a DXF file:

Detection of small holes (DXF only)

AutoDXF can detect small circular holes on the flat pattern and place them on a separate layer. This can be useful for example when laser cutting the parts and want to exclude the holes with small diameters (according to the material thickness).

Activate this option by checking Place small holes on a separate layer. The layer is AutoDXF Small Holes.You can set the layer name, color and visibility in the Layers tab.

Create points in centers of small holes will create POINT objects in centers of small holes. The points will be placed on the layer AutoDXF SmallHoles Points. You can set the layer name, color and visibility in the Layers tab.

The criteria for defining what is a small hole is defined as a factor (Up to hole diameter) multiplied with sheet metal thickness.

Bend marks at starts and ends of bends (DXF only)

AutoDXF can create bend marks – short lines at the starts and ends of bend lines. Example of such DXF file:

Activate this option by selecting Create bend marks at starts and ends of bend lines. Bend marks will be created on a separate layer (AutoDXF Bend Marks). You can set the layer name, color and visibility in the Layers tab.

Length for UP defines the length of bend marks for bends in UP direction.

Length for DOWN defines the length of bend marks for bends in DOWN direction.

You can also define offset of bend marks from the contour with Contour offset (mm) or Contour offset (in) value.

Min. bend length defines the minimum edge length for which the band marks will be created. If you want to create bend marks for all edges enter a small value.

Info over mark defines that the bend information is written above the bend mark instead on the middle of the full bend line. This option is available only when Write bend angle, direction, and radius on bend lines is selected.