From 3D model to manufacture-ready output with SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS

SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS:
From 3D model to manufacture-ready output

Today, steel design companies are faced with the task of creating designs faster, more accurately, and more consistently. SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS is a powerful steel design extension that digitizes the entire workflow from 3D model to production-ready data. Users benefit from automated follow-up processes that not only save time but also reduce errors and improve the quality of manufacturing documents.

In this article, we show how SolidSteel parametric covers key process steps such as geometric identical part recognition, automatic creation of BOM lists, fully automated drawing creation, optimized DXF export, DSTV NC export, and how this results in a consistent and efficient steel design workflow.

Geometric identical part recognition: Automated identification of identical components

One of the most important functions in SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS is automatic geometric identical part recognition. The software identifies components that are geometrically identical, even if they have different names or positions in the model. This makes it immediately apparent how many identical parts are actually present in the project, which greatly simplifies sourcing and manufacturing planning.

Automatic identical part recognition reduces component diversity, prevents duplicate designs, and ensures clear and cost-efficient parts lists. This ultimately leads to lower manufacturing costs and a better structure throughout the entire project.

Automatic bills of materials: Precise data directly from the 3D model

SolidSteel parametric allows you to generate parts lists in SOLIDWORKS quickly and reliably. The software uses parametric 3D data to create complete steel design bills of materials containing all essential information. This includes profile details, cutting lengths, material information, weights, machining operations, and screw connections.

Since the bills of materials are generated directly from the model, they are always up to date and complete. They can be transferred immediately to existing ERP or production systems. The combination of automatic equal part recognition and bill of materials creation ensures that every quantity specification is correct and clearly defined, making the entire manufacturing process more transparent.

→ Read more about typical steel design bills of materials in a separate article

Automatic drawing creation: Shop drawings at the touch of a button

The manual creation of part and assembly drawings is traditionally one of the most time-consuming tasks in steel design. SolidSteel parametric significantly speeds up this process by automatically deriving individual part and assembly drawings from the SOLIDWORKS model.

The automatically generated drawings contain all relevant information, including dimensions, views, sections and position numbers. Companies can define their own templates to tailor drawings precisely to internal standards or customer requirements. This results in a consistent and efficient drawing process that saves a lot of time and minimizes sources of error.

DXF export for sheet metal parts: Sorted, labeled, and ready for production

For sheet metal manufacturing, SolidSteel parametric offers optimized DXF export that is perfectly designed for laser, plasma, or water jet cutting systems. Sheet metal parts can be automatically sorted according to their thickness and output in a clearly structured way. This facilitates both internal manufacturing and collaboration with external contract manufacturers.

The DXF files also contain important labels such as position numbers, material markings, and project information. All machining operations such as holes, contours, and recesses are correctly taken into account. This results in production-ready DXF files that can be transferred directly into the production process without manual reworking.