DSTV NC Data from Weldments / Structure System and STEP – Directly from SOLIDWORKS | DSTV Assistant

DSTV NC Data from Weldments and STEP
SOLIDWORKS Weldments and imported STEP files as source for the DSTV Assistant

"Does the DSTV Assistant work with Weldments?" – this is one of the questions we get asked most often. The short answer: "Yes, absolutely."
And the same goes for imported STEP files and similar formats. In this article, we walk through both workflows in detail – and explain why the fastest approach for Weldments exports isn't always the smartest one.

SOLIDWORKS Weldments / Structure System

NC Export from Weldments
The Multi-Body Problem
Save Bodies – The Better Approach
Results Compared

STEP Files

NC Export from STEP
Results in the Viewer

NC Export from Weldments / Structure System

The DSTV Assistant works seamlessly with SOLIDWORKS Weldments – and getting started is straightforward. The one thing to keep in mind is that you need to be at assembly level before starting the export. In the video, we walk through the complete workflow – and explain why it's worth taking a moment to think before clicking "Export all".

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The Multi-Body Problem

SOLIDWORKS Weldments / Structure System create so-called Multi-Body Parts – a single part file containing multiple solid bodies. This is convenient for design, but it has an important consequence for DSTV exports: automatic equal parts detection does not work with Multi-Body Parts.

What does this mean in practice? If an assembly contains, for example, six identical posts, a direct export will produce six separate NC files – even though a single file with a quantity of 6 would be the correct and desired result.

This is not a limitation of the DSTV Assistant – it is a structural characteristic of SOLIDWORKS Weldments. The quick approach produces valid NC files, just more of them than necessary. Anyone who needs cleanly structured export results with correct quantities should not skip the next step.

This description is intentionally brief. If you'd like to explore this topic in more depth, we have a dedicated article covering it in full detail:

Multi-Body Parts: Problem and Solution

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Save Bodies – The Better Approach

The solution lies within SOLIDWORKS itself: using Insert > Features > Save Bodies, the individual bodies of a Multi-Body Part can be saved as standalone parts – and at the same time assembled directly into a new assembly. The result is an assembly without any Multi-Body Parts, consisting entirely of individual components.

Save Bodies dialog in SOLIDWORKS

Feature Tree of the new assembly with individual parts

The new assembly with cleanly separated individual parts in the Feature Tree

In the new assembly, all individual parts are clearly listed in the Feature Tree. The Quickstart for Assembly in the DSTV Assistant launches the analysis immediately – no manual selection required. Profile detection works reliably, and the subsequent export produces significantly fewer files with correct quantities.

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Results Compared

The difference in export results for the example above speaks for itself:

Direct export from the Multi-Body Part: 12 NC files, no equal parts detection, every profile exported individually
Export after Save Bodies: significantly fewer files (7 total), correct quantities in the NC data, cleanly structured export folder

For a quick one-off export, the direct approach is perfectly usable. For productive use in manufacturing, taking the detour via Save Bodies is clearly the recommended path.