How to turn off/delete DOWEL SYMBOL on DXF format exported from SOLIDWORKS Drawing

Phan Nguyen Ngoc Hien (Robo Mechatronics)

9 Feb, 2023 01:31 AM

When we exported DXF and PDF drawing from SOLIDWORKS Drawing. Sometimes, we see Dowel symbols on DXF drawing that we don't see on SOLIDWORKS drawing and PDF drawing.

Problem:
+ You're working multi-user environment.
+ You need a DXF + PDF drawing from a SOLIDWORKS Drawing that it's completed by other people with some update.
+ After the DXF file is exported, you see some dowel symbols appear on that drawing without appearing on PDF drawing, also don't see it on SOLIDWORKS Drawing.

So, I have some tips for this. I hope it's helpful for you.
Follow me, good luck.

Note: I run on SOLIDWORKS 2022. But there isn't different between SOLIDWORKS versions for this topic.

1. Step 1: Let check Hole type feature

   Let see my case, the PDF and SOLDWORKS drawing haven't any dowel symbols, maybe it's deleted by other user but this is not important. We need a right drawing.

   

   

   However, they appear in DXF format. We see that the dowel symbols around detail B is symbols for rest of holes. But we don't want to show them.

   

   How do we solve problem?

   Let's go!

   Condition: In SOLIDWORKS Drawing, we keep SOLIDWORKS Document Properties as default for Detailing item (in "Auto insert on view creation").

   

   Let's start! You let check hole type feature in Feature Manager:

   • Click left mouse on hole feature > Edit Feature

   

   • See Type in Hole Type section, if you need create holes type is drill hole, the hole type should be "Drill sizes" type instead of "Dowel Holes" type.

   

   • Importance, we must delete old detail view and add a new detail view before export new DXF file.
   • If you don't want to add a new detail view, let next to step 2.

2. Step 2: If you want to delete dowel symbols without add new detail view, you can refer this step

   In SOLIDWORKS Drawing,

   • You search (1) "Layer Properties" command.
   • You show (2) layer or any layer that it includes dowel symbols and
   • Choose (3) "OK".

   
   

   Now, dowel symbols showed on your drawing, let choose them and delete. Remember save it!

   ***Good luck!***

   

   Note: If you need use a lot of dowel holes but you don't want to show dowel symbols for them on DXF drawing without performing step 1 or step 2. You can next to step 3.

3. Step 3: Turn off options in "Auto insert on view creation"

   In case you want keep hole type as dowel hole type, you can untick on "Dowel symbols -part" in Document properties > Detailing > Auto insert on view creation.

   • Tick: dowel symbol will be auto insert to your drawing for dowel hole type.
   • Untick: SOLIDWORKS won't auto insert to your drawing for dowel hole type.

   

   Note: this change affect only to active document. Let save it as a template to use in future if you want.

   Good luck!

   End.