Sheet Metal — Complete Command Comparison
SOLIDWORKS vs ZW3D
Prepared by ChampionXperience
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Sheet Metal | Sheet Metal Attribute | Both applications manage thickness, bend radius, bend calculation parameters, and relief types. In SW, these settings are defined under the Feature Tree after the first sheet metal feature is created. In ZW3D, the Sheet Metal Attribute can be opened independently. Additionally, the default flange position, type, length, and corner relief settings can be pre-defined at the start of the process. |
Gauge Table & Bend Table | Material Table & Bend Table | Both applications offer bend table support. SW pulls thickness and bend radii from the table based on gauge numbers. ZW3D pulls K-Factor values from the table based on your material selection. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Base Flange/Tab  | Extrude Tab  Extrude Flange  | SW consolidates basic sheet creation under a single command (Base Flange/Tab). ZW3D manages open and closed profile workflows with separate commands (Extrude Tab and Extrude Flange). For closed profiles, the required Rip definition is automatically created by the system, and the user may optionally be prompted to select a rip point. SW cannot directly create a hollow sheet-metal box from a closed profile. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Edge Flange  | Full Flange  Flange  | Basic flange functions are equivalent. ZW3D additionally offers S Bend, Joggle, and Z Bend options. |
Edge Flange → Edit Flange Profile | Flange with Profile  | In SW, a custom flange profile is created within the Edge Flange command. ZW3D provides a dedicated separate command for this. |
Edge Flange → Edit Flange Profile | Partial Flange  | In SW, start and end positions are modified by editing the flange profile. ZW3D provides a dedicated separate command for this operation. |
Miter Flange  | Flange (User Defined) / Swept Flange | SW provides a dedicated Miter Flange command. In ZW3D, equivalent functionality is achieved via the User Defined option within the Flange command, or the Swept Flange command. |
| Not available in SW | Twist Flange  | There is no equivalent command in SW. ZW3D's Twist Flange command creates a twisted sheet-metal surface and also enables unfolding of the sheet. |
Swept Flange  | Swept Flange  | Both applications provide similar functionality. SW can create transitions between tangential edges. In ZW3D, this behavior is geometry-dependent and may yield different results when base edges lack radii. |
Lofted Bend  | Lofted Flange  | In SW, the use of an open profile is mandatory. ZW3D supports both open and closed profiles. Additionally, a cut point can be defined. |
Hem  | Hem Flange  | Both applications support basic hem types. ZW3D additionally offers Centered Loop, S Bend, and Curl options. |
Jog  | Jog  | Basic functions are equivalent. In SW, the Dimension Position options include an Overall Dimension choice, which differs from ZW3D. |
Cross Break  | Not available in ZW3D | In SW, this exists only as an annotation and does not alter model geometry. There is no direct equivalent in ZW3D. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Sketched Bend  | Fold by Line  | Basic functions are equivalent. ZW3D additionally offers a Curl (a Hem Flange variant) bend option. |
Fold / Unfold  | Fold / Unfold  | Functionally equivalent. |
Flatten (Flat Pattern)  | Flatten  Linear Unfold  | SW manages flat patterns on the existing model. ZW3D can generate the flat pattern as a separate graphic body. Furthermore, Linear Unfold enables partial unfolding at specified angles and the creation of intermediate forming states. |
| Not available in SW | Set Stationary Face  | In SW, the Fixed Face is re-selected each time a Flatten or Unfold operation is performed. In ZW3D, the Stationary Face can be defined once and reused in subsequent operations. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Edge Flange → Edit Flange Profile | Bend Taper  | In SW, taper is achieved by editing the flange profile. ZW3D's Bend Taper can be applied directly to bend surfaces and also works on imported parts. |
Edge Flange → Edit Flange Profile | Extend Flange  | In SW, extending a flange requires editing the relevant feature. ZW3D provides a dedicated command for this and it also works on imported parts. |
| Not available in SW | Change Bend  | In SW, bend parameters are modified by editing the relevant feature. With ZW3D's Change Bend, the radius, angle, and K-Factor values of the selected bend can be changed retrospectively. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Closed Corner  | Close Corner  | Basic functions are equivalent. In SW, edge and bend closing operations are handled under a single command. In ZW3D, Edge and Bend are presented as two separate options within a single command. Corner Relief settings are found within the Bend option. |
Welded Corner  | Not available in ZW3D | SW provides a dedicated Weld Corner command (independent of Closed Corner). It fills a defined radius between corners to represent the weld bead. There is no direct equivalent in ZW3D. |
Break Corner / Corner Trim  | Chamfer / Fillet  | ZW3D does not have a sheet-metal-specific Break Corner command. The operation is performed using the general Chamfer and Fillet commands. |
Corner Relief  | Sheet Metal Attribute → Corner Attributes | SW provides Corner Relief as a dedicated command. In ZW3D, Corner Relief (Attributes) selections are defined within Sheet Metal Attribute or during Flange creation. |
Corner Trim  | Not available in ZW3D | No direct equivalent exists in ZW3D. These are relief cuts added directly to the DXF/DWG flat pattern so the sheet can be bent on a press brake without tearing and to prevent heat buildup/dwell marks at corners during laser cutting. The command operates only on the flat pattern and is visible only in the flat pattern. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Forming Tool | Dimple  Corresponds to SW's Emboss and Extruded Flange libraries. Requires a closed sketch. Louver  Corresponds to SW's Louvers library. A single sketch line is sufficient. Punch  Corresponds to SW's Lances and Ribs libraries. A previously created solid body can be used to drive the command. | SW uses a library-based approach and permits the creation of user-defined forming tools. ZW3D generates equivalent geometries on a command basis. |
Stamp  | Punch | Functionally equivalent. ZW3D's Punch command additionally supports defining open surfaces and using pre-designed 3D models. |
Gusset  | Punch | SW provides a dedicated Gusset command. There is no direct equivalent in ZW3D; however, a similar result can be achieved using the Punch command with user-defined geometry. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Extruded Cut  | Extrude-Remove  | Both applications can be used on sheet metal bodies. SW provides additional options on sheet metal parts such as Link to Thickness and Normal Cut. |
Normal Cut  | Normal Cut  | In SW, an existing Extruded Cut can be retroactively made perpendicular to the face. In ZW3D, it is created directly from a sketch and offers different input options. |
Vent  | Vent  | Functionally equivalent. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Tab and Slot  | Scheduled for Update | SW provides a dedicated command for creating interlocking tab-and-slot connections between sheet-metal parts. There is no direct equivalent in ZW3D. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Not available in SW | Show Bend Information  | ZW3D can display bend angles, radii, and K-Factor values directly on the model. In SW, this information is viewed through the feature editing dialogs. |
| Not available in SW | Flange Interference  | ZW3D checks whether any interference exists between flanges. In SW, there is no direct equivalent command; however, if flanges intersect, SW will mark the feature node in yellow in the Feature Tree even if the command is allowed to complete — this signals an error condition. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Rip  | Rip  Sketched Rip | Basic functions are equivalent. ZW3D additionally offers the Sketched Rip command. |
Insert Bends  | Mark Bend  | SW's Insert Bends automatically creates bend features. ZW3D's Mark Bend only annotates the existing geometry; it does not create bend features. |
Convert to Sheet Metal  | Convert to Sheet Metal  | Both applications can convert solid bodies to sheet metal. ZW3D can additionally recognize suitable protrusions on the model as Punch features. |
| SOLIDWORKS (SW) | ZW3D | Differences |
|---|---|---|
Auto Generate Drawing | Auto Drafting | Both applications can automatically generate technical drawing views. Their approaches differ. |
DXF / DWG Export (Flat Pattern) | DXF / DWG Export (Flat Pattern) | Supported in both applications. |