SOLIDWORKS What’s New 2025 in Sheet Metal

1. Copy Cut List Properties

A long-awaited improvement, the ability to quickly copy cut list properties to multiple items is a real game-changer.

Here’s what you can now do:

• Copy to is available for user-defined properties only.
• Copy to => All or Specific Cut List Items in the Active Configuration: You can now easily replicate cut list properties across multiple items in a single configuration without having to manually input data each time.
• Copy to => Other Configurations: You can extend this functionality to include cut list items in other configurations, ensuring consistency across your entire design.

This feature will save valuable time and reduce the chances of error when managing large sheet metal designs with complex cut lists.

2. Bend Notch

The Bend Notch feature introduces a huge improvement in managing part fabrication. The addition of visible notch marks at the bend locations enhances the communication between the design and the shop floor.

Key Benefits:

• Eliminates Manual Entry: The new bend notch feature removes the need for manual input, streamlining the design process and ensuring greater accuracy.
• Multiple Notch Types: SOLIDWORKS now supports multiple notch types, which provide better control over the type and location of notches during the bending process.

• Clear Visual Guidance: Notch marks are now visible across bends, allowing fabricators to position components correctly, minimizing setup errors and reducing production time.

This enhancement will dramatically reduce the chance of bending errors and improve consistency in your sheet metal parts.

3. Tab and Slot Enhancements

SOLIDWORKS 2025 brings several exciting enhancements to the Tab and Slot feature. These improvements make it easier to create tabs and slots that align with your design intent, and they give you more control over the placement and orientation of the features.

New Capabilities:

• Center-Aligned Tabs: You can now create tabs that are centered, offering a more precise and consistent design.
• Equal Offset options : This enhancement allows you to define offset tabs that are spaced evenly from Start to End reference, improving the flexibility of your design.

• Skip Tab and Slot Instances: This new option lets you skip certain instances of tab and slot features, giving you more control over which features to include and which to exclude.

These changes are designed to provide greater flexibility and control over tab and slot features, making it easier to create complex sheet metal parts.

4. Multi Length Edge Flanges

Previously, creating multi-length edge flanges in SOLIDWORKS involved editing the flange profile manually, which could be slow and unintuitive. Now, the process has been streamlined for increased efficiency.

What’s New:

• Auto-Define Flange Length: You can now automatically add flange length dimensions to your flange profiles, making the design process faster and more intuitive.
• Improved Workflow: Instead of manually editing the flange profile, the software now auto-defines the flanges length, saving time and reducing the likelihood of errors.

This feature eliminates the need for redundant steps, speeding up your design process and ensuring consistency across your sheet metal parts.

Automatically Define Flange Length:

To enable this functionality, simply go to Tools > Options > Document Properties > Sheet Metal. Since this is a document property, it’s best to set it up in your template for future projects.