# Using sketches from projected solids sheet metal fabrication

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [October 15, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836 "2024-10-15T12:04:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jayemery](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jayemery/32/25155_2.png) [@Jayemery](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Jayemery)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/1 "2024-10-15T12:04:34Z")

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Need some help. Since shapr cant flatten sheet i thought i had found a work around. By manually cutting and union joining each bend i was left with a flat part. This flat part i then projected onto another sheet to get the new sketch however when I tried to export the sketch as a dxf nothing showed.

The projected sketch has a purple line rather than the usual blue line but this seems to be the only notable difference

If someone could help explain how i change this projected sketch into something that then can be exported as a dxf that would be amazing.

[https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/requests/new](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/requests/new)

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**Author:** ![Jayemery](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jayemery/32/25155_2.png) [@Jayemery](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Jayemery)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/2 "2024-10-15T12:22:43Z")

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![IMG_1084](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/e/e/eefc0804b39e300907d0da25db0ed25e2f564353.jpeg)  
 ![IMG_1085](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/4/0/4001c3569c1e9a54a5c360335ae7932b9eb0378a.jpeg)  
 ![IMG_1083](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/c/6/c6f473fc30fb8d2b5eff7eaa1f0b39eb3650e86c.jpeg)

The attached pics show the process but for those pesky purple lines it would all seem good. Any help appreciated

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**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/3 "2024-10-15T13:01:15Z")

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Hello  
See the screenshot  
1• Create Projection on a Plane  
2• Keep only the projected sketch visible on TOP VIEW. In FRONT for you in your example  
3• Select projected sketch. Menu \> File \> Export to \> DXF from sketch  
4• Open it in Illustrator or other.

 ![1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/2/7/276946a2df7c8bbbbef7967dcf52a4328adb03a9.jpeg)  
 ![2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/e/9eff9c587651fdb2d975b8dcac7784a319afcc62.png)  
 ![3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/b/8/b8b7b88bb69eaca04d3bcf11157684cdc3025289.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jayemery](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jayemery/32/25155_2.png) [@Jayemery](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Jayemery)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/4 "2024-10-15T13:51:37Z")

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Hi jean-philippe  
Thanks for your reply. I have tried to do what you sugest but can seem to project to a plane  
If i create a new plane beneath the objects. Then nothing will project. I have to draw a rectangle below to create a blue surface. Onto this i can project but then i get the purple lines. Which cant be exported What am i doing wrong your assistance is appreciated.  
I have found a laborious work around t=which is to trace every surface but that seems long winded  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/5 "2024-10-15T19:39:27Z")

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Jayemery  
In attachment the shapr3d file.  
[shapr3d\_export\_2024-10-15\_21h37m.shapr](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/uploads/short-url/1UjWj8OPU1HnNtkmZSXA5B191wP.shapr) (28,8 Ko)

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**Author:** ![jawdack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jawdack](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jawdack)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/6 "2024-10-25T20:43:36Z")

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Have you tried extruding the projection so it’s a body instead of a sketch?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jayemery](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jayemery/32/25155_2.png) [@Jayemery](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Jayemery)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/using-sketches-from-projected-solids-sheet-metal-fabrication/34836/7 "2024-10-27T19:47:02Z")

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Will give that a bash. Thanks