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How to flatten a curved surface, model on it and wrap it back in SOLIDWORKS

Surface Flatten (SOLIDWORKS Premium) lays faces flat, but there is no built-in way to bring what you model on the flat back onto the part. Unwrap lays the faces flat beside the part as a parametric surface; model on it, and Surface Wrap wraps the result back exactly where it was modelled, also round closed bottles.

A vase and its mantle unwrapped flat beside it in SOLIDWORKS

Step by step

  1. 01Select the faces, then Advanced Surface Tools tab › Unwrap. Mapping Cylindrical for bottles and vases, Flatten for other connected faces. OK lays them flat beside the part.
  2. 02Sketch and model on the flat: a logo, a grip, raised lettering, a pocket.
  3. 03Select the original faces, Advanced Surface Tools tab › Surface Wrap, and pick the body you modelled: it is placed where you modelled it on the flat.
  4. 04Output Solid adds it to (or cuts it from) the part. Edit the flat model later and the wrap follows.

Good to know

  • Doubly curved faces cannot be flattened without stretch; the status line shows how much.
  • The flat stays where it was placed, so features modelled on it keep their place when the faces change.

Try it on your own part

Advanced Surface Tools is a SOLIDWORKS add-in (2023 or newer). Every tool works free for 14 days; a licence is €99 plus VAT, one-time.

Free 14-day trialBuy · €99 + VAT

Docs: Unwrap · Surface Wrap

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