If you ever need to send files to a customer or client you have several different options.  The method will depend on how much information you want them to have and whether or not they have SolidWorks.  Do they need just the drawing, a full assembly model and all of the components, the shape and size of an assembly but without any details, or just a picture?

1. eDrawing

You can send an eDrawing (which will allow them to look at the drawing and the model.  They can rotate the model around and hide components.)  Go to File>Publish eDrawing s File which will open up your file in eDrawings.  From eDrawings you can save it as an executable file so the client will be able to open it without having to install eDrawings.  The advantage to this is that they don’t need SolidWorks and the package to send to them is relatively small.

2. Pack and Go

If you want them to be able to look at the models along with the drawings, then you need to send them all of the component models, the assembly model and drawings.  The easiest way to do this is with Pack and Go.

1. In Windows Explorer right click on your main assembly drawing, click on SolidWorks, then select Pack and Go …
2. If the assembly drawing is open, go to File>Pack and Go…
3. You’ll open a window like this:

     4.    SolidWorks will gather up all of the models required for the drawing.  You have the option of saving them into a zip file.  You can even add a prefix or a suffix to each of the file names.

3. Save as Part

If the client just needs the overall shape and size of your model or you don’t want them to have any of the details of the assembly, then you can save your assembly as a part.  You can choose to save the exterior faces, the exterior components, or all of the components.  (You would see the difference if you did a section through the part or checked the weight of the part.)

1. Your customer may need your file in a different format than SolidWorks such as IGES, STEP, ProE, or one of the other available types.  With the assembly or part open, go to File>Save As and in the Save as type: drop down select the correct type.  Click on the Options button to modify any of the optional settings for the particular file type you have selected.
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3. Sometime you may just need a “picture” of your model or the drawing.  In this case you can save your file as a pdf, jpeg, or tif.  Again, just select the appropriate type from the Save as type: drop down list.
4. If you just want them to look at just the drawing and not the model, you can save a detached drawing.  It’s like creating a “snapshot” of the drawing.  You do not need to send the models along with drawing for the client to view the drawing.  Just do a Save As and select detached drawing as the type.  The client must have SolidWorks to open the drawing.
5. You can export the sheet metal flat pattern from the model file.  Right click on the flat pattern in the Feature Manager Tree and select Export to DXF/DWG.  You will be able to choose what to include and also have a chance to clean up extraneous entities.  You can also save a drawing as a DWG or DXF file with a Save As.  Click on the Options button to set the version.