How to Design DXF Bevel Cuts with Leaders

Leader Formats

Beyond a basic positive or negative number, leaders can also contain complex information describing the weld preparation required for your part.

The above may seem somewhat confusing, but can be broken down into sections.

E OR S
E describes an extent or extremity based weld preparation. The line drawn will be the extent of the part. Root gap
S describes that all bevels are angled from the surface. A positive value will have the bottom extend past the described line. A negative bevel will react the same as an E where the surface is the extent.

Degrees1
A positive or negative degrees value. Usually between -45 and 45. See the diagram below.

RootGap1
A distance defined from the surface to where the corner should be located. RootGap can only be used with an E Bevel, or if  is ticked under the DXF Import Settings.

Degrees 2
Written on the same leader, after Degrees1 and RootGap1, a second weld can be described so long as it is of the opposite sign (Positive versus negative). See Degrees1 for more information.

RootGap2
Written on the same leader, after Degrees1, RootGap1 and Degrees2. See RootGap1 for amore information.

/ OR –
A forward slash (/) can be used to define a gradient transition between this leader and the next. Remembering that leaders are indexed clockwise on an outside shape, and counterclockwise on and internal shape. The gradient transition will allow you to create complex shapes such as below.

A dash (-) can be used to define a continuous bevel. One that will continue until another bevel.