Validation
Validation warnings
Use validation statuses to decide what to review, what to fix, and where to continue.
Validation checks the current model and reports statuses that may affect DXF generation or download. The icons in the table below match those shown in the DXF Exporter validation table.
You do not need a perfect model before validating — validation is there to show what needs attention. Revalidate after changing the model, configuration, or DXF Export Prep custom feature inputs.
Warnings and failures
Statuses fall into two groups:
- Warnings (coloured icons) — the part can still be selected for export, but you should review the issue before relying on the output. The app may ask you to confirm before generating or downloading.
- Failures (red icons) — the part cannot be selected for export until the geometry is fixed or remodelled.
Stale context and drift is different: it is a session-level advisory when design history or configuration may have moved on since validation, not a per-part row status. Revalidate before generating or downloading if you need output that matches what you see in Onshape.
Status reference
| Warning/status | What it means | Can you continue? | Where to fix it | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missing material | No Onshape material is assigned to the part. Export still works, but the part is grouped under a default stock name rather than a named material folder. | Yes — review folder grouping in the package. | Materials and thicknesses | |
| Ambiguous orientation | DXF Exporter cannot confidently determine the manufacturing or sheet orientation for the part. | Yes — resolve before production output if machining direction matters. | Ambiguous orientation | |
| Overcam | A pocket at the part boundary needs overcam relief for a round cutter, and the DXF Export Prep custom feature has not been applied. | Yes — review before production output. | Overcam | |
| Ball-cut path missing | The part has ball-cut geometry but no toolpath edge at the deepest point of the groove. | Yes — resolve if that toolpath is required for the part. | Ball-cut edges | |
| Complex curve geometry | The part includes spline or ellipse-derived edges on a horizontal face — verify the output before machining. | Yes — review before production output. | Model requirements | |
| Incompatible geometry | The geometry does not fit the supported 2.5-axis DXF assumptions — for example, no planar back face or unrecognised curved surfaces. | No — part cannot be selected for export. | Model requirements | |
| Double-sided milling | Material is machined from both faces of the sheet. DXF export is not supported for double-sided parts today. | No — part cannot be selected for export. | Model requirements | |
| Stale context/drift | Design history, configuration, or the Onshape tab context may have changed since validation. | Revalidate before generation or download. | Stale contexts and drift |
Start with the linked guide for the warning you see, make the model or custom feature change in Onshape, then run validation again. If several warnings appear together, fix model-level issues such as material, orientation, or incompatible geometry first.