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Avoid cutting mistakes: check your SOLIDWORKS stock list before production
Finding an undersized panel after cutting costs more than material. It can interrupt the schedule and delay delivery. A stock list should therefore be reviewed as a production instruction, not merely an exported spreadsheet.
Distinguish finished size from starting stock
The designer may report the finished size while the cutting operator expects the initial blank. Label the two clearly where both are needed. Allowances for cutting, planing or sanding must follow the workshop process and material, rather than one arbitrary addition for every item.
Do curved edges need extra material?
A flat panel with rounded corners may already fit within the listed rectangular blank. Extra allowance is not automatically needed. For a member curved along its body, check whether the proposed stock actually contains the full shape.
Prioritize expensive mistakes
Review recently changed parts, large panels, long members and angled or curved shapes. Also check visually similar pieces with different thicknesses, materials or grain requirements.
- Open the approved design revision.
- Select representative pieces.
- Compare dimensions and units against the model.
- Confirm machining allowances with production.
- Approve the new list and withdraw the old one.
Automatic export can reduce retyping and make revisions easier, but it does not replace approval. With BodyExporter, review finished and stock dimensions before issuing Excel. Try it on your own product and compare the result with your current process.