Start with the drawing your engineer needs
Solar designers and engineering teams often need to move a project from layout and analysis into a drawing package. A useful handoff depends on the receiving application, file version, units, and the geometry included—not just the file extension.
Use SurgePV’s solar design workflow to review the project context, then identify which outputs your CAD specialist needs to continue drafting.
Check DXF and DWG requirements separately
DXF interchange and native DWG export are different capabilities. Do not assume a DXF file provides a native DWG drawing, or that an exported drawing can be imported back into the same design project.
Request a current sample export during your evaluation. Confirm its format and version with the team, then open it in your own CAD environment. Confirm any required DWG conversion, import, or round-trip workflow before purchase.
A practical CAD handoff checklist
| Check | What to verify in your sample |
|---|---|
| Format and version | Actual extension, supported interchange version, and receiving CAD release. |
| Units and scale | Drawing units, a known dimension, orientation, and coordinate origin. |
| Editable geometry | Which lines, symbols, text, and layers can be edited after opening. |
| Drawing contents | Roof or site outlines, array geometry, and any electrical details required for your project. |
| Revision handling | How changes in the source design affect the exported drawing and revision record. |
Keep engineering and permit review in the workflow
A CAD export is a design handoff. It does not establish structural adequacy, electrical compliance, or permit approval. The responsible professionals must check the drawing against site conditions, the adopted requirements, and the authority’s submission rules.
Identify missing sheets, calculations, labels, and approvals before treating the output as a submission package. Use the solar compliance resources to organize your regional research.
What to bring to the demo
Bring a representative project, your CAD application and version, a required drawing example, and a list of mandatory outputs. Ask to inspect a sample and agree which steps remain in your existing CAD workflow.
SurgePV uses a guided demo for evaluation. Review annual per-user pricing and confirm the current export scope and contract terms in your quote.
