Convert to SheetMetal function deleting customer supplied etch marks

[bjlasota]

I've gotten a large package from the customer who included all the etch marks they require for marking and welding in their models which is awesome. The downside, is I cannot convert to sheetmetal without these etch marks being wiped away. I can select the opposite side of the material to generate a good flat pattern that maintains the etch marks on the opposite side, however when I flatten, it actually cuts the flats out. Is there a way to maintain these etch marks when using the convert to sheet metal function?

 

[TheTick]

Save the etch mark geometry before converting.
[ul]
[li]Use 3D sketch to extract edges[/li]
[li]Copy faces of etch marks as surfaces (knit or offset at zero)[/li]
[li]Copy entire solid body[/li]
[/ul]

OR

Make marks into full depth cuts before converting

 

[TheTick]

To clarify--

Make full depth cuts. Use cuts as datums to recreate etch marks before and after flattening. Better to use fold/unfold instead of flat pattern for any operations before the final flat pattern.