<p>Additive manufacturing (AM) presents an opportunity to revolutionize sheet metal manufacturing industries through innovative tool and die design solutions. However, the lack of comprehensive guidance and support for incorporating additive manufacturing into sheet metal manufacturing hinders its widespread adoption. Existing Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) approaches are limited in addressing the unique requirements of sheet metal fabrication. This research reviews and analyzes current DFAM guidelines, comparing them with conventional sheet metal manufacturing processes. Recognizing the limitations, a novel methodological framework for DFAM of sheet metal tools is proposed. This framework integrates existing design strategies for sheet metal tooling, both in conventional manufacturing and additive manufacturing, providing designers with a comprehensive development process. A case study demonstrates the practical application of the proposed framework, offering designers valuable guidance throughout the design and manufacturing stages of sheet metal tooling with additive manufacturing as a secondary process. The proposed framework aims to bridge the gap between additive manufacturing and sheet metal fabrication, facilitating the implementation of AM in the industry.</p>