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How to export Sketch as DXF

Question asked by Los Xedlos on Sep 21, 2011
Latest reply on Sep 22, 2011 by David Lawrence

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I have a sketch that I use to mark my parts. I want to export this sketch of my logo as a DXF inorder to have it engraved on a Cnc table. The software on the table takes DXF files.

My problem is that when I export the sketch as a DXF I get a bad looking DXF file. I get lines that are not smooth and overlap other lines. I have various circles and arcs on my logo.

I know a DXF is a line format so I want to know how o can increase the resolution of my exported DXF. I just want to have smoother arcs and circles.

The logo is about 6in x 6in

I am using solidorks 2011.

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John Stoltzfus Sep 21, 2011 12:03 PM
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Good afternoon Los,

Welcome to the Forum

Could you upload your logo? Did you check your dxf file in AutoCad or DraftSight?

Did you try to use it on your machine, it might work ok. If it does then it's your appearance in SW, you can change the line appearance in Tools, Options, Document Properties, Image Quality.

Later,

John
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Lenny Bucholz Sep 21, 2011 12:11 PM
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if the logo has splines in it you are kind of hosed, dxf turns those into polylines aka faceted!!

again I will just say these companies that make engravers, water jets and lasers need to take iges 2D to elliminate DXF cause it SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

can you engraver take gcode?
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- Los Xedlos @ Lenny Bucholz on Sep 21, 2011 3:12 PM
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  The engraver does accept gcode but my knowledge of gcode is very limided. The reason the I needed into a dxf is becaise the engraver software converts it into gcode for me. The only software I have is solidworks.
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  - John Stoltzfus @ Los Xedlos on Sep 21, 2011 3:45 PM
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    Good afternoon Los,
    
    If you could up load your SW file someone may be able to do the gcode for you, I think we have it here but not positive.
    
    Thanks,
    
    John
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  - Scott McFadden @ Los Xedlos on Sep 21, 2011 3:45 PM
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    Los,
    We had an engraver at my old company and What we used to do is place the logo on a
    drawing without any border or nothing but what was being engraved and then export that
    to dxf. It worked fine.
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  - Lenny Bucholz @ Los Xedlos on Sep 21, 2011 4:02 PM
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    put up the file....not the dxf and I'll see what I can do. I am a machinist that uses Surfcam.
    
    Instruct SW and CAM and run the stundent machine shop at ASU. doing this for 25+ yrs
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Los Xedlos Sep 21, 2011 4:52 PM
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Ok here is the file. I had to delete some stuff so it shows some warnings
http://www.filedropper.com/logo_3
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- Lenny Bucholz @ Los Xedlos on Sep 21, 2011 6:34 PM
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  file is corrupt
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Los Xedlos Sep 21, 2011 7:09 PM
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I downloaded the file and it was fine. Can anyone else try opening it. Where else could I upload it to?
Btw there are some errors in the the file since I had to delete some stuff to keep the logo.
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- Lenny Bucholz @ Los Xedlos on Sep 21, 2011 7:31 PM
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  use the advanced editor and it opens a spot to attach files
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  - Los Xedlos @ Lenny Bucholz on Sep 21, 2011 8:20 PM
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    Here is it is again. Let me know if there is something wrong
    Attachments
    logo.SLDPRT.zip153.4 KB
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    - John Stoltzfus @ Los Xedlos on Sep 22, 2011 6:51 AM
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      Good morning Los,
      
      I don't know it the attached will work for you or not, you may need to make changes.
      
      One file is the dxf
      
      and the other is a file that is created in our plasma program, which we think is gcode, I might be way off on that though. The only thing that I know would need to be changed is in the plasma program it has a lead in and a lead out. I didn't make any changes to that at all.
      
      Later,
      
      John
      Attachments
      logo.DXF392.5 KB
      Logo.nif.zip72.3 KB
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      - Lenny Bucholz @ John Stoltzfus on Sep 22, 2011 11:00 AM
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        no it is not gcode, it is the code your plazma uses...c++ style
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        John Stoltzfus @ Lenny Bucholz on Sep 22, 2011 11:07 AM
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        Good morning Lenny,
        
        I had no idea so I ask one of my co-workers and he said, "Yeah I think that's what it is". Two I don't knows don't make one right, oh well we tried.
        
        Can you do anything with it? How does the dxf file look to you? When I loaded it in our plasma the preview looked great and the lines were good, I thought..
        
        Thanks,
        
        John
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        Lenny Bucholz @ John Stoltzfus on Sep 22, 2011 11:28 AM
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        John Surfcam reads the SW file so i didn't use the dxf, it brings in the sketch as it is in SW. alot of the water and laser usally have their own code to make the machine work and when oh when will they get rid of dxf, at least take a dwg or iges.
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        John Stoltzfus @ Lenny Bucholz on Sep 22, 2011 11:33 AM
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        Good morning Lenny,
        
        Our plasma does take dxf, dwg and SW Flat patterns, however there is an up grade charge, dxf may be on the way out
        
        I was just curious how the dxf export looked at your end thats all,
        
        Later,
        
        John
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        Lenny Bucholz @ John Stoltzfus on Sep 22, 2011 12:10 PM
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        sorry haven't looked at it.
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    - Lenny Bucholz @ Los Xedlos on Sep 22, 2011 11:25 AM
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      here is a gcode file. i set the X,Y zero at the center of the circle going horizontal to the right. it is a text file so you can edit it in word or notepad.
      Attachments
      logoSetup_One.NCC.zip15.9 KB
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David Lawrence Sep 22, 2011 1:58 PM
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I've used this for SW 2006 and 2008 when I need a DXF from a model for cutting

open the sketch/model
file-new-template - I like to make sure 1:1 scale(right click - properties)
window-tile horizontal
click in the graphic area not on the sketch or model
click above on the template or select the view and click - click OK
file - save as .DXF
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How to export Sketch as DXF

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