5 Replies Latest reply on Jan 13, 2015 8:35 AM by Jimmy Blanchard

Polygon representation of circles when exporting as DXF/DWG

Nick Inoue Sep 19, 2013 10:08 AM

Hi everyone :-)

I am running Solidworks SP3 2013 and trying to export a 2D design as a DXF which has been sketched in the 3D representation area. The only problem is that some of the splines and the outer circle is not expressed as a continuous curve and instead as a very rough polyline when exporting as a DXF. Of course I have messed around in the DXF "options" changing all the logical parameters like "high Q DWG export", "Export splines as splines" and using the latest version R2010 and older versions like R14. The issue is still there.

I read that perhaps changing the image quality in "document properties" might help, but still no luck.

Come on Solidworks, I have bigged you up to my peers, don't let me down! Pro-Engineer does not have the same issue!!

Best Regards

Nick

Re: Polygon representation of circles when exporting as DXF/DWG

Anna Wood Sep 19, 2013 11:44 AM (in response to Nick Inoue)

What are your Image Quality settings under Document Properties? Crank them up higher.

Cheers,

Anna
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- Re: Polygon representation of circles when exporting as DXF/DWG
  
  Nick Inoue Sep 19, 2013 12:09 PM (in response to Anna Wood)
  
  Hi there :-)
  
  The settings are as follows:
  
  Shaded and draft quality HLR: 0.1515mm
  
  Wireframe and High quality HLR: High(slower)
  
  Improve curve quality at higher settings.
  
  What is wierd is I do have some designs which do not show this polygon related issue, even if they are pretty similar in size??!
  
  Best Regards
  Nick
  
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  - Re: Polygon representation of circles when exporting as DXF/DWG
    
    Carlos Moreno Jan 12, 2015 10:50 AM (in response to Nick Inoue)
    
    Did you ever get a resolution to this? Upgrading the display settings seems to have no effect.
    Others recommend extruding the curves and then selecting the edges. In my case, I don't have closed curves, just lines I want traced so this is not an option.
    Agree with Nick, this should not be a challenge, yet somehow it is.
    
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    - Re: Polygon representation of circles when exporting as DXF/DWG
      
      Carlos Moreno Jan 12, 2015 11:45 AM (in response to Carlos Moreno)
      
      Answering my own question, I've found a potential workaround that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere.
      I noticed that when I export a part file as a dxf, solidworks creates a drawing in the background to accomplish the task.
      I realized that this might help me accomplish what I was trying to. So rather than use the part file, I created a drawing using the part file with only the line art I wanted to export visible. Then, exporting the drawing file to a dxf creates a file of acceptable resolution with properly curving splines.
      
      In my searching I've found several forum topics that address this basic question, and i believe this would answer them all.
      One additional note, I added a point in the drawing at the origin, this way when the line art is imported with the part file for machining it will be easier to line up.
      
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Re: Polygon representation of circles when exporting as DXF/DWG

Jimmy Blanchard Jan 13, 2015 8:35 AM (in response to Nick Inoue)

Maybe the problem isnt in your dxf file. If you are using Autocad or Draftsight to open your DXF files, try :

Viewres enter
do you want fast zoom (yes or no doesnt matter)
20000 enter

It used to be well documented in Autocad
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