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SKP to DXF Conversion Issue!

Discussion in 'Sketchup Help' started by xtremeRCpilot, Feb 27, 2011.

  1. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Hi my Phlat Brothers and Sisters,
    The problem that I am having is I need a good clean perfectly smooth Curve and circle layout for parts being sent to a laser cutting service! I need to convert these files over to dxf and as you can see, the broken segmented curves and circles are no good for the laser tool! So my question is, is there a way in SKP through default or during exportation that I could make the curves and circles show as one continuous arc as opposed to the segments? Or is there a plug in that could help!!Also I have been exporting this as a 2d graphic and was told from another source that I should do it in 3D but it saves it as a .dae file and I cannot view this!!

    Thank you for any help possible!!
    John Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  2. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    John, when I work on SU I like to see the circles as circles even though I know that the phlat-code will make it a true circle. What I do is click on the circle, not on the inside face, and then I left click and call up the 'entity info' and change the segments count from, normally 24, to a high number like 200 or something like that. The bigger the circle the bigger the number. The circle will appear like a true circle and most likely will be exported in the dxf as such since now you have many little segments that make it look like a circle even in dxf.
     
  3. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Thanks Yoram, I usually run 50 sides per circle but when it gets exported as DXF it seems to break each segment regardless of the count... I tried 250 sides and it still breaks each segment! There has got to be a solution to this :)

    Thanks again!
    John Attached files [​IMG]
     
  4. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Her is a link I found with a similar issue with use of CorelDRAW!!
    It appears that each segment produces a large number of nodes that act as starting and stopping points on laser cutting applications!
    http://coreldraw.com/forums/t/18356.aspx

    Thanks
    John
     
  5. Jnida63

    Jnida63 Member

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    I just clean all that up with Autocad, or draw it from scratch in Autocad, if you want to send me the file I would be happy to draw it in Autocad for you and send you the DXF
     
  6. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Thanks Jeff, that is a very generous offer!! I have a Friend that uses Corel X3 that did a trace for me on the file, but I was hoping to find a solution so I can save some time from cleanup!!! What Cad Program do you use? That DXFTool looks promising and I think it offers import options! I need to update my Corel from version 8 :oops:

    Thanks
    John
     
  7. Jnida63

    Jnida63 Member

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    I use Autocad 2010
     
  8. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Thanks Jeff!! I will have to look into that program!!
     
  9. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Did you asked the people who do the laser cutting if you can send them the g-code? You could then make the code in SU and the circles will be circles. All you need to know is the 'diameter' of the laser. Just a thought.
     
  10. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Thats a good question Yoram :) I will ask them but I mentioned using Mach for my CAD work and they said they had no luck with it so it didnt come to mind!! I believe it is more like a plotter and the laser cuts to the line so there should be no reason for an offset!Im not sure how I would set that up in the phlatscript! Maybe by changing the bit size to 0.000 :p
    and using the centerline tool for cuts!! I dont think they can do or are set up for depth cuts on there machine!!

    Thanks
    John
     
  11. Gefahren

    Gefahren Member

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    You would still need a bit diameter, the laser still removes material to make a cut, it just can be very thin.
     
  12. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Your right Gef... While looking at my cut sheet there is a hairline space between the parts maybe .0156" I will ask these guys the offset!!

    Thanks
    John
     
  13. 3DMON

    3DMON Moderator Staff Member

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    You could also use a gcode to dxf converter.
     
  14. Jnida63

    Jnida63 Member

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    Yes, you can use a converter.............. but, if you have an offset in the gcode then your dxf will be that much oversized
     
  15. Gefahren

    Gefahren Member

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    I've only looked at one laser cutting service in the past and I *think* they stated that they would cut exactly on the line and that I should adjust my .dxf accordingly. So in that case a Gcode to .dxf converter would work great. I guess you need to know how the cutting service wants it set up for there processing.
     
  16. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Thanks guys, that is a good idea!! I will check with them and see what the offset needs to be for an accurate cut!!

    John
     
  17. kyyu

    kyyu Active Member

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    John, what about this dwg file. Is it ok, for your use?

    Attached files circle.dwg.zip (5.8 KB)Â
     
  18. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Hi Kwok, Looks good when imported into Corel but was this made from SKP and then exported as a DWG file! Usually it shows the line segments and they are broken when imported into Corel!! The problem I have is getting my SKP file converted and exported clean with minimal nodes..!

    Thanks
    John
     
  19. kyyu

    kyyu Active Member

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    John, yes the dwg file was made in Sketchup Pro and exported as a dwg. I noticed during the "Strongest Bridge contest", one of the guys I helped had circles (not just exploded edges) which he imported in from autocad. I asked him, and he had used a dwg file. If you import that dwg file back into sketchup, you will see it's a 24 edge circle which is what I started out with. I opened that same dwg file in a seperate viewer and it was a perfect circle, doesn't show the segments at all. So I was thinking it might work for your needs. :)

    -Kwok
     
  20. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    This is very promising as long as you made the circle with the SKP tool !! My problem is when I design my part in SKP and export it and then import into Corel it shows all those nodes and broken segments, Corel is what my Laser guy uses as his cad program and he said that all those nodes will cause havac on the laser!
    So my question to you is, If you draw your circle in SKP and during exportation do you do a 3d or 2d export and what is all your option settings , here is a pic of what I am doing!
     
  21. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Here is the two DWG files the one I just made from SKP pro 8 exported as 2d graphic and the one you sent me!! What am I doing wrong :)

    John Attached files [​IMG]
     
  22. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    and this is my file zoomed in!

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  23. scraighamilton

    scraighamilton Member

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    If you Have Sketchup 8 PRO, then export it as a 3d model dxf. Have you tried that?
     
  24. kyyu

    kyyu Active Member

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    Yes, export as "3D Model" and here is my options. I don't think you want the face.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  25. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

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    Thanks Kwok, I tried this and it works fine on a large circle but for some reason with the small parts it doesnt change the broken lines on the arcs specifically!!

    John
     

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