Machsupport Forum

G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: mt.man on July 20, 2006, 12:00:19 AM

Title: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: mt.man on July 20, 2006, 12:00:19 AM

Okay total newbee question, I created a simple vector drawing in Adobe Illustrator and exported it to .DXF.  When I import it into Lazy Cam it says I can't import "Splines." What do I do now?

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: Brian Barker on July 22, 2006, 09:46:28 AM

look to see if there is a way to break the splines into lines...

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: mt.man on July 22, 2006, 02:39:02 PM

Thanks for your reply Brian.  The biggest problem here is that I don't know what "Splines" are (in this context) so I don't know how to "break them up into lines." The drawing is a simple outline with some compound curves ( an electric guitar pickguard) but nothing special. It seems to me that it shouldn’t be so hard to get this to convert. . . I’m surly doing something wrong.   

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: Brian Barker on July 22, 2006, 04:07:54 PM

The compound curves are splines :(

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: mt.man on July 22, 2006, 04:19:19 PM

Bummer, does that mean that Lazy cam can only deal with polygons and simple curves?  If so, what can I do, short of laying out $8500.00 for artcam to cut out these parts?

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: Brian Barker on July 22, 2006, 04:23:12 PM

We have the code to make the splines into lines but have not had the time to put it in :( I will talk to Art about adding it when he gets back next week.
Thanks
Brian

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: mt.man on July 22, 2006, 04:26:54 PM

Thanks!!!

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: ger21 on July 22, 2006, 06:41:27 PM

If you can, try saving as a v12 or earlier .dxf

If you can't, download this converter and try converting to a v10 .dxf
It *should* convert the splines to polylines.

http://www.a9tech.com/products/a9converter/

Title: Re: What are "splines" & How do I get rid of Them?
Post by: mt.man on July 23, 2006, 03:02:38 AM

I tried your solution and it worked great!  I actually cut a real part this evening! Still I'm far from production but things are progressing.  Thanks!