Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: avirostick on November 11, 2009, 05:50:09 PM
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Just got a new cad program, actually, my first. It is full version Autocad. My problem is, I draw up something and export it, and can't get it up on Lazycam. I exported it as a dwf, and the second time as a pdf and no luck. I seem to always lose my files somewhere. The l-cam did load something, but it didn't remotely look like what I created in cad. My L-cam is trial version, but it should still let me import stuff right?
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export your files as DXF acad R14 or 2000 format.
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Ok, thank you. It is Acad 2010, so I should export it as DXF always then?
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Yes, and in an early version, R14 or 2000
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I use AutoCad2008 regularly and have saved DXF files in about every format it offers. All have loaded into LazyCam without problem.
Some people reporting problems with AutoCad DXFs save their files in a DXF format and then try to load the program into LazyCam without closing the AutoCad DXF file. LazyCam will not open an AutoCad DXF that is still open in AutoCad.
To verify this is true, I just saved a drawing I have been working on in the following DXF versions:
R12
2000
2004
2007.
All opened in LazyCam version 3.00.2 without any hiccups.
Bob @ BobsShop
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Whoops, I celebrated too soon. Still no luck. Here's what I'm doing, bear with me because my pc tower is not hooked to the internet and I have no screen shots. I made a simple drawing in my Acad 2010( which is fully licensed and has no issues). I go to Save as, and the default is Dwf file, but gives the options of saving to different Dxf formats. The selection it gives me to choose from for the dxf type formats are: Acad 2010, 2007 and 2007LT, 2004 and 2004LT, 2000 and 2000 LT, and R12 LT2. I did not see R14 anywhere on the options. I saved it in each of these formats at one point or another in my many attempts to pull up my drawing in L-Cam with no success. I then tried Export, and didn't see where I could export it to a dxf format(mabye I didn't look hard enough), but for the heck of it, exported it to bmp. format, and it did pick it up in L-Cam.( though it had some pieces of the drawing missing. I have been closing out my Acad and saving the file change after each attempt( as I have heard that closing it out is necessary for L-Cam load) Please can someone give me a walkthrough on simply how to take a cad drawing and bring it up on Lazycam?
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Attach a copy or two (different formats) of your DXF file so I can look at it.
Bob@BobsShop
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Use Save As and .dxf v12. Then post it here and I should be able to tell you why it doesn't work.
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"Please can someone give me a walkthrough on simply how to take a cad drawing and bring it up on Lazycam?"
Draw whatever you want in ACAD, then you just save it as Gerry said / ver 12 dxf. Then you just open that dxf in LC.
The manual talks about options for loading (Section 6.2.3 ).
RICH
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Okay, it does work. I just loaded a rectangle, and it worked fine. My question now is if I want to send an ellipse or a 2d spiral to l-cam, will it work and why/why not?
Thank you guys fotr all the help and bearing with me.
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To do an ellipse, set AutoCAD's PELLIPSE variable to 1 before drawing the ellipse. Spirals probably won't work.
If you don't change the PELLIPSE variable, v12 .dxf files will convert it to short straight segments. PELLIPSE at 1 will give you an ellipse made of arcs.
Not sure, but a spiral may be converted to line segments as well when saved as v12.
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Ok thanks Ger. One last question, Is this an L-cam thing or are there cam programs out there that these line segment rules do not apply? This is the question I posted on Vectric's forum. It basically says exactly what I need to know:
Hi to all. I researched the various programs Vectric offers for a while now, and do have a general understanding of each of them. I currently use Autocad 2010 and Mach3. I don't know much about the cam programs out there, but have found out a few things. What I need is a cam program that will accept Autocad dxf files that contain shapes like spirals and ellipses. Currently the Lazycam that comes with Mach is choosy, and needs certain spherical shapes to be converted to polylines or something like that.( A true ellipse is one continuously changing line wheras polylines are a lot of tiny straight lines that make up the shape). Some shapes like 2d spirals I'm told Lazycam will not even accept. Do any of the Vectric products make simple these cam abilities or is this a fundamental rule that applies to all cam programs? Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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There are no g-codes for ellipses and spirals, so some type of conversion needs to take place. Regardless of the application(s) used. Most programs that accept .dxf files will typically not read either of them. As I mentioned, the process of saving as V12 in AutoCAD does the conversion for some entities, as those entities are not supported in the v12 .dxf format.
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I drew a new spiral, changed the line properties with the Pedit feature, saved it as r12dxf, and it loaded to Lcam. It looked right, but had a couple breaks in the chain. I'll work on that next. At least I learned this much! Thank you guys for all your help and comments. You truly are worth your weight in gold.
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How are you drawing a spiral? Helix? Just looked (2007), and I drew a Helix spiral, explode into a spline and export as .dxf just fine, although there are a LOT of small segments.
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Yes helix command, or spiral because it's 2d. I'll read about what you said explode and spline tomorrow. I'll also check and make sure it's not trying to pick up height( or make a helix). Could be an error I'm making there too. Thanks buddy.
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In 2007, pedit can't do anything with a helix (spiral). Just curious as to how you're doing what you're doing
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I don't know, its Acad2010. I did like I said. Helix command, drew helix/spiral, went to Pedit, chose object, defined properties(which I don't remember explicitly what I chose, but made a few clicks), and saved as r12dxf. Closed Acad, pulled up the shape in Lcam. It came up complete, just as drawn, but had 2 places where it was broken(chains).Came up on Mach screen not complete but for right now, I am satisfied I at least got something close. I don't know my way around Lcam since I'm new to cad and cam, but these small sucesses help me make it through till tomorrow.
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What I'm wondering now is, if what I intended to make as a 2d spiral somehow accidentally had height entered(by myself in cad) and became a 3d helix. This would explain creating a chain( I think). Or it could have processed as 2d like intended, and now needs some manual inspection of the code lcam put out. I read that it could be as simple as a few z commands in the program that need taken out. (z zeroes generated by lcam). There's a lot of speculation here, and I have to assume first that the lack of success are the result of my errors, not that of the software.