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G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: Overloaded on February 02, 2011, 07:35:39 PM

Title: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 02, 2011, 07:35:39 PM

Hey All,
  I have a database of airfoil coordinate files, one is attached.
They are all .dat files but the open with Notepad. (I changed the extension to .txt to attach it.)
How can I convert this to a DXF ? Or, can I ?

I added an X and Y to every line in the attached file by hand, tried G41/42 with mixed results.
I can get the database in CAD DXF but it's a 10 hour download here.

Thanks for looking,
Russ
 :)

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: RogerRetro on February 02, 2011, 11:09:51 PM

I don't know where you are headed with this, but if you're intending to CNC this airfoil, NCPlot produces a proper airfoil pattern.  See attached NC file.

Regards,
Roger

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 02, 2011, 11:38:50 PM

Hi Roger,
   I see that NCPlot just puts x an y in where I did manually.
I'd like to convert these to DXF so I can modify the interior for cutout areas for gussets and the spars.
I can then scale them with CAD, then create the offsets with SheetCam (or lazyCam) then cut them out of plywood.
Thanks.

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: BobsShop on February 03, 2011, 12:08:29 AM

Not sure if this is what you are looking for.  Your txt file appeared to be seriously corrupted when I tried to work with it.  Cleaned it up as best I could and produced the following FOIL.txt file.

Curious  - Let me know if it worked or not.

Bob@BobsShop

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 03, 2011, 12:14:43 AM

Hi Bob,
   What you sent is exactly what I already have. It's the same .txt file but with added X and Y beside the coordinates. What I am wanting is a DXF from this coordinate file.
I dont understand the corruption, its a very simple coord file.
Thanks for looking,
Russ

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: stirling on February 03, 2011, 04:33:08 AM

Hi Russ - how you doing?

Not sure if you wanted DXF of the points or of the interpolated line through the points so I've attached both. I did this with a script through Rhino. If it's what you want (and there aren't too many  ;D) let me know and I'll do them for you.

Cheers

Ian

EDIT: just noticed the strange wiggle on the trailing edge of the line version. Not sure what happened there. Attached is a better attempt.

EDIT: and how about one without the flat on the top surface  ;D attached is the better-still dxf

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: RICH on February 03, 2011, 06:55:31 AM

RUSS,
Here is a a dxf based on Bob's reply #3 text file.
RICH

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: BobsShop on February 03, 2011, 08:04:54 AM

Russ, downloaded your DXF file.  Looks like I may have had made a mistake or two when I created my file, but was able to open your dxf  and read it in my Cad X program.  More importantly though; How were you able to create the DXF.  Could be a big help to me in the the future.

Thanks

Bob@BobsShop

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: BobsShop on February 03, 2011, 08:07:22 AM

Oops.  Should have addressed to Rich.

Quote from: BobsShop on February 03, 2011, 08:04:54 AM

Russ, downloaded your DXF file.  Looks like I may have had made a mistake or two when I created my file, but was able to open your dxf  and read it in my Cad X program.  More importantly though; How were you able to create the DXF.  Could be a big help to me in the the future.

Bob@BobsShop

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 03, 2011, 08:08:26 AM

Howdy Ian, doin' OK here, thanks.
That last one is really good, might find a couple more for you to convert until I can do it here.
Thanks again !

Rich, How did you do it ?
Only thing different is the portion shown should be below the chord line, in the -y.

Thanks again guys,
Russ  

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 03, 2011, 08:30:43 AM

Hey Ian, I noticed that your Rino belnded many of the short segments into one along the lower trailing edge. (pic 1)
Must be a filter setting .... I'm assuming ?

Should be more like Rich's (pic 2) or your "points".

Oh, I found a couple of DAT to DXF converter programs but they wanted money for them, imagine that. ::) :) I couldn't get them to work anyway.
Thanks

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 03, 2011, 08:52:51 AM

Hey Guys, check out this link,
http://openae.org/airfoil-resources/resources-uiuc-airfoil-db
down at the bottom, #3 is what I want but it's 128 meg. Too big at this speed.
#2 is the coord files, which I did gwnload.
I might go to a neighbors and dwnld #3 later this weekend.
Till then, would any of you quickies mind to fetch me the Clark "Y" and Clark "Z" DXF's ?
I'd like to see if they are exactly what I want.
Thanks if you can .... THANKS anyway !

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: stirling on February 03, 2011, 10:31:06 AM

Russ

I've re-done the dat -> dxf. Think it's how you want it now.

Also here's the clarky and clarkz from your link#3 but they're dwg's not dxf's. I tried converting them to dxf's but for some reason it's coming out crap. The dat files recode as dxf's much better than the dwg's for some reason. Anyway they're attached as well.

Cheers

Ian

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 03, 2011, 12:28:52 PM

EXCELLENT, Thanks Ian. Looks much better.
The .dwg's work perfectly here, using Autocad/Autodesk/Autosketch.
Just open the .dwg, save as any version DXF.
Now that you've got them, I'll just order them up as needed.
Just kidding, I really appreciate your help, I'll get them downloaded soon ... I hope.
NACA2410, 2412, 2418, and 2424 for now, if you don't mind.
Kind regards,
Russ

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: stirling on February 03, 2011, 01:36:39 PM

No problem Russ - have fun

Cheers

Ian

Title: Re: Convert this .dat file to DXF ? ? ? ?
Post by: Overloaded on February 03, 2011, 02:05:06 PM

Bingo !
Thanks a bunch Ian,
Russ