Machsupport Forum

G-Code, CAD, and CAM => LazyCam (Beta) => Topic started by: TetraLite on May 21, 2007, 07:36:04 PM

Title: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 21, 2007, 07:36:04 PM
Hello all. I recently purchased the license for Lazy CAM Pro and have been having very little luck getting my AutoCad generated .dxf files to open in LCAM and it is still a problem with the latest version (2.02). I did manage to do it on an earlier version but I can't remember what I did. I think what I did was go to this forum and find some ideas, took my file into another program and did something to it and it worked. Shouldn't this be easier? Does anyone know what is required of an AutoCAD .dxf file to make it readable in LCAM? ??? I have tried saving the .dxf files in V2004, V2000 and Vr12. A couple of my old files still open (the ones I did the mystery process to) so I know it must be a compatibilty issue with the straight ACAD files. It seems very wrong to have to create a ,dxf file in one program and then take it into another to fix it so it works in LCAM. It's called "Lazy" CAM -- I am doing my best to be lazy! Help!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 21, 2007, 09:10:39 PM
Fiddled around and found one fix that works -- still requires two programs. Here it is: Import the ACAD .dfx (which was saved as version R12) into Corel Draw 11, then, with all objects selected, export using the "selected only" option as an ACAD version R11 .dxf file. I tried exporting from Corel using newer ACAD versions to see what happens, but nothing newer than ACAD R11 worked. R13, R14 and V2000 exports from Corel all hang the program on loading the file when the progress comment reads "Duplicate Entitiy Removal". The processor seems to be very busy doing something (don't know if the computer is hung or just doing infinite computations or something) and I don't have the patience to wait any longer than I already tried waiting, which was a couple of minutes at the longest. The R11 Corel copy loads immediately.

I can get out of that hung state by closing LCAM and Windows claims that the "program has stopped responding", but of course Windows does that a lot when a program is just really busy and not crashed.

Perhaps my biggest problem here is that I am using AutoCad 2005. It only saves .dxf files back to version R12 format, but then again, in other places in this forum I hear of people saving as R12 and having it work. And could that be some difference between ACAD 2005 and whatever version they are using? Ah, technology!

One problem remains: Points were converted into small circles when importing into Corel, but since they are just points where a drilling operation is going to happen I can tolerate editing the G-Code (as long as there aren't too many. Still need a better fix!

Okay, so I didn't give up! ;D I'm still hoping for a more direct way to get from ACAD2005 to LCAM so if you have a technique I would love to hear it!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Chip on May 21, 2007, 10:23:40 PM
Hi, Mark

I don't use autocad, turbocad ver. 8 hear.

I tried to look at your DigaProbe.DXF, Used Rinocad, Bobcad and Turbocad 8, no luck hear to see it.

I'm sure someone will jump-in Hear with Info.

Thanks, Chip
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 21, 2007, 10:40:04 PM
Thanks for the input Chip.

Although that probe drawing is not the one I'm trying to load it was still created in my ACAD 2005 so it should act the same way as the one I'm working on right now. At this point I am installing an older version of ACAD (2000) to see if it will export an older format file (like R11). I'll see how that goes. I have some other programs that work with .dxf files that I haven't tried yet, so I might still come up with a solution myself.

I hope I don't have to buy another CAD program!

Update to this post: Tried ACAD 2000 and it only goes back to R12 -- same as 2005. However, tried another program, GlobalMapper, took ACAD drawing in and exported it back out with no alterations and it works so far as I can tell --so far. Points came into LCAM as points instaed of tiny circles like Corel generated. There is a free version of GlobalMapper available from the USGS and it comes under a different name. I know it is somewhat crippled compared to the full GlobalMapper version, but it may work for doing this. I will try to find it (should be an easy Google exercise) and give it a try and post results in this thread. Update: Found it (http://mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/drc/dlgv32pro/) but it does not export .dxf -- it is a crippled version of GlobalMapper which is an incredible program, btw. I am thinking that maybe there is a program out there that is capable of reading an ACAD dxf file and also saving a dxf in a format that can be read by LCAM. It works in the full version of Global Mapper, for one. Almost in Corel.

Anyway, I wonder what it is about ACAD file format that makes it not work.

Would still like to hear from others if they have found other ways to get ACAD files into LCAM.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Chip on May 22, 2007, 12:41:45 AM
Hi, Mark

Thinking back on our water-jet cutter / Mach3 conversion, We had the same problem with autocad DXF's.

It will be a day or so until I can go in and figure it out.

Thanks, Chip
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Brian Barker on May 22, 2007, 12:49:09 AM
Rez 2.0 should read your DXF!

Could you please post your DXF and I will see where it is all going wrong :(
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 22, 2007, 01:20:50 AM
Well, I'm doing pretty well in the self-help department here. I just found a free fix for getting it into LCAM starting with ACAD2005. Here is what I did:

1. Saved the original as a .dwg (drawing) file in AutoCAD 2000 format (this doesn't work if saved in 2004 format and I haven't tried other variations of conversion sources and destinations -- there are many possibilities).

2. Did a conversion to AutoCAD 10 format .dxf file using A9TECH's free conversion utility (available for FREE at http://www.a9tech.com/products/a9converter/). You just drag and drop the file you want to convert and select the output format.

Then the resulting dxf opens in LCAM with no problem.

Below is the .dxf saved as ACAD 2000 format that I can't open in LCAM (test-v2000.dxf).
Also below is the resulting file after I do the A9conversion to ACAD10 format (test-v2000toR10.dxf) that does open in LCAM. (Yay!)

Thanks to all for your input!

Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: W.Jansen on May 22, 2007, 02:42:43 AM
Hi mark

Just for the reccord, i tryed both files here and they load fine exept in plasma mode then they give a unrecoverable error in drawstock and Lazycam shuts down

Greetings:
Willem
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Chip on May 22, 2007, 03:03:19 AM
Hi, Willem

I got the same Error Msg. but with a file of mine, It dose it with all files i'v tried.

Thanks, Chip
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 22, 2007, 03:15:21 AM
Hi Willem,

I have only tried them in mill mode (that's the only place I'd use them for now). I'm just happy I can finally get them into LCAM and work right. I can do it using a conversion done by GlobalMapper, but I wanted to find a solution that didn't require an expensive program (for the benefit of others with this problem), so I searched until I found the A9tech website and their converter, which works (for me in mill mode) and is free, a price I like a lot!

For those stuck with ACAD2005 and wanting to use plasma mode, I don't know if this fix would work or not if someone spent the time to try converting to all the various ACAD formats that A9converter is capable of doing (maybe it's a different problem related to that mode? -- who knows!).

I think I noticed that sometimes LCAM would crash differently when confronted with different ACAD formats. And I think some files loaded but lots of LCAM features seemed to not work right. But by now I have done so much fooling around I can't really say what happened when because I tried many different things. I wasn't keeping notes. Anyway, maybe what I found will help someone.

Nice meeting you, Willem!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 22, 2007, 03:20:37 AM
I wonder if our different computers are handling things differently. I am running Mach3 ver. R2.0.065 and LCAM 2.02 (just released within the last few days, I believe).

Now I'm just speculating.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: W.Jansen on May 22, 2007, 03:42:50 AM
Hi Mark

I think you are quite right about the different computers , I run against different problems that act different on different computers.

Chip
Do you mean that your files all in plasma mode make an error ?
I used a file of mine (the same from tread no toolpath (beer.dxf)) (that you helpt with)  and that load fine in plasma mode so that is also making a point that the inside of a computer is crusial.

Greetings:
Willem
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Chip on May 22, 2007, 10:49:58 AM
Hi, Willem

Looked at it today, It's not All Files, Just Some of them.

Thanks, Chip
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: W.Jansen on May 22, 2007, 11:41:47 AM
Hi chip

I hope that the team of programmers can do someting with all this information , for me it is all abacadabra (dutch for i have no clue).
But despite of some annoying things these programs are very usefull for me and i learn every day a bit more of cnc milling and turning.

Greetings:
Willem
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: wnevels on May 25, 2007, 07:11:00 PM
I don't know if this helps or not but when i use the save as command for the dxf file, it won't import however if i use export to a dxf file Lcam will import no problem.  The file size is only slightly different.  I don't know what the difference the difference is between save as versus export.  I just know the Lcam will open the export but not the save as file.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 25, 2007, 07:28:42 PM
You must be using a version of ACAD other than 2005. In 2005 the File, Export... option doesn't do .dxf files. I'm still pretty happy just converting my ACAD dxf files using A9tech's converter. I have found that I can create my ACAD files as .dwg files and then convert them to .dxf with the A9tech program and that works also. Being that the A9tech program is free I figure my problem is solved. Would still like to know what version of ACAD you have.

Thanks for the input, wnevels!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: wnevels on May 25, 2007, 07:44:47 PM
I use IntelliCAD but it will save/export just about any version of ACAD file, i use the 2004version.  I was having the same problem and switched to the export as a last ditch effort and haven't had any problems since.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 25, 2007, 09:17:58 PM
I suspect that maybe every different program that saves or exports a so-called "AutoCad" .dxf may not save it exactly the same as Autocad and I also suspect that most of the testing, if not all, of LCAM has been done with files that weren't generated with ACAD (am I wrong? I don't know!). There must be some subtle differences that account for why some files load and some don't. That's my guess. And that's all it is -- a guess! Unless LCAM gets revised to except any .dxf file from any source, I'm guessing that we all have to find our own way of getting our files loaded. Once they do get in there, it sure is an easy way to get your G-code output (in spite of the bugs that still exist). Makes it all worth while!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: ger21 on May 26, 2007, 10:14:53 PM
Unless LCAM gets revised to except any .dxf file from any source, I'm guessing that we all have to find our own way of getting our files loaded.

V12 .dxf's are the most univesally accepted, so always use those. Art and Brian have said since day one that they want all .dxf's to load, so send them to them or post them here.

The reason you want to use V12 is that Autodesk adds to the format on a yearly basis, and few programs will read everything in the newer .dxf's. V12 should work fine, and make it easier for Art and Brian.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Fiedd on May 29, 2007, 10:09:23 PM
Have you tried shutting down your ACad program when opening .dxf files in Lazycam, that works for me with ACad Lite..
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 29, 2007, 11:24:45 PM
Hi Fiedd,

Well I'll be! I just opened a dxf in ACAD, made sure I saved it as a version R12 and then tried opening it in LCAM and it failed to open. Then I closed the file in ACAD (leaving ACAD still running) and tried opening it again in LCAM and it opened!!!

Thanks for that bit of wisdom, Fiedd.  ;D

Apparently, ACAD is blocking access to that file from other programs while it is opened in ACAD, like some other programs do while their files are open.

And that explains why, when I use another program to make a copy of the file in a different version, that it works, because I am actually opening the new file I created while the original is still open in ACAD, so I'm not trying to access that one. It also explains a couple other strange failures that seemed to make no sense -- I don't remember the exact details now, but I know this was the reason.

Just tried it with a version 2004 ACAD dxf and it opens just fine as long as I close it in ACAD first!

Thanks again, Fiedd! You hit the nail right on the head!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Fiedd on May 30, 2007, 05:56:01 AM
Sure Tetralite,
Another thing I found out, if you get a lot of extra lines in your .dxf file from ACad to LCam, it is the defpoints that don't always show up in the ACad drawing, but as long as you have that layer, they show up as lines in Lazycam. You can't delete that layer in ACad's original file, but you can copy just the layers you want to keep and paste to a new file, then those defpoints won't show up in the new drawing, or in LCam. Not susre why, but that's the way it works.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 30, 2007, 06:52:09 AM
Haven't noticed the extra lines -- at least not yet -- but I will know what to do if it happens. Thanks again Fiedd!
So far the drawings I've been experimenting with are pretty simple - just a few circles and points for drilling.
Once I got the tool setup and how to manage the layers figured out, LCAM works pretty well. I have been using it to generate some usable G-code.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: ger21 on May 30, 2007, 09:42:33 PM
Sure Tetralite,
Another thing I found out, if you get a lot of extra lines in your .dxf file from ACad to LCam, it is the defpoints that don't always show up in the ACad drawing, but as long as you have that layer, they show up as lines in Lazycam. You can't delete that layer in ACad's original file, but you can copy just the layers you want to keep and paste to a new file, then those defpoints won't show up in the new drawing, or in LCam. Not susre why, but that's the way it works.


The defpoints layer contains dimension info. If you delete all your dimensions, you can delete the defpoints layer.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: ger21 on May 30, 2007, 09:44:39 PM

Apparently, ACAD is blocking access to that file from other programs while it is opened in ACAD, like some other programs do while their files are open.


I don't think it's AutoCAD causing the problem. The .dxf converter we use at work (CadCODE, www.cadcode.com ) will process .dxf files while they are open in AutoCAD without any problems. ACAD 2002. Not sure what version you're using.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on May 31, 2007, 03:34:31 PM
I'm using vers. 2005. It is definitely ACAD that is stopping me from opening files in LCAM while they are still open in ACAD. I know that because if I don't close them in ACAD they don't open in LCAM and if I close them in ACAD they do open in LCAM and it doesn't matter what version the files are in from R10 to 2004 -- they all work in LCAM as long as I close them first in ACAD.

When you do a conversion you probably are saving the file with a new name, so you are not trying to alter the original. Perhaps your conversion program doesn't look like a threat to the open file in ACAD because it is opening it as read only (I'm just guessing here), while opening in LCAM may be trying to open it with read-write capabilities enabled (still guessing).

All I know for sure is that with ACAD 2005 I can't open files in LCAM while they are still open in ACAD and the problem goes away when I close in ACAD.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: ger21 on June 02, 2007, 12:59:25 AM
I'm using vers. 2005. It is definitely ACAD that is stopping me from opening files in LCAM while they are still open in ACAD.

How do you know it's not lazyCAM? I just tried LazyCAM with a file open in 2007, and it said no entities found. However, I can open the .dxf with Notepad while it's open in AutoCAD. Which leads me to believe that it's not AutoCAD.

At work we're always opening .dwg files that are open on another copy of AutoCAD. Not quite the same, but very similar.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on June 02, 2007, 05:32:43 PM
When ACAD is installed in Windows, by default, it sets Notepad as it's text editor, so ACAD and Notepad do not conflict. When I can't open a file in LCAM that is currently open in ACAD, and then, when I close that file in ACAD it will open in LCAM, that can mean only one thing as far as I can tell. ACAD has a hold on that file while it is open in ACAD. There are security settings in ACAD that allow or disallow users concurrent access to files, however I haven't seen any user settings in ACAD for allowing or disallowing concurrent access by other programs. Many programs won't allow changes to files that are currently open. This protects the file from being altered by two people at the same time and changes by one user may not be seen by the other (the file would have to be reloaded to see the changes) -- could be a real mess! However, ACAD will allow it (from another ACAD user) if it is set up that way.

All I know for sure is that I can open a file in LCAM if the same file is not currently open in ACAD, and I can't open the file if it is currently open in ACAD.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Fiedd on June 05, 2007, 08:31:43 AM
You can have Acad running, but the .dxf file you want to load in lcam must be closed in Acad...........
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: TetraLite on June 05, 2007, 09:06:10 AM
Exactly!
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: rancher on June 08, 2007, 07:56:21 PM
I need help! I promised a job to someone because my MachIII and plasma have done great work.

I got this drawing of a maple leaf, I import it into lazycam, and get a message saying there are splines in the drawing and it can not import it. I see nothing wrong with the drawing, though I am not an expert in autocad. I think it is a drawing issue, because my cutting table has done much more difficult stuff then this.

Does someone have a minute to look at the drawing, I will attach it.

Thank you

cody
Cody
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: ger21 on June 08, 2007, 09:23:53 PM
No splines, but it's all 3D polylines, which LazyCAM probably doesn't like. This might help you out.
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: Chip on June 08, 2007, 11:16:31 PM
Hi, Cody

Your file loaded with latest ver of LC, The Offsets, Optimize and Clean aren't working very well though.

Hears a Lcam file, Your DXF took a while to load.

Hope this helps, Chip
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: springer454 on July 27, 2007, 05:00:17 PM
i had the same proublem using acad 2000 and corel draw if i didnt cloce auto cad it would not open in corel
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: vmax549 on July 27, 2007, 07:10:53 PM
I use AC 2000 with no problems. DXFs always load in LCAM?????? Are you by chance using blocks in your drawing?
I do a simple DXFout assign the name and it always works. Could be a process you are doing in AC that LCam does not understand yet.

I don't think Lcam can do splines yet or 3d polylines. Pretty much simple 2.5d drawings. I t will process simple polylines with no problems

Also I don't believe Lcam is network aware. It may not be able to share files that are currently open by another program.
(;-) TP
Title: Re: OK, I give up! How do I get ACAD dxf files to open in LCAM 2.02?
Post by: ticoe on August 26, 2007, 09:20:01 AM
I found that I  must save, then close the dxf. file on acad before it will open an lazycam.