If you have Paint Shop Pro, I believe it's more of a photo editing app, like Photoshop, which works with bitmap type images. You need to use a vector based program.

I prefer to use an AutoLISP program to convert the splines into polylines. This gives more control over the # of segments you'll end up with, allowing for smoother "curves" then what you can get when saving as .v12 dxf (which converts splines to  polylines during export).

Gerry, Where can I find a copy of this LISP script? Looks interesting.

Thanks

If you have Paint Shop Pro, I believe it's more of a photo editing app, like Photoshop, which works with bitmap type images. You need to use a vector based program.

Gerry you are probably right, I have to investigate that

Thanks

I have the Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.04 and looking at it again it works with both raster and vectors. I picked up a preset shape (an 8 spike wheel) and when I save it there is a tick box called “save as vector” and I click it. Then saved the file in WMF and in Acad I insert this file. Now in Acad I used the explode command and then PE/Joint and selected all parts. Then Explode again and save it as DXF. LC pick it up nicely and I did a simulated cut with Mack3 and all worked fine.

So now I will work to explore further the Paint Shop program and see how I can fit it to my needs. It also has Bazier Lines and with them its very easy to make artistic whatever. A few years back when I went to check for upgrades, Jasc Paint Shop was purchased by Corel and I didn’t liked their version so I stayed with my version.

If Paint Shop does not fit my needs I will investigate Inkscape

Have been working with Inkscape / Paint Shop and my results are mixed

First I think Inkscape is an image manipulation program because creating dxf with Inkscape dxf or big blue dxf does not work in Acad, I mean Acad reads nothing

With the Paint Shop the results are much better but still not that good and I think the problem is that I have to export the file in WMF and this format changes a lot of things. I can import all items in Acad and the shapes are ok but the fonts are out of alignment and size by a lot. Then in LazyCam I can Import the dwg and all is ok but the layers are not maintained and the fonts again are not good. All that means a lot of work and the results are half disappointing.

So my question again: what program(s) you guys using to make your dwgs and exporting them to your CNC?

First I think Inkscape is an image manipulation program because creating dxf with Inkscape dxf or big blue dxf does not work in Acad, I mean Acad reads nothing

No, Inkscape is a vector drawing program.
Many programs that save .dxf files don't write them the way AutoCAD expects them. I've gotten .dxf files from many different programs that AutoCAD can't open.

Have you tried loading the .dxf's from Inkscape directly into LazyCAM?

There are some other .dxf exporters that may work better for you,

http://www.britishideas.com/2008/09/04/using-inkscape-for-cnc-designs-and-dxfs/

http://mydxf.blogspot.com/2008/11/inkscape-r12-dxf.html

Thanks Gerry for the help, I downloaded from the links the files and I will give them a try later

It’s encouraging to know that Inkscape is a vector program because I like it and now I have to learn it.

Yes that’s what I did, loading the dxf’s from Inkscape to LazyCam and all works fine except the fonts. But I forgot that they say to convert all objects to paths before saving and so now I did it and it’s much better.

Thanks again

Anyone uses this CAD / CAM package?

http://www.artcamexpress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69%3Aartcam-express-free-trial-software-download&catid=17&Itemid=17

Not sure if you noticed, but while the basic package is $150, when you add all the optional modules, the price jumps to $3500.

Noticed that afterwords Gerry, a very expensive program