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Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« on: June 22, 2011, 06:41:41 PM »
I generated a very simple box cabinet using Cabinet Parts Pro, nested and generated a DXF.  When I load the file into LazyCam, it's ignoring one part on the DXF.

I'm trying to figure out if it's CPP that is creating a non standard DXF or it's LazyCam that is somehow misinterpreting the DXF.

I'm attaching the original DXF and the LCAM file.

Thanks,

Bob

Offline ger21

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Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2011, 07:01:36 PM »
Knowing what it was ignoring would help. The .dxf looks OK in AutoCAD, but I don't use LazyCAM
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2011, 07:36:40 PM »
Sorry, I could have been a little more descriptive...

LazyCam seems to import the DXF fine, seems to generate the chains correctly, but doesn't include the part on the far right into the tool path and resulting G Code.

Offline ger21

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Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2011, 07:43:34 PM »
Do you have a Mach3 license?
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2011, 07:45:45 PM »
No, I'm using the 'free' version to see if I can get my head around how this whole cad/cam thing is supposed to work.

I'm a non CNC cabinet shop right now, but am exploring other options.

Offline ger21

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Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2011, 08:16:08 PM »
I believe that you're limited to 25 lines of code without a license, which is probably your problem.

For a cabinet shop, you don't want to be using LazyCAM. You want a CAM program that can automate the creation of g-code. The cheapest option that can do that is Vectric's V-Carve Pro.
It has a feature called Toolpath Templates. They allow you to assign machining operations to the layers of the .dxf file. What this does, is allow you to import the .dxf, and save the g-code for a nested sheet of parts in under 30 seconds.

I've been programming big industrial CNC's in high volume cabinet shops for 15 years. You want the process to be as automated as possible. This translates into much less time spent programming, and far fewer mistakes.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2011, 08:59:17 PM »
Thanks, that's the kind of info I need!
Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2011, 10:08:14 PM »
I downloaded the trial of V Carve.  I see what you mean by the templating.

However, even VCarve has issues with the DXF.  Instead of cutting a dado through the top of the two right most parts on the DXF, it's interpreting it incorrectly.  Easily visible in the 3D view.

Though it's certainly possible, I'm not doing something correctly.

Offline ger21

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Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2011, 07:41:24 AM »
There's nothing wrong with the .dxf

Are you trying to use a pocket operation on them? One issue could be that the two dados are touching. try doing them individually. Also, try increasing the spacing of the nesting in cabinet Parts Pro. I'll check when I get home, but I don't see a problem with the .dxf.
Gerry

2010 Screenset
http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

JointCAM Dovetail and Box Joint software
http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html
Re: Importing a Cabinet Parts Pro DXF
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2011, 08:15:53 AM »
I increased the spacing, that didn't help.  I then edited the DXF and brought the dados inline with the part, if you saw, they extended past the part.  Hopefully that explains it well enough.

That seems to have fixed the problem, so it appears that CPP is creating a DXF that has issues when generating the tool path.

Bob