Drawing exchange file download

I know a lot of individuals that are new to the CNC industry like to try Inkscape but I have not had very good success with importing and opening my DXF files into that particular program.

I believe it is due to how Inkscape was developed based off older versions of the DXF file format. If you are importing the DXF file or opening it into your CAM software you will want to be sure to disable your offset tooling function. If you are unable to disable the offset function altogether then you will want to reduce your offset value as small as it will go.

The reason to do this is you want the cut to go right down the centerline of the vectors in these files. Anything else can lead to poor results or errors that prevent your CAM package from generating g-cdoe.

Here is an example of what a DXF file looks like when it is imported without any offsets:. Notice there is not much visible difference, however this medium offset has created over unwanted intersections in the geometry.

The difference is dramatic and alarming. If your CAM system is detecting overlapping lines or giving you error codes the primary reason for this is that your auto offset feature is toggled on and your CAM system is literally redrawing the design work to accommodate an unnecessary offset.

If you import the DXF file and you are seeing thousands of little lines very close to each other you import options may be configured incorrectly for lines and arcs when they should be set for polylines.

If you zoom in on the DXF file you have imported you will see one design includes single lines like you see in this example single lines are referred to as open cut paths.

If you zoom in on the other image included in the DXF file you imported you will see that it does not contain any single lines. In this design all the cut paths are referred to as closed cut paths :. Now that you are familiar with some of the basics of importing your DXF file you will want to either delete the closed path or open cut path version of the design.

As a rule of thumb all Plasma and Router based CNC cutting systems will utilize the open cut path version of the design if you are using a plasma or router based CNC cutting system you can delete the closed path version of the DXF file design Remember to save the file under a separate name so that you do not lose access to both versions of the design.

Now if you are operating a laser or waterjet based CNC cutting system you will want to utilize the closed cut path version of the design. If you are using a laser or waterjet based cutting system you can delete the open cut path version of the DXF file design Remember to save the file under a separate name so that you do not lose access to both versions of the design.

If you plan to cut the our DXF files with a CNC plasma cutting system it is recommended that you use a plasma cutting system capable of cutting at or below 40 amps. Fine tip consumables between 20 and 40 amps will yield excellent to very good results. Amperage is directly tied to the size of your plasma stream cut width.

For the very best results make sure to do several straight line test cuts to minimize the cut width in the material that you will be cutting. Stand off distance, cut speed and air pressure all have an impact on the cut width and quality of your cut.

Every plasma cutting system is different and the only true way to get truly amazing results is through trial and error. With a little time and practice you will minimize your cut width and improve your cut quality that will result in achieving great detail and minimal clean up. There are a number of DXF viewers that can open and read files with. Some of them provide basic features such as file viewing and measuring. Some DXF viewers are versatile with additional useful functionalities such as editing, commenting and conversion.

It is neat and extremelly easy to view single or multiple files at the same time. Even, it allows users to save as PDF and print out.

Download from AppStore. You can use it to easily view, present and measure your drawings. Currently Windows-only, it is compatible with Windows 10 bit only , Windows 8. It also allows you plot multiple DXF drawings at once. The interface is well organized with a helpful search feature. This online DXF viewer is from Autodesk itself. You can use it to read both 2D and 3D designs. To get started, you need to sign in with your Autodesk account. If your DXF file is complex and large in size, it will probably take a while.

Users can also view and make comments and markups, which can be an easy way to collaborate and give feedback. This web-based tool also makes it easy to print a view, take screenshot and manage designs. You can also create files with. We will cover the conversion part in the next part of the article. Step 2. You can customize the DXF export configuration. In the lower left corner of the Save Copy As dialog box, click Options.

It allows you to configure this the way you want. There are different configurations that you can use. You can choose the default one or create a new one. In the File Version , choose the version you need. Click Next , and you will see the Export Destination dialog box where you can set up data scaling options and mapping options. You can save the configuration and use it the next time to create DXF file.

The Export dialog box will show up. Step 3. Open your Fusion drawing in A Once the file is uploaded and ready for conversion, from the select format dropdown list, select the export format you need. Step 4.