Thread: DXF support needed!!

DXF is Autocad dean

Do you need to modify the file or are you just needing to view or print it?

If it is only viewing there are plenty of free dxf viewers on line - a google search will find them and then just have a read through to find one you feel will do what you need.

If it is printing then take the file into a plan printing place and they can print it for you in any size.

At work I have used eDrawings before (as I needed it for mac) but if you are on PC perhaps try Autodesk Design Review– Free DWF Viewer Software for 2D, 3D Designs.

Cheers

Stinky

DXF is the standard CAD exchange format between CAD programs , most CAD programs will open a DXF
Google Sketch uses the DXF in its pro version so people have to bye the program off google , the free version wont open them

DXF stands for "Drawing Exchange Format "
DWF is Auto CADS format , i i think they wrote DXF
Free eDrawings Viewer for SolidWorks, DWG, and DXF Files | eDrawings < a free viewer , printer
i think there is a free DXF too PDF converter , but you loose all 3D info , and get a set of plans you can print on a printer ( in scale )

I also bought the Sextus plans. They came with DXF and PDF files. You havent said how you are going to use the plans. If you are going to make it by hand you probably would not use the DXF's, only the PDF's. Just print them out and glue them to the board. I use a cnc cutter and to generate tool-paths I use Vectric 2D cut software. This still uses the PDF files only. I think some Cnc tool-path generators do need DXF but I havent seen one.
Hope I,m not telling how to suck eggs but a PDF file is supposed to print exactly right on any printer from any computer. (Yeah right, trust me Im from the government)
The Sextus is a very handsome clock and fascinating to watch when it is running

I want to modify the sextus plans. Not sure how much but you never know. The gears and for example I want to make them from solid timber using my isoloc design featuring the 7 spoke concept (which would include pre-freezing each piece). So I need a way to convert the DXF into a solid model. Modella player 4 actually needs an STL file to work with which can only be generated from a solid model format. I dont think your software will work for me as I want to modify the actual plans rather than just create machine files.

Dean.

Have a look at Draughtsight by Dassault Systems.
It is free for the basic version, they sell upgrades and support if you need it.
This will read and manipulate DXF files. The operation is not too hard to learn if you only want to do simple things

SketchUp will import DXF and export STL.

Sextus is amazing to watch, mine was sensitive to lots of little variations in setting up, but now runs reliably on less than 2kg........

Chris.

What software and machines did you use in the making of your sextus?.

Dean.

I used a programme we have at work called Techsoft 2D design to import the dxf's and manipulate into suitable blank sizes for the 3D router. Exported from there into dxf's for the machine to read! All fairly standard really. The router bed is quite small so I had to split up the frame and then assemble the parts......
Other than that it started "as plans".
The only modifications are an extra weight at the bottom of the pendula, due to weight variations in the ply I used, 6mm interior grade birch ply, I required a little extra weight on the bottom of the pendula to get them "in time".
I did use 5mm aircraft ply for the cogs.
I also added a screw in the friction device on the hour arbour as I didn't quite have enough friction in there, too much arbour "thinning" I think.
I also added PTFE plain bearings in place of any plain wood on brass bearing.
After some running the left hand pallet needed a little extra counter weight as it wasn't releasing cleanly.
I have found the Sextus to be very sensitive to minor changes in it's set up. Such as the brass arms and weights that counter balance the pendula and the wooden spring positions that set the pallet positions.
It is facinating to watch, watching the movement now as I type, sad I know......

Chris.

Does anyone know if DraftSight can import a .bmp bitmap and convert to DXF?

I would say no because the bit map is a pic while the DXF is an auto cad format that has linework added within the CAD environment.

Dean.

Originally Posted by 1964deano

I would say no because the bit map is a pic while the DXF is an auto cad format that has linework added within the CAD environment.
Dean.

I've since downloaded Draftsight, and found that it doesn't allow bitmap imports and uninstalled it, but it is possible. (Actually, quite strangely, it worked for me once, but couldn't do it a second time???)

When Draftsight couldn't do it, I went searching and got a copy of Wintopo, which converts bitmaps to AutoCad's DXF format.

For simply viewing .dxf files, I have Solidworks eDrawings DXF Viewer. I haven't studied either Wintopo or eDrawings well enough to learn if the converted size is accurate, but that's not too important.

At least now I can scan an (accurately sized) image to .bmp format, convert to .dxf, view it to make sure it looks OK, then send it off with the dimensions separate, for the file's receiver to scale back to original size if needed.

The main difference between the two file formats is that bitmaps are a raster image, whereas a .dxf file is in vector format.

Thanks anyway, Dean, I appreciate the response. Looks like we've both learned something.

N.B. The reason for this is so that I can send a .dxf copy of a drawn image for a guitar headstock inlay to fellow member 'Malibu', ( Labels Extreme Custom Pearl Inlay ), to have the MOP + timber inlay made up ready for me to inlay into the headstock myself. I can't handle playing around with tiny little fiddly pieces - my eyes aren't up to it these days.

Check out his gallery, he has some fantastic stuff on display.