I Need DXF Files

[Gerry]

I've only used STL w/ MeshCAM, so I can't speak to trying with DXF. ................................. Back around 15 years ago I enjoyed using AutoCAD R12/R13 for quite a bit of mechanical design work, maybe its time to poke at that engine again.

The .dxf's that MeshCAM currently supports can only contain 3D faces, which makes them identical to .stl files. (But they load slower).

For my 2D work, I use an AutoCAD macro that I wrote. I draw my toolpaths, and export g-code directly from AutoCAD. If you have access to AutoCAD 2002 or newer, I'll send you a link if your interested.

[blowlamp]

A sample dxf from ViaCAD.
**Edit**
Added the same file again, but with spline curves converted to Polylines within ViaCAD.

[erth64net]

Just stumbled over the Beta V4 release info. How exciting!!

Just grabbed both V16 and V17 of V4, in both versions my previously-posted DXF no longer shows the pulley & teeth, it just shows a donut now. Opening the same file on build 19 of V3 shows the pulley+teeth.

[robgrz]

Thanks for testing that out with V4. V4 can only reliably load DXF files in Autocad V12 format. It can handle some later files but the coverage is spotty at best. You'd have no way to know this because I haven't put any warnings yet so it's probably way more confusing than it needs to be right now. I tested every DXF file posted but I did have to convert some to V12 to get it to work- I think yours was one of them.

V3 Build 19 should never be able to open that DXF since V3 never had the extrusion ability. I suspect that you're loading the STL file and it looks funny. Because of the light position in my 3D rendering window, you will not see the teeth until you rotate away from the top view after loading that file. This is the same case in both V3 and V4.

For what it's worth, the teeth are hidden in the top view because the top and bottom planes have the same normal and are therefore lit with an identical color by OpenGL. I'll probably look at more advanced rending techniques in the future.

If you think I've misunderstood the problem you're pointing out please let me know and I'll try again.

Thanks for the help-
Robert