Autodesk inventor professional to cnc router?? Need help :(

[jimmyjames1981]

Ok, here goes, i have Autodesk inventor 7 professional and have about 100 drawings and am trying to figure out how cnc router services can use my drawings without redrawing them on theyre own software, this has been really costly for me. What formats do cnc routers usually use? And how can i convert dxf/dwg to those formats?

[BurrMan]

A cnc router will read "gcode". This is created by a CAm package that toolpaths your inventor geometry... Most CAM packages will read your dxf/dwg files in. If you are using a service, you will send them your drawing and they will toolpath it.

[ger21]

Most router users should have no problems with .dxf, and I'd expect them to prefer .dxf.

As far as redrawing goes, you probably need to ask them why they need to redraw them and see if you can get them better quality files, if that's the issue.

I recently did a job cutting 25 sheets if plywood. They were large gear shaped parts for a theater set.

Some of the parts in the .dxf's I received consisted of over 2000 line segments. I was able to redraw them and get the segments down to the 150 range.
This reduced the run time by about 20 minutes per sheet, or about 8 hours.

[jimmyjames1981]

Im not really sure why they cant open them either, i send them 3 different formats of dxf's and they say they cant open them, in 2004,2000 and R12 dxf format.... I can personally open them in solid works and autocad with no problems, maybe its not on my end but theyre end, maybe they use lousy programs.......

Originally Posted by ger21 Most router users should have no problems with .dxf, and I'd expect them to prefer .dxf. As far as redrawing goes, you probably need to ask them why they need to redraw them and see if you can get them better quality files, if that's the issue. I recently did a job cutting 25 sheets if plywood. They were large gear shaped parts for a theater set. Some of the parts in the .dxf's I received consisted of over 2000 line segments. I was able to redraw them and get the segments down to the 150 range. This reduced the run time by about 20 minutes per sheet, or about 8 hours.

[BurrMan]

Originally Posted by jimmyjames1981 Im not really sure why they cant open them either, i send them 3 different formats of dxf's and they say they cant open them, in 2004,2000 and R12 dxf format.... I can personally open them in solid works and autocad with no problems, maybe its not on my end but theyre end, maybe they use lousy programs.......

Get the 3d model out of it and send only 2d curves in the dxf format...

[jimmyjames1981]

Originally Posted by BurrMan Get the 3d model out of it and send only 2d curves in the dxf format...

do you mean the isometric view i have in my drawings? So top, right, left and bottom views only?

[BurrMan]

So like this model here. Try open this in Inventor, then save the dxf and see if they can open it.

[judleroy]

Dxf files are no good for exporting 3d models. The first question is do you need a 3d model to cut the parts? They may just need a 2d profile if the parts are flat and have no 3d surfaces. If that's the case then dxf will work for 2d profiles. If you need the 3d geometry then use the export command. I believe it's under the file menu. Try .sat , .Iges , or .step and see if they can open those. Good luck.
Judleroy