New to Metal Artwork

[Leviticus]

Would like to start off by saying HI and thanks for having me.

We have recently acquired a Retro table with the Edge/Phoenix controller and a Hypertherm HSD130 power supply and torch. I have been drafting sheet metal parts left and right with no problems but now I've been tasked with finding out how to cut out artwork and scenery.

I went and got CorelDraw X5 (15) after reading multiple forums on how Corel was the way to go. I have very little knowledge on Graphic Design software so i'm a bit overwhelmed with it.

I was emailed the attached picture below and for the life of me can not get it to load into our controller properly. I imported it into Corel Draw and did and auto trace on it then exported it as a .dxf. I got an error message from controller saying "no arcs, lines, or curves detected" (or something like that).

Here is the picture i'm trying to work with.


I'm very new to plasma cutting complex scenery and artwork. Any help in this situation would be greatly appreciated. I would even be ecstatic about a link to a step by step forum post. I searched all over here before posting and couldn't seem to find one

[jimcolt]

You need a raster to vector conversion software....there are a few out there that will quite easily convert an image like the one you have shown into a line drawing that the plasma tool path can be applied to. One that I have used is called Arbor Image....you can check them out online. You can also consult with the machine builder, RetroSystems, perhaps talk to their Sales Manager, Al Holst. He can probably provide you some good suggestions on the best way get your plasma art drawings done. You have a top of the line piece of equipment!

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[Mike 1948]

Originally Posted by Leviticus Would like to start off by saying HI and thanks for having me. We have recently acquired a Retro table with the Edge/Phoenix controller and a Hypertherm HSD130 power supply and torch. I have been drafting sheet metal parts left and right with no problems but now I've been tasked with finding out how to cut out artwork and scenery. I went and got CorelDraw X5 (15) after reading multiple forums on how Corel was the way to go. I have very little knowledge on Graphic Design software so i'm a bit overwhelmed with it. I was emailed the attached picture below and for the life of me can not get it to load into our controller properly. I imported it into Corel Draw and did and auto trace on it then exported it as a .dxf. I got an error message from controller saying "no arcs, lines, or curves detected" (or something like that). Here is the picture i'm trying to work with. Attachment 117654 I'm very new to plasma cutting complex scenery and artwork. Any help in this situation would be greatly appreciated. I would even be ecstatic about a link to a step by step forum post. I searched all over here before posting and couldn't seem to find one

I used Vectric Aspire to trace the jpeg you posted. It took about 2 minutes to get the Dxf file for you. I also use Sheetcam for Gcode generation. I'm not sure why Corel couldn't find anything to export. You may have to highlight the vectors you want to export.????

Good Luck
Mike

[Leviticus]

Originally Posted by jimcolt You need a raster to vector conversion software....there are a few out there that will quite easily convert an image like the one you have shown into a line drawing that the plasma tool path can be applied to. One that I have used is called Arbor Image....you can check them out online. You can also consult with the machine builder, RetroSystems, perhaps talk to their Sales Manager, Al Holst. He can probably provide you some good suggestions on the best way get your plasma art drawings done. You have a top of the line piece of equipment! Jim Colt Hypertherm

I never thought about calling Retro I guess I just figured they focused more on the mechanics and the mechanics software than they did on the part design aspect. Thank you for the reference.

We are pretty pleased with this machine. I tried to talk them into an HPR but they wouldn't listen I myself am impressed with the technology Hypertherm has used with the HSD. It damn near cuts as good as an HD.

Thanks for the tips Jim. I will check into the things you have mentione

[Leviticus]

Originally Posted by Mike 1948 I used Vectric Aspire to trace the jpeg you posted. It took about 2 minutes to get the Dxf file for you. I also use Sheetcam for Gcode generation. I'm not sure why Corel couldn't find anything to export. You may have to highlight the vectors you want to export.???? Good Luck Mike

Thanks for the dxf Mike. I didn't expect anybody to do it for me but thank you.

Corel didn't have any problems exporting it and neither Autocad or Solidworks had any problem loading it. The problem arose when I tried to load the dxf into the controller at the table. It also wouldn't load into TurboNest. I think the problem may be me not knowing what i'm doing in Corel

Here is the error message I get at the controller: "No Valid Line, Arc, or Circle DXF segments found. Make sure file is exploded and pierce points are marked numerically with text at intersections"

Here is the DXF straight from Corel. Maybe someone can load it up and tell me where i've royally screwed up.

[Mike 1948]

Originally Posted by Leviticus Thanks for the dxf Mike. I didn't expect anybody to do it for me but thank you. Corel didn't have any problems exporting it and neither Autocad or Solidworks had any problem loading it. The problem arose when I tried to load the dxf into the controller at the table. It also wouldn't load into TurboNest. I think the problem may be me not knowing what i'm doing in Corel Here is the error message I get at the controller: "No Valid Line, Arc, or Circle DXF segments found. Make sure file is exploded and pierce points are marked numerically with text at intersections" Here is the DXF straight from Corel. Maybe someone can load it up and tell me where i've royally screwed up.

You might try changing the output in Corel from polylines to splines or visa versa(if it can be done). You could also do it in Solidworks, in the drawing, "Save as" and look for the "options" button at bottom of box, try switching outputs. I have a feeling Turbonest can't handle one or the other.

Mike

[landmark]

You should get inkscape! it's a freeware that does a fantastic job tracing bitmaps images. I have vector magic which costs $150 and it doesn't do near as good a job. With some images vector magic would do lots of double lines and i'd be cutting sections twice, but so far inkscape has become my new goto software. The drawing interface in inkscape is not my favorite but I just use it for vectorizing and resizing. One tip it always exports dxfs in metric so you have to remember that what importing.

[Leviticus]

Hey thanks landmark,

I downloaded inkscape and have used it twice now. As long as I put the dxf or dwg into turbonest first, it works flawlessly.

I still can't directly upload dxf's into the controller as it just brings up a preview of random lines everywhere even though our phoenix software is capable of directly excepting dxf files and putting in the peirce points and lead ins.

I read somewhere on here about how to do cut paths and lead ins with corel so I think that will be my next learning session. That way I can just throw a dxf on my phone after I draw something up at home and load it into the controller without having to go up to the offices and use turbonest everytime.



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[Mike 1948]

Originally Posted by Leviticus Hey thanks landmark, I downloaded inkscape and have used it twice now. As long as I put the dxf or dwg into turbonest first, it works flawlessly. I still can't directly upload dxf's into the controller as it just brings up a preview of random lines everywhere even though our phoenix software is capable of directly excepting dxf files and putting in the peirce points and lead ins. I read somewhere on here about how to do cut paths and lead ins with corel so I think that will be my next learning session. That way I can just throw a dxf on my phone after I draw something up at home and load it into the controller without having to go up to the offices and use turbonest everytime. Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk

You are going to do your lead-ins and cutpaths in Corel??? You are a better man than Gunga Din!!
I have Corel but have a hard time getting through the tutorials. I found the easy way out was to get Sheetcam TNG. It imports the DXF files, Does lead-in lead out, cut-pierce heights, cut paths, etc etc. then outputs your g code.
Its also very reasonablry priced. Unless you really love Corel, Sheetcam will save you alot of time.
Maybe the Turbonest thing will cause issues??

Good luck
Mike

[Leviticus]

Haha, I don't know about that better man part. We have spent so much money on everything so far that learning how to do the tricks in corel is my only option at this point. At least until the plaz starts turning a profit once word gets around.

After that I think I can talk them into getting some software that will speed up the art-to-part process

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[Signmaker]

There is nothing wrong with the Wolf file you created in Corel... I've just downloaded it and it opens perfectly in Corel x4.... in fact it's a pretty sweet, smooth vector file.

What DXF version are you exporting from Corel?

Corel has a stack of DXF export filter options which cover all the various different incarnations of AutoCad... your problem sounds like a simple case of using the wrong DXF export options when sending the file out of corel.

Generally speaking selecting AUTOCAD R 10 from the corel export filter option dialogue is the best setting for DXF's which are going to be CNC cut.... you also want to set TEXT to export as curves and also specify your unit of measurement.. either metric or imperial.

Lots of the AutoCad DXF export versions DON'T work with CNC machines... they produce garbage very much as you describe.... try exporting in R 10 format and I am pretty certain that your problem will be solved... if not it's simply a case of finding the right DXF export options by a little bit of trial and error... keep exporting in different AutoCad versions until you find the right one for your CNC software.


If you want a bitmap to vector conversion program you've already got one.... Corel has always bundled their Corel TRACE program as part of every Corel Graphics Suite... this will take a scanned image and automatically create a vector line drawing.... TRACE should be installed already and you can access it from DRAW using the application launcher icon.

[Leviticus]

Thank you for the tips Signmaker

I never thought to try a different dxf output version. There are quite a few listed. I will try out the ones you mentioned first then go from there.

My current task is working with photographs and turning them into cut-able files. I have been playing around with Corel tonight and I can now see why soo many people prefer using it.

Once I figure out the right filters and effects to use to bring the photo down to a simplified trace I'll post it up.

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