Question on creating Contours in CAD

[mrcodewiz]

I am having a little issue creating contours from a CAD drawing. I will attach the file here but basically, it is a deputy badge with letters across the top and bottom (created using the text tool). I am trying to create contours out of each letter so they are raised once i generate the CAM file but I have a single letter (the 'O' on the bottom text) that will just not convert into a contour. I click it and nothing happens - all the other letters seem to generate contours just fine. Any idea why this is happening?

-Kevin

Edited : I had to rename the file .dwg to allow it to upload.

[Dolphin USA]

Change the file to a .dxf file. Name it deputy.dxf

[mrcodewiz]

OK, let's try this.

thanks,
kevin

[Dolphin USA]

Kevin,

That still did not work. Where did you create the drawing? Which CAD program? Autocad? Solidworks? Dolphin?

[metalworkz]

Is there a chance the contour is not closed or has overlapped intersections? Try zooming in real close to make sure the contour is clean with no gaps or intersections that pass thru the end point. I can't open the file you posted or i would have taken a close look. If you can post the file again and use only one dot example: deputy.dra or deputy.dxf. I have Partmaster and Autocad and could not manage to open the file you posted.
Regards,

[metalworkz]

Yep, incomplete or invalid file format.

[mrcodewiz]

It's a dolphin file - it's just a renamed .dra file. Sorry, I thought that was what you meant. I am not sure how to create a dxf file directly from dolphin cad. I will go in and see if it is not closed but even so I have created contours from straight lines I thought.

[metalworkz]

File, Export, select .dxf

[mrcodewiz]

Aaah. Thanks. Here is the dxf. I zoomed in and it appears to be closed. I can't create a contour from the outer circle in the O or the inner circle.

[metalworkz]

My Partmaster created the contours for the O no problem with NC Countour (create contour to epxort to CAM) It looks like the rest is already toolpaths except for the word Thomas at the bottom?

[metalworkz]

Sometimes with parts like this that are maybe going to be engraved with the same tool I will use Select All from Edit on menu bar and then from Edit menu select Create NC Contours and then it is easy and quick to create the contours and go to Milling Module which opens these selected contours in the CAM for setting up tools, making toolpaths and creating the program. It works good for engraving or other operations where the same tool can be used.

[Dolphin USA]

Mine created it ok also. Also try zooming in and creating the contour.