SketchUp exporting as DXF then ACE to Gcode

[IQChallenged]

G00 Z0.1000
G00 X-1851.7656 Y992.9758
G01 Z-0.2500
G01 X-1846.7656 Y992.9758 Z-0.2500
G00 Z0.1000
G00 X-1851.7656 Y992.9758
G01 Z-0.5000
G01 X-1851.7656 Y992.9758 Z-0.5000
G01 X-1846.7656 Y992.9758 Z-0.5000
G00 Z0.1000
G00 X-1851.7656 Y992.9758
G01 Z-0.7500

These are just a few lines of the code I get when I convert a file exported as DXF from SketchUp into ACE. The problem is that the object is nothing like the code (see pic with dims). What am I doing wrong?

[Bubba]

Looks like you told Ace, that you were metric!
Also, where is the origin of your drawing (x0 y0)
Did you do anything to offset the path for the diameter (radius) of your cutter. Ace will follow the path and doesn't know about offsets.
And for a piece that is .417 thick, why are you cutting .750 deep?

Just a few questions to help you think about what is going on:})

[IQChallenged]

Originally Posted by Bubba Looks like you told Ace, that you were metric! Also, where is the origin of your drawing (x0 y0) Did you do anything to offset the path for the diameter (radius) of your cutter. Ace will follow the path and doesn't know about offsets. And for a piece that is .417 thick, why are you cutting .750 deep? Just a few questions to help you think about what is going on:})

I checked my drawing on SketchUp and saw that I had, in fact, selected mm instead of inches. It didn't matter to me when I was drawing it. I just wanted an object with some detail to test.

So I changed it to inches and ran it through ACE again. It didn't change the gcode at all.

And besides, if you look at the numbers, there's no conversion apparent. The object is 5" long. The metric equivalent of that would be roughly 5 x 27mm or 135mm. The numbers for X movement are 4 digits! So that makes no sense.

As far as the depth of cut- I didn't plug in anything. I just drew the object, transported it to my desktop as dxf and ran it through ACE.

[Bubba]

Again, I go back to WHERE is X0,Y0 in the drawing?

I often draw stuff "out in space", but when I cam it, it has to have a reference to an origin.
Depending on condition, I might make the lower left corner of your piece as X0,Y0

If you have that point "out in space" some where, you very well could get the results you are talking about. I am not familiar with SketchUp, but still you need an origin.

[ger21]

Can you post the .dxf?

[IQChallenged]

Originally Posted by ger21 Can you post the .dxf?

Here is the file. And unfortunately I must leave this great forum and cannot return for 24-48hrs.

[ger21]

ACE is looking for a simple 2D .dxf. Yours is a 3D .dxf, consisting of triangular faces as well as lines and arcs. There are also lines running vertically at all endpoints, including the segmented arc of the pocket. Not sure if you can get Sketchup to output a "clean" 2D .dxf.

Also, as was mentioned, you're part is at ~-1800X, and ~992 Y

Here's you're .dxf with all the extra stuff cleaned out, and moved to 0,0. Should work better for you.

[IQChallenged]

Originally Posted by ger21 ACE is looking for a simple 2D .dxf. Yours is a 3D .dxf, consisting of triangular faces as well as lines and arcs. There are also lines running vertically at all endpoints, including the segmented arc of the pocket. Not sure if you can get Sketchup to output a "clean" 2D .dxf. Also, as was mentioned, you're part is at ~-1800X, and ~992 Y Here's you're .dxf with all the extra stuff cleaned out, and moved to 0,0. Should work better for you.

I'm probably doing something wrong. When I took your cleaned up file and ran it through ACE-- it still produced dozens of lines of code, way more than I would expect MACH to need. And they didn't look logical for the object to be created. Going to go run it and see.

http://wwwProjectCNC.wordpress.com

[IQChallenged]

I realized after running your cleaned up file in MACH that you probably expected me to import it to MACH. Instead I ran it through ACE and then ran the resulting gcode in MACH. It certainly did not cut the object I drew in SketchUp. Then I realized I could import your DXF file directly into MACH. So I did. It looked more like what I think gcode would look like. But it still wasn't right. For one thing the huge negative numbers were still there. I've learned a lot with this thread. Probably the most important thing is to orient the object to zero in SketchUp. Otherwise you get ridiculous numbers. I'll get there.

http://www.ProjectCNC.wordpress.com

[ger21]

I checked and found something I didn't see before. A duplicate in the .dxf, very, very far away. Try this one.

For some reason, when I used the optimize option in ACE, it double cut some of the inside cuts. Even though it's free, ACE leaves a bit to be desired. I got much better results, and more control with LazyCAM, included free with Mach3.

[IQChallenged]

Originally Posted by ger21 I checked and found something I didn't see before. A duplicate in the .dxf, very, very far away. Try this one. For some reason, when I used the optimize option in ACE, it double cut some of the inside cuts. Even though it's free, ACE leaves a bit to be desired. I got much better results, and more control with LazyCAM, included free with Mach3.

I'll give your new file a whirl next chance I get.
A few days ago, after downloading ACE, I learned about the existence of LazyCAM. Haven't had a chance to try it yet. Certainly would expect it to work better with MACH.
Thanks

[IQChallenged]

Originally Posted by ger21 I checked and found something I didn't see before. A duplicate in the .dxf, very, very far away. Try this one. For some reason, when I used the optimize option in ACE, it double cut some of the inside cuts. Even though it's free, ACE leaves a bit to be desired. I got much better results, and more control with LazyCAM, included free with Mach3.

Hmm. What a mess. (The bit is 1/4")