Adobe Illustrator to CNC software?? HELP

[merlin1974]

As a designer, I am looking for the proper way to export Adobe illustrator files so that Our CNC programming time can be reduced. Right now we have vector lines that are being drawn in Adobe Illustrator such as lettering or designs. The cnc programmer then has to redraw / trace the whole thing in order to get it to cut smoothly which seems to me is wasting a lot of time. Is there and good piece of conversion software that will let a designer properly save or convert the file? We have tried exporting dxf files which don't work the way they want. I want to be able to save these hard working guys from redrawing something we have already drawn. I have checked this site out Interflux

Has anyone tried this at all? Bare with me as I'm not sure what cnc software they are using which I will find out tomorrow.

[ger21]

I'm guessing the .dxf output is multiple straight segments? I don't know how much Interflux is, but that or this program seem like the way to go. http://www.kandusoftware.com/product...ws/bezarc.html

[The Wizard]

Originally Posted by merlin1974 As a designer, I am looking for the proper way to export Adobe illustrator files so that Our CNC programming time can be reduced. Right now we have vector lines that are being drawn in Adobe Illustrator such as lettering or designs. The cnc programmer then has to redraw / trace the whole thing in order to get it to cut smoothly which seems to me is wasting a lot of time. Is there and good piece of conversion software that will let a designer properly save or convert the file? We have tried exporting dxf files which don't work the way they want. I want to be able to save these hard working guys from redrawing something we have already drawn. I have checked this site out Interflux Has anyone tried this at all? Bare with me as I'm not sure what cnc software they are using which I will find out tomorrow.

If you can find out what CAM software they use to convert the files it may help us out.

I used to work as a technical writer/technical illustrator (before I became medically disabled) and my tool of choice for illustrations was always Illustrator.

However, since I got into home CNC I discovered that Illustrator files do cause problems when exported as dxf files and very few CAM applications (if any) will read eps files.

The solution I found was to do all my 'artistic' drawings in Corel Draw (early versions work fine) and save them as HPGL files and my CAM software (SheetCam) reads them with no problems provided that they are drawn 'correctly' (i.e. closed shapes are properly 'closed').

You may find that you have to change your drawing software to get the results you want. Corel Draw will open Illy files so it may be a case of simply opening your existing files in Corel Draw and re-saving them as HPGL files that can then be read by your CAM software.

HTH

Larry

[merlin1974]

the cadd guy says that the illustrator 10 dxf files are coming over as spline and need to be a polyline to work for the cnc programming. I'm not sure but I guess it isn't possible to convert the spline to a polyline? I tried opening the same dxf on my AutoCadd LT ( i really don't know much about autocadd ) and it didn't seem to be little segments.

Do you know what version of corel draw you are saving from? I'm checking into the CNC program, I wrote it down but of course left it somewhere I have some vinyl sign software, I'll have to look to see if it can convert to HPGL and try that.

[ger21]

Download the spline to polyline lisp from Cadalyst magazine, December, 2003. http://new.cadalyst.com/code/browsey...llyear=2003#12

Or with the splines in AutoCAD, save as R12 .dxf, close and reopen the file. The splines will now be polylines.

[merlin1974]

thanks a bunch! If this works for them the autocadd & cnc guys will be thrilled and I'll owe you a 6pack of your fav. beverage!

[The Wizard]

Originally Posted by ger21 Download the spline to polyline lisp from Cadalyst magazine, December, 2003. http://new.cadalyst.com/code/browsey...llyear=2003#12 Or with the splines in AutoCAD, save as R12 .dxf, close and reopen the file. The splines will now be polylines.

Unfortunately Illy won't save/export in R12 format but opening the saved dxf in a CAD program and resaving as a R12 format will work as you say.

Larry

[The Wizard]

Originally Posted by merlin1974 the cadd guy says that the illustrator 10 dxf files are coming over as spline and need to be a polyline to work for the cnc programming. I'm not sure but I guess it isn't possible to convert the spline to a polyline? I tried opening the same dxf on my AutoCadd LT ( i really don't know much about autocadd ) and it didn't seem to be little segments.

Illy exports curves as splines by default and that is the problem. There have been a couple of suggestions to get around this problem in other replies.

Originally Posted by merlin1974 Do you know what version of corel draw you are saving from? I'm checking into the CNC program, I wrote it down but of course left it somewhere I have some vinyl sign software, I'll have to look to see if it can convert to HPGL and try that.

I am running V.11 but almost any version will save/export HPGL files (you don't need the latest and greatest version). V.11 will open Illy files directly but I am not sure how far back they introduced that abililty.

Larry

[ger21]

Originally Posted by The Wizard Unfortunately Illy won't save/export in R12 format but opening the saved dxf in a CAD program and resaving as a R12 format will work as you say. Larry

That's what I was saying

with the splines in AutoCAD, save as R12 .dxf, close and reopen the file

[MegaMoog]

Try Textcam, it will read .eps files and can make g-code or save as .dxf and other fomats!

[Swykore]

Originally Posted by merlin1974 As a designer, I am looking for the proper way to export Adobe illustrator files so that Our CNC programming time can be reduced. Right now we have vector lines that are being drawn in Adobe Illustrator such as lettering or designs. The cnc programmer then has to redraw / trace the whole thing in order to get it to cut smoothly which seems to me is wasting a lot of time. Is there and good piece of conversion software that will let a designer properly save or convert the file? We have tried exporting dxf files which don't work the way they want. I want to be able to save these hard working guys from redrawing something we have already drawn. I have checked this site out Interflux Has anyone tried this at all? Bare with me as I'm not sure what cnc software they are using which I will find out tomorrow.

I am having the exact same problem and was wondering if you ultimately found a good solution. I spoke to the creator of Interflux, he converted my files but to no avail. I did the same with a representative of Bezarc and that software does work very well BUT costs 500 bucks. I am trying to find a good eps to dxf conversion or ai to r-12 dxf conversion software that is more affordable.
I also tried working with corel but the dxf files exported out show faceted lines intead of true arcs. With the Bezarc files when I opened them up in Bobcad, the files did require some clean up but the splining looked pretty clean all around. Hopefully there is a solution that you or others will be able to assist me with that involves freeware or just looking at the problem in a way that I have not.

[dcd121]

Did a conversion that worked nice. Save eps. in Illustrator. Import eps. to Rhino. From Rhino you can save a dxf that will work nice for cam.