solution to convert eMachineShop to 3D DXF

[korntheuer]

I had a deeper look into the file formats DXF, DWG, and STL. They are all
very similar. Convertion tools will not reduce the amount triangles in my
file. It all gives about the same size.

What I really need is this:

Soft that turns a wireframe ( or mesh ) into a solid. ger21 did this trick somehow.
After the convertion to a solid I can convert it into DXF, STL or whatever.
This way I end up with a small file that anybody can use.

Does anybody has any good sugestions for wireframe to solid converter
software?

Thanks,

[lakeside]

if rhino opened it would there 3d do the trick?

[ger21]

Originally Posted by korntheuer Soft that turns a wireframe ( or mesh ) into a solid. ger21 did this trick somehow.

No, I didn't. MeshCAM reads the .dxf mesh and can create g-code from that. Like I said, just about any 3D CAM program shouldn't have any problems with it. MeshCAM only costs $150 and it reads it just fine.

Even if you could turn it into a solid, it won't make it any better, as it would just be a solid version of the triangulated mesh.

As Fyffe said, for 2.5D milling, this is not the best way to go about it. It would be much better to just do a 2D drawing and convert that to G-code. For 3D work, you're .dxf is no different than using an .stl file.

[fyffe555]

Originally Posted by ger21 I think what Fyffe is saying is that, sure, you can machine it, but will it be accurate? I don't know. I also didn't try to scale it.

Correct!...... now why didn't I just say that....

I've just spoken to a friend who had a part made by EMS. His problems with the parts where why I got involved to have a look. Cut a long story short he seems to suggest that EMS ships the job out to a machineshop and the shop can determine part of the machining process, and in some cases what dimensions or tolerances they might be produced to. In this case a plate was bent with a radius, the ems model file 2d dxf didn't include the bend radius which was apparently determined by the shop. When the parts where delivered they where different to a small degree from the 3d model displayed. Critical features where correct. No big problem really and he was happy but it seems certain elements normally included for a machinist can be left for the machinist to determine? If that's the case then anyone using an ems file as a source for gcode might have to make similar decisions and modify the dxf thats put into Ace converter, meshcam et al..

Andrew

[korntheuer]

Gerry,

The convertion to something else than wireframe IS important. I have here files
of several tens of megabytes containing all the small triangles and only
describing not too complicated objects. (I'm pretty certain no details are missing ;-) )
But the file size is totally impractical. A disk with some camphered holes gives 6 Mb.
Modifying anything in such a file is impossible...
I really would like to know how you made this small IGES file. First into gcode with
MeshCAM? And then what? Rhino? Sorry I don't have any experiance...

Thanks,

[ger21]

If you want to convert just to decrease file size, .dwg format **should** be much smaller. Your Funnel went from 312KB to 96KB in .dwg format.

Modifying a 3D .dxf consiting of 3D faces (triangles) is a very difficult thing. I'd probably rather remodel it from scratch. Regardless of the file size.

If you use a program like MeshCAM, it only accepts .stl and .dxf, so you'll have to get used to the file size.

As for the IGES, Mike said he couldn't open it. Could you? I didn't check it. I just opened it in Rhino, and Save As, IGES. I don't have Rhino at home to check if it works.

Have you tried converting to an .stl? An .stl writes the triangle info in a much more compact format than .dxf, and should result in a smaller file size. I just checked, and the .stl was 85Kb, or about 25-30% the size of the .dxf

[lakeside]

this is what i see and what data say X Y 137" Z 291"? also attached is a 3d dxf for tool path for another peice

[korntheuer]

The Geocities site doesn't work anymore ( Geocities was closed down... )

So I moved the soft to a new "Geocities clone/archive" on:

http://www.geocities.ws/ems2obj/

It has been 4 years since I last used it. Does anybody know if it still works
with the newest version of emachineshop?