Rhino output doesn't work...

[saturnnights]

I suspect that there's a setting that I'm missing somewhere when I export from Rhino, but nothing that I export from Rhino will allow SheetCam to generate a toolpath - "No paths were generated... Something must be wrong with the drawing, you loser..."
Okay, SheetCam didn't really call me a loser, but that's how I feel
Anyway, I've made a simple spiral-shaped doo-dad in QCad and SheetCam is mostly okay with that (although I get messages about open objects - I'm basically snapping a few arcs end-to-end). But when I do the same type of object in Rhino and open in SheetCam, no-go...

Anyway, I'm accepting the Rhino export defaults, AutoCAD 2000 format. I started with a fairly elaborate object, then started cutting it down for testing purposes. I finally arrived at a 2D square... Same thing

So, for the Rhino users out there who have been through this and aren't currently living in a round, rubber room, how'd you do it?

Ask me if there's something else I should've told you about my setup...

Thanks!
Mark

[ger21]

Use V12 .dxf, for starters. And try Curves as polylines in the .dxf dialog. If possible, post a screen shot of the .dxf dialog with the options your using.

[saturnnights]

Originally Posted by ger21 Use V12 .dxf, for starters. And try Curves as polylines in the .dxf dialog. If possible, post a screen shot of the .dxf dialog with the options your using.

Thanks - lemme try to upload...

[saturnnights]

Here's the actual .dxf from Rhino - saved with those settings:

http://www.marknorth.net/cnczone/cnczone.zip

[saturnnights]

Originally Posted by saturnnights Here's the actual .dxf from Rhino - saved with those settings: http://www.marknorth.net/cnczone/cnczone.zip

I should've mentioned that my goal is to cut out the area around those designs - leave them raised 1/8".

[ger21]

The file size of the .dxf you linked to is 0 bytes.

[locost_cam]

As Gerry mentioned, try DXF V12. Does the drawing look right when you load it into SheetCam? If it looks OK then the problem is probably due to a layer mixup. In SheetCam go to View->Layer tool. Now click on the tick marks next to the layer names. This will turn off all of the layers. Now turn on each layer in turn. This will show you exactly what lines are on each layer. You will probably find that some of the drawing is on a different layer to the one you expected it to be on. You can correct this in Rhino or SheetCam.

To move entities between layers, switch to contour properties mode (the button with an arrow and a C). Now hold down the <ctrl> key and click on the entities you want to edit. Once you have selected them, right click and select move to layer.

The warning you got about open objects is perfectly OK for a spiral. Lines that don't form a closed shape cannot be offset because there is no way for SheetCam to figure out which side of the line to cut. It is a common mistake to have lines that nearly meet but don't quite. If you have an outline that looks closed but in fact is open because some lines don't meet the warning will let you know SheetCam thinks it is open.

Les

[saturnnights]

Hi Les,

Gerry mentioned that the example I posted was zero bytes - not sure how I did that, but you're right about the layers. I was up burning the midnight oil on this last night and discovered that I was producing an empty layer and SheetCam was trying to deal with that. I just selected the layer with an entity in it and everything seemed okay, but today I'll try correcting the layers like you've mentioned.

Thanks!!!!
Mark

Originally Posted by locost_cam As Gerry mentioned, try DXF V12. Does the drawing look right when you load it into SheetCam? If it looks OK then the problem is probably due to a layer mixup. In SheetCam go to View->Layer tool. Now click on the tick marks next to the layer names. This will turn off all of the layers. Now turn on each layer in turn. This will show you exactly what lines are on each layer. You will probably find that some of the drawing is on a different layer to the one you expected it to be on. You can correct this in Rhino or SheetCam. To move entities between layers, switch to contour properties mode (the button with an arrow and a C). Now hold down the <ctrl> key and click on the entities you want to edit. Once you have selected them, right click and select move to layer. The warning you got about open objects is perfectly OK for a spiral. Lines that don't form a closed shape cannot be offset because there is no way for SheetCam to figure out which side of the line to cut. It is a common mistake to have lines that nearly meet but don't quite. If you have an outline that looks closed but in fact is open because some lines don't meet the warning will let you know SheetCam thinks it is open. Les

[locost_cam]

If Rhino is exporting an empty layer, just ignore it. If all the bits you want are on the same layer then you don't need to do anything else.

Les

[saturnnights]

Originally Posted by locost_cam If Rhino is exporting an empty layer, just ignore it. If all the bits you want are on the same layer then you don't need to do anything else. Les

Okay - thanks for the help

Mark