Help with Curves!

[Chris64]

OK...I'm having some problems. I have a simple circle...using Corel 9. I export as DXF. It turns into about 1,000 seperate X/Y nodes. This is a huge prob for me since I don't have enough memory and it's such a basic shape.

As I read in the Tips section, I converted it to an HPGL. This didn't improve anything.

About my only choice is to export to HPGL, re-import the file and then go through and manually erase every other node.

So...is there any way to utilize the real curve commands?

Or...is there a way to tone down the resolution (or quantity I guess) of the nodes it generates when it get's converted?

As a suggestion...a feature where you code use a shape on the screen to generate the code for canned cycles. I'm not familiar with other systems so I don't know how common canned cycles are.

[Chris64]

I'm still hoping to find some options for this but I did find a work around.

It seems that Corel creates those thousand or so points during the DXF conversion. EMF files - which are not readable as plain text - seem to create much fewer nodes so I'll give these a shot. But now I have to convert my drawing to colors instead of layers (grumble, grumble) - still beats hand coding!!!

[ger21]

http://www.candcnc.com/DXFToolDetails.htm

[Chris64]

Thanks...I guess I have to try that.

My EMF test gave me a bit of a shock...it turns out that it scaled everything down about 90%...A bad thing to find out when you're on you're last couple steps.

[Chris64]

Except it doesn't work with Corel 9...argggh!

[locost_cam]

Go to Options->system parameters and increase the detail reduction error. The higher this number, the fewer nodes you will get but of course the less accurate the final shape will be. The accuracy loss will never exceed the max detail reduction error. You need to reload the drawing to see the effect.

EMF files are designed to be scaled to fit a page. They do have facilities to specify the exact size but unfortunately Corel doesn't use them...

[Chris64]

Go to Options->system parameters and increase the detail reduction error. The higher this number, the fewer nodes you will get but of course the less accurate the final shape will be. The accuracy loss will never exceed the max detail reduction error. You need to reload the drawing to see the effect.

EMF files are designed to be scaled to fit a page. They do have facilities to specify the exact size but unfortunately Corel doesn't use them...

Thanks...but that doesn't appear to be an option on v9.

[locost_cam]

Sorry, I should have said that option is a setting in SheetCam.

[Chris64]

Sorry, I should have said that option is a setting in SheetCam.

Yay! Yea that seems to work pretty good!

Now, to hijack my own thread with a related question -
What would you recommend for the ideal CAD software to use for creating the best dxf files (real curves etc.)? Easy to use and under $500?

I'm very familiar with Corel so I can get things done really quickly. maybe with the DXF tool it would be best for me.

Thanks for all your help!

[locost_cam]

If you are used to Corel then you would probably be best off sticking with it. It does depend a bit on what you are doing. If you are doing artistic work then Corel is excellent. If you are doing engineering type work then a more traditional cad package may be better. DesignCad Express 16 is very good value for money <http://www.upperspace.com/products/designcad.asp>