topic Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf in Inventor Forum

Convert Step File to usable Dxf

nunofelix79 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 02:30:11 GMT

Hi,

I'm trying to convert the attached step file into a dxf that i can use on a laser cutter. Right now it has too many surfaces. Is this achievable?

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

SEC_MECH — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 04:54:13 GMT

Wow. That file was complicated. I am not sure if Inventor has a way to do it but AutoCAD has a couple of methods - FLATTEN and FLATSHOT.

I tried FLATTEN for over an hour and still had no result.

I then did FLATSHOT. This file is probably best for your needs. This file is attached.

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

j.palmeL29YX — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:21:02 GMT

Attached a .dxf file (2D).

If you want more detailed, let me know.

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

nunofelix79 — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 11:44:36 GMT

Thank you so much.

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

WHolzwarth — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 12:54:33 GMT

I took a look at both DXF files.

Flatshot.dxf will not be good for laser cutting, because of duplicate lines. The other one seems ok.

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

j.palmeL29YX — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 13:47:20 GMT

@WHolzwarth wrote:

Flatshot.dxf will not be good for laser cutting, because of duplicate lines.

Therefore I posted an alternative suggestion. 😉

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

johnsonshiue — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 01:29:48 GMT

Hi! This is a solid body, possibly converted from mesh. To get a good clean profile, the geometry needs to be simplified. Inventor has limited ability handling mesh data. For this particular case, I suspect the following workflow may help.

1) Create a workplane 0.5mm offset from XY.

2) Create a sketch on the workplane.

3) Project Cut Edges -> Finish Sketch.

4) Right-click on the sketch -> Export Sketch As -> DXF -> Options -> select "FlatPattern" for customization.

Many thanks!

Re: Convert Step File to usable Dxf

j.palmeL29YX — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:09:19 GMT

@johnsonshiue wrote:

1) Create a workplane 0.5mm offset from XY.

2) Create a sketch on the workplane.

3) Project Cut Edges -> Finish Sketch.

Exactly this way I did it too. 😉

But additional I tested the quality of the result and tried to extrude each of the closed curves. 4 of the curves and also the outer rectangle don't allow neither an extrusion nor another meaningfull modification. (I don't know if this corrupt curves will let us run into problems while the laser cutting). I repaired this curves manually.