.ai file to AutoCAD

[Anonymous]

Good Morning,

I have created a file in illustrator and have converted to a dxf file, which I was instructed to do, however the party with autoCad is not able to read the file in the same context as it is created.  

The .ai file is crisp and clean as a vector should be however they are opening it with an outline and background which is causing problems.  Is there a better file format I can convert so that it can be opened by their program.  They are using a laser cutting machine.

Thank you so much for your help, greatly appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this will work, but here goes:

Generate a (vector) pdf from your vector file, then (hopefully) the folks on the receiving end can import the geometry into AutoCAD (in dwg format) clean it up as necessary, then save as a dxf.

Never having worked in Illustrator, I don't know for sure, but seems like it should work.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so very much for your response. I am able to export to a .dxf file but my newer version of illustrator didn’t seem to be compatible with their autoCad. I used an online conversion site and that seemed to do the trick.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> but my newer version of illustrator didn’t seem to be

>> compatible with their autoCad

What does that mean in detail?

What message do you get or do they get? Which version of AutoCAD are they using?

 - alfred -

[Anonymous]

I am not sure what version they have.  When they opened my dxf file which my 2020 ai file says is 2010 2011 2012 AutoCad - which seems very odd to me as I would think it should be a little newer version than 2012.

That could quite possibly be the issue.  I think I am going to ask Adobe why the latest export to dxf file is 2012??

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> is 2010 2011 2012 AutoCad

If your Adobe Illustrator writes a DXF-2010 file (which was current for AutoCAD versions 2010-2012), then all AutoCAD versions starting with AutoCAD 2010 will be able to open the file. So also up to now AutoCAD 2020 will read this file too.

Which message do they get, or what exactly happens when they try to open the file.

And yes, it could be important to know which version of AutoCAD they have.

- alfred -