Hello,

i am new to AutoCAD, but comfortable with Adobe Illustrator which is of course also vector.

Lately i have two different vendors requesting/receiving DXF files from me for laser cutting quotes.

A few weeks ago "Vendor A" told me i had major scaling issues when i exported from AI as a DXF, so this is when i signed up for AutoCAD 2018 and used that to open my same DXF and re-save it and then give them that. Despite this seeming redundant, it seems to work since i haven't heard complaints from this vendor again. 

Totally different vendor, Vendor B, contacted me today tell me that my DXF file was showing all splined/jagged circles and curves. I had created their DXF in the same manner... from AI, then saved through CAD, and then to them. However, previously i had not done this for Vendor B. Previously i had sent them direct AI files. But, they're requesting DXF from here on since it's less work for them, but it's coming through as jagged edges.

I understand there are settings within AutoCAD that control how high of resolution the "display" of the document is.. but, is this really adjusting the total resolution of the file itself??? That seems shocking to me. 

What are the different options for setting curve resolutions, and which are "actual" changes to the design lines, and which are just for basic screen display? 

When i go to make adjustments to the document settings, i try everything and sometimes it doesn't appear to make any adjustments at all and then sometimes it will suddenly change after 5 minutes goes by. 

Can someone please help a newbie get acquainted with the fundamentals of curve integrity? I want perfect full curves. This is for laser cutting of my product, with screws holes all over the place. Cutting "nearly" perfect curves that look pretty good to the eye but don't allow a screw to go through would be an utter waste of prototyping time, ie. a couple months of my business clock.

thanks!!