Solved: Getting drawing file to my machines - Page 2

jrsphoto · ‎11-02-2015

I'm trying to get some design drawings to my machinist and he is having issues trying to read them. First, he wants a dwg or dxf file with dimensions.

I have this part I've designed and created a drawing using the FILE / NEW DRAWING FROM DESIGN function. I added the dimensions and saved it as a dwg file.

He is unable to open with Mastercam or Autocad 2010. We both tried to open with DWG TrueView 2016 and convert it but that did not seem to work either. Ultimatly, he generates his toolpaths for his Haas Mini-Mills, using MasterCam, directly from the dwg/dxf file.

I have attached the main drawing file and the exported dwg file. I had him email me a file that he CAN use. Its one he got from one of his defense contractors, not one of my own files so I can't publish it here. If you need it I can email it to you. Suffice to say the dwg file he gave me looks perfect in TrueView and when I upload it to f360.

FWIW, I'm running Windows 10, 12gb ram, ATI Video.

O.Tan · ‎11-05-2015

well mastercam (even old ones) can read STEP files and it's probably the better format as there's unit information (mm/inch) when it's saved in STEP so you won't get scaling issues as you would with some DWG files.

So STEP file is the preferred and PDF for machinist reference.

Also yeah, totally can relate regarding dimensioning, right now I do most of my project in Fusion and then I'll have to export it all out to a STEP file in order to dimension it.