Can I slice an object into multiple DXF files?

Can I slice an object into multiple DXF files?

tomae
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Can I slice an object into multiple DXF files?

tomae
Collaborator
Collaborator

I have a large rectangular object that I want to slice into, say 200, layers and export a DXF of each layer.  How would one do this?

 

I know at one time there was an extension called "Slicer for Fusion 360" but that is no longer supported and does not seem to work.  At least I attempted to run it today on my Mac and it doesn't seem to do anything (Fusion doesn't know it's there, it doesn't seem to allow me to do anything with it).

 

Thanks,

-Tom

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Message 2 of 6

davebYYPCU
Consultant
Consultant

Reasonably simple process, 

 

drawn the 200 lines, in the cutting position, to extend slightly longer than the object, connect each line adjacent end point with a semi circular arc, to join them all like an S bending snake.

 

Split body with the snake.

 

each face of those bodies is now available.

i use DXFer, (a download Addin from Github) to take the face of each slice, it will place that face on an independent layer in one dxf file.

 

However Fusion now has Arrange or Nesting, that came after my workflow was sorted, these options are outside my expertise.

 

Might help....

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Message 3 of 6

etfrench
Mentor
Mentor

No need to connect the lines, just use a rectangular pattern to create 200 parallel lines.  In the Split Body dialog, use a drag from the left to right to select all of the lines as the splitting tools.  You'll still need to select each individual face to create the dxfs.

 

p.s. If this is something you're going to do a lot, then investigate the API to write a script.

ETFrench

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Message 4 of 6

tomae
Collaborator
Collaborator

Thanks to both of you for the replies.  I did end up making the "snake" but see that patterned rectangles would also work.  I also ended up using the "DXF For Laser" add-on to output a DXF of every slice.  Worked fine.  It lacks the convenience of "Slicer for Fusion 360" which they stopped supporting for some reason.  For example, if a given layer has multiple pieces on it (due to intersecting geometry) those bodies are created out of numerical order.  So it makes assembling all the pieces for each layer a laborious manual process :-(. But, it is better than a sharp stick in the eye.

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=7634902334100976871

 

Also, my stock material was exactly the same size as the outer dimensions (12 X 12) of the final project.  Since the DXF produced has the outer perimeter, I had to edit every DXF to remove the outer perimeter 😞   I did that in Inkscape and it was a long tedious task.    In hind sight, I should have gotten stock bigger than I needed and let the laser cut the whole thing.  Live and learn.

 

-Tom

 

 

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Message 5 of 6

etfrench
Mentor
Mentor

It's not a pattern of rectangles, but a rectangular pattern 😀

ETFrench

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Message 6 of 6

davebYYPCU
Consultant
Consultant

Don’t know Inkscape.  If it has layer control, put the boundary articles on a no cut layer.

 

Might help....

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