Can't import dxf file that is text format?

[billoverman]

I have a text-format dxf file that Fusion 360 and A360 fail to import with no information as to why.

My unfounded guess is that text-format dxf is not supported. If that is the case, are there other tools in the AD suite that might reliably import text format and convert to binary format?

Maybe my guess is wrong and there is some other reason this file fails to import (it does import without issue into SolidWorks).

I've attached the file.

Thanks for any help,

Bill

[Phil.E]

That dxf file, can it open in another software for you that can translate it to another format? Can SolidWorks save it as another format?

AutoCAD crashes on it.

[HughesTooling]

I can open it with Rhino and ZW3d, here's the import report from ZW3d. Fusion opens text format DXF files so I don't know what's wrong in this file.

Mark

[billoverman]

Although SolidWorks can open the file OK, it introduces another problem. In SolidWorks' calculation of ellipse endpoints, points that should be coincident are off by about one millionth of an inch. And even though there is a setting for this tolerance, it is not used when chaining elliptical arcs. Therefore I get about 100 microscopic gaps that have to be fixed manually in a very time-consuming way.

I want to use many different versions of this file, so I'm looking at a more efficient way to import into Fusion.

(I have another post describing problems using the API to create elliptical arcs.)

[HughesTooling]

What program produced to DXF attached to the first thread, does it have any option for DXF export.

Mark

[billoverman]

I produced it myself from C# code. So if I could find out why Fusion doesn't like it, I could probably produce it in a compatible format (I've avoided binary format just because that is much harder to produce/debug).

[HughesTooling]

Have you tried exporting an ellipse from Fusion with Export DXF from a sketch and comparing a file with the same ellipse from your program.

Mark

Edit have you tried something real simple like a line to see if it's the header info Fusion doesn't like.

[billoverman]

Thanks for the suggestion. I got it working with a combination of $ACADVER change and the addition of AcDbEntity in all entities. A dozen other DXF viewers don't require this extra info for each entity, but at least it is importing now. Maybe Fusion is just more exacting in the requirements for each DXF format version. The file size swelled from 34K to 119K.

Now another problem has appeared. I believe Fusion is calculating the arc sweep angles incorrectly (at least it is again doing it differently than every other viewer).

Compare this sketch to the prior screenshot of ZW3d. (I removed the bounding box.)

So far, I've found it difficult to clean it up manually.

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

I experimented a bit importing and exporting from Rhino using your original file and the new one. The first attempt worked and everything joined up but then I remembered you made a comment about gaps being one millionth of an inch and my file was in mm so I tried again in inches and there where a lot of gaps, not really sure why units should make a difference. Next I tried joining the curves in Rhino and that works as long as the file tolerance is set to 0.001", I've attached the file, perhaps it will give you some ideas.

Mark

Edit just noticed you set $INSUNITS to 5 so are you working in CM?

[billoverman]

Thanks for checking out the file.

I was working in inches when I exported a sample dxf from Fusion. I then copied the preamble/postamble (everything but the entities) from that file to my export code. I guess that captured the INSUNITS setting.

Because you noticed the $INSUNITS setting, I tried importing my sample dxf back into Fusion, and it did indeed come back too small by a factor of 2.54.

Side Note: To try to verify this experiment I did it again with a different elliptical arc. This time it re-imported as a CIRCLE.

I've had a number of problems with elliptical arc in dxf and in the api. I'm giving up.

Your file works perfectly in Fusion. It even comes in at the proper size (I noticed SolidWorks imported in inches also).

Was the process of joining the curves tedious in Rhino, or semi-automatic? If it's easy, I'll get Rhino just for that purpose.

Thanks,

Bill

Here is your file in Fusion. Nice, well-formed profiles that I have not seen before.

[HughesTooling]

All I needed to do in Rhino was set the file tollerence to 0.001" then window select all the curves and run the Join command and save as DXF. I have a tips thread here with settings for DXF export from Rhino.

Mark

[NewAmericanPublicArt]

I've got a bit of a weird workaround, but it involves software outside the Autodesk suite.

If you've got access to VCarve, you can import your DXF - it retains layers and imports everything as polylines and arcs, including text. 

Then export your DXF from VCarve, import the result into an open sketch in Fusion 360 and there ya go, text and all.