Export DXF problem

[Markclayto]

When exporting a fusion drawing as DXF if i send that drawing to be laser cut they cannot use the file.

If they open it in draft sight only half of the drawing is visible if they open it in Autocad it it has problems too.

The only way i have found to correct the problem is get a trial version of Autocad and use the export layout command to make the drawing readable.

Then it can be opened in other programs a lot of people we use for laser cutting use draft sight because of the free version.

Is there any chance this can be fixed soon as i cannot have another trial of Autocad and would prefer to use one program.

Kind Regards Mark

[James.Youmatz]

Hi @Markclayto,

I'll take a peek into this! Do you have the .DXF file as well as the .f3d file that I can take a look at? I want to play around with them a bit and see why other programs may not be reading all the data into the file. 

Thanks!

[Markclayto]

Hi there can any one help i need to turn these files in to DXF drawings for laser cutting.

When i open them up in draft sight there is no image showing.

I had a work around using Auto cad but i only had the trial version i do not really want to buy it to make a DXF.

I did post my work around in the forums with a Video of my process a while back but really need this fixing as i cannot afford a licence of Auto cad to produce a DXF.

[eellenburg · Accepted solution]

Download Autodesk DWG Trueview & use it to convert the DWGs to the 2000 version.  You can then open them in Draftsight.

http://www.autodesk.com/products/dwg/viewers

Converted DWGs are attached.

[Anonymous]

Hi James

Did you find a solution to this problem? I'm really unimpressed with the support for dxf and dwg by Fusion 360. I mean, BOTH of those file formats were INVENTED by Autodesk, for goodness sake.

Opening them in a viewer to convert is not a valid solution to this problem - they should output correctly by default.

My workaround has been to save in the extremely icky format known as PDF and this works fine. Autodesk used to make great products and now can't even handle their own file types? What happened?

[Oli_Young]

Hi @James.Youmatz,

I have this problem too. Did you figure why the Fusion DXF export is missing bits?

How can I specify a particular dxf version?

Why does autodesk not support dxf's better?

Thanks

[airRPT2H]

Hi,

Has anyone resolved this issue?

We are trying to convince our students that Fusion 360 is the best Autodesk product to use and to wean them off Inventor (only because it is easier to share projects via Fusion 360).

The problem we have is similar to the aforementioned but we have also found that the dimensions of sketches seemingly changes when exported to DXF files.  Not good!

We use the laser cutter a fair amount for rapid prototyping/modelling and it is important the models are dimensionally accurate.

Has Autodesk fixed this issue or is there something we can do as a work-around without using another software product in the process?

Many thanks in advance of any response that might help.

Cheers,

Tony

[maxbutzke]

Recently i am facing the same problem.

Is there any possibility to manipulate the way fusion exports the .dxf? Maybe in the future?

[Oli_Young]

I do this, as our laser cutter will only recognise older DXFs:

1. Install Fusion Plugin 'DXF Spline to Polyline': https://goo.gl/nkvAGb, export dxf from sketch.
2. Import dxf to Draftsight.
3. Save dxf as ASCII 2010 dxf.
4. import to laser, cut.

I used to think Fusion should export all versions, now I think I just need a better laser 

[Anonymous]

i can`t export DXF from fusion 360.

text from my design cant be exported. does it work somehow now? 

when i open it afther i save it it`s blank

[Oli_Young]

I suggest you

1. extrude the text
2. create a sketch on that surface. It will auto-outline the extruded text
3. Use project tool to select any 'islands' (solids not connnected to original sketch eg. the centre of letters 'a', 'o' etc.
4. select that sketch in the browser
5. on the sketch drop-down menu select the export spline to polyline option (plugin must be installed first https://tinyurl.com/y2bc4r7a)
6. Using another program (eg librecad https://tinyurl.com/y4zonzxz) open the dxf and save it as a 'ascii 2010 dxf'

I know this is ridiculously convoluted, but that's what you get for dealing with old (cheap) tech. Fusion only delivers up to date files. (Although I wish I could export a drawing as a dxf!)

[swilkersonMLSFU]

This is simply unbelievable, was working fine 1 day ago and now does not work.  Come on!  Same problem Fusion 360 can't export dxf files.  You've got to be kidding me.  

[Anonymous]

Hello, 

I got the same problem. it does not seem to be solved. I try to export my .dxf file but it still stops before its done.

is there anybody who can help ? 

I don´t want to use 3 or 5 Programms to get the file exported. 

Thx guys

Rico

[airRPT2H]

Hi Rico,

Are you trying to export to a DXF file? If so the way I have found that works (most of the time) is not to use the Export function but to Save as a DXF file.

See the below pic as it shows how to simply right click on the sketch you wish to create a DXF from and "save as a DXF".


[cid:e825d917-715a-40a4-8ce1-ce5c75b34dd8]


I still get a few compatibility issues with DXFs from Fusion 360 but this is by far the best way to do it.

Regards,

Tony
ps sorry for any typos - lost my glasses so the above could say anything!!!

[alexandra.ashton]

I think....I have solved it. 

In my case I want to export as a DXF file to cnc fabricator who needs DXF file.

I lay all of my components out onto a new component that represents the size and thickness of my sheet stock, in my case Plywood, using the joint command and specified planar.

I manually nested all components to ensure sufficient space between each.

• Create New Sketch
• Projected every face of my componants onto the new sketch
• Click complete sketch 
• Right click on sketch and in the drop down menu click on SAVE AS DXF.

I then opened it up in Autocad and it appears to be scaled correctly.

Hope this helps.

[Oli_Young]

New Fusion (2.0.6613) offers the new feature where you can create any nested views of any components on a drawing sheet AND EXPORT IT AS A DXF! THANKYOU FUSION! My life is going to be so much better now 😂😂🤣 These dxfs also seem to work well with my old laser cutter.

[alexandra.ashton]

That sounds fantastic 

Thanks Oliver 

Now I just have to figure out how to do that..

[smeharg]

Well I don't know about you guys but this still does not work for me... Seems its a technical issue in our favour but not? Fusion 360 uses a 5 point spline system, standard or unspoken standard is 3 point splines. So Most cannot see the 5 point spline and just ignores it. now the double edged sword that 5 spline system is what give us greater control and accuracy of arcs and splines.

   Also they have released an unofficial but official app.... But I have had no luck with either.....Here Are the links to all I know so far.

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fusion360/comments/dysd2d/problem_with_installing_fusion_360_addon_dxf/ 

Kinda but not really: https://forum.kicad.info/t/importing-splines-from-dxf-file-to-kicad-from-fusion-360/8197

Autodesk app: https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=4611814297957846949&os=Win64&appLang=en&_ga=2.24...

Help doc: https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/HelpDoc?appId=4611814297957846949&appLang=en&os=Win64

No luck on this app either

Autodesk app: https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=7634902334100976871&appLang=en&os=Mac&_ga=2.2135...

at the end there is a link for the rabbit hole on .dwg

Autodesk knowledge: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Mis...

Found this video also, I think someone said about extruding then projecting, but that seems backwards for such a small thing.

Video: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/screencast/Main/Details/abb76d2...

Good Luck!.!.!

[airRPT2H]

Hi,

i tried many many thing that the people posted here to resolve the issue.  The fact seems to be that the DXF output from Fusion 360 has all the detail of the drawing you are exporting.  However, it’s the ability of the third party program you use to read it which seems to be the major issue.   Fusion, unlike Autodesk Inventor, does not allow you to save or export the DXF to previous (older) standard format.  Being an educational establishment we get access to most of Autodesk software for free.  The only reliably way we have managed to deal with our issue (old laser software not reading Fusion DXF output) is to first open the DXF in Inventor and then save again in another, older version of the DXF format!  A better solution would be for Autodesk to include this functionality within Fusion 360.   Thanks for all the helpful responses.

keep safe

Tony

[seatonA9RG6]

EDIT: Embarrassingly, I just noticed that viewer.autodesk.com has a 2D and 3D mode and it defaulted to 3D and I am just now noticing that. Consider that when reading below. The file still isn't working third party apps like KiCAD and others.

___

Original:

I'm just trying to export a DXF from a Fusion 360 Drawing file and they're unusable. (Lines are crazy and values are doubled.) The PDF export is on the left and the same area in DXF is on the right. The app on the right is LibraCAD but it also fails in other apps.

If I open the DXF with http://viewer.autodesk.com then it reports the missing font but it DOES open. Notably, the rectangles and center markers are all on different planes in the Drawing -- in 3D space. I'd expect a straight 2D representation but the lines can be viewed from the side and they're definitely three dimensional, with curves.

corrupt lines