Exporting DXF Scaling Issue
@cdamiani wrote:
The funny thing is I posted this problem over a year ago. I am going from
an AutoCad DXF file to Fusion 360, both Autodesk. Why is this still an
issue?
Have you set the units in AutoCAD? A lot of people don't know or do this, especially if they have old template where it was not set or they only ever work in one unit type and they never know the units are set as Unspecified. @TheCADWhisperer might be able to help with setting units for drawings in AutCAD.
Mark
Mark
Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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@LeeWhitemore wrote:
My local laser cutters use a software called Lantek to open the file to place on there laser cutter. if i just save as DXF 100mmx100mm square comes out at 2540mmx2540mm way too big if I change to inch then save as DXF it comes out at 39.37mm way too small.
This is all down to their software not reading the unit info and just making assumptions and scaling the import wrong. When you save in mm the file is 100mm but their software is reading it as 100 inches and scaling up by 25.4 to 2540mm. Why I have no idea, all the info on units is in the file. Then when you save in inches the size in the DXF will be 3.937 inches and their software is just scaling up by 10 rather than 25.4! As Autodesk created the DXF format their exports are correct, not their fault if others are not following the standard. Even a real cheap and cheerful program like QCad reads and writes DWG and DXF files correctly.
Mark
Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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You are using the Export command, under the File menu, to create your DXF. This is OK as long as you realize that the export command uses the Cloud to create the DXF and it works in Centimeters only. This is why you get the scaling. You can use it if you like, but the best way is to follow the process outlined in the video.
John Hackney, Retired
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You did not mention you wanted a 3D DXF. You will have to use the File, Export and use the Cloud for this conversion. Once you receive the 3D DXF file from the Cloud, if you want to open it in Fusion 360, you will have to Upload it to a Data Panel folder of your choice. Once there, you can open it and since it is converted using centimeters, you will have to scale it once it is open. Use the factor of 0.39370079 (1/2.54) for scaling.
John Hackney, Retired
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@jhackney1972 wrote:
Upload it to a Data Panel folder of your choice. Once there, you can open it and since it is converted using centimeters, you will have to scale it once it is open. Use the factor of 0.39370079 (1/2.54) for scaling.
This is not correct. Fusion will read the units in the DXF so at worst you'll just need to change the document units to inches, no scaling needed. Just did a quick test and for me it opened a 1" cube from a inch document in my default units (mm) and measured 24.5mm. Just changing the document units would give me a 1" cube.
When I open the same DXF in ZW3D it reads the document units in the DXF as CM and automatically scales to mm.
Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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@e_r_griffiths wrote:
I have seen this workaround mentioned, but just posting here for visibility. See video.
From a 3D Model:
- Select the face you want to export as a DXF
- Create a sketch
- Instantly select "Finish sketch"
- Right-click the sketch in the browser you have just created and select "Save As DXF"
This is a workaround that seems to avoid scaling issues at the moment. Apologies for the inconvenience, this is being worked on.
Note. This will only work if you have auto project on active sketch plane enabled. If it's not enabled you'll need to manually project. What catches a lot of new users out is the have auto project enabled then project the surface again and end up with duplicate projections.
Mark
Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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@martin.murbach wrote:
I cannot believe this is a thing.
In my opinion export as DXF is the only way to get the correct flat pattern of a part. But it gets "multiplied" by a factor 25.4 something.
What units are you working in? Are they the same in the flat pattern work space and the design workspace? The DXF will be created using the unit set in the flat pattern workspace.
Here's an example where I exported a pattern in inches then in mm and opened in ZW3d. You can see the unit info has been read from the DXF and both imports are the same size. Inches top mm bottom.
Mark Hughes
Owner, Hughes Tooling
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