Imperial file, can I export face as metric dxf?

[jyager]

Long story short, new laser cutter in the shop, software requires metric .dxf for direct import into the control panel.

Something sounds hokey about this, but is this possible without going in and changing the units in the individual dxf files which is going to be a user error nightmare?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! By default, the DXF export honors the document unit i.e. inch -> inch and mm -> mm. To alter the export unit, you may specify a Metric-based dwg template. Make sure MEASUREMENT is set to 1 in the dwg (dwt) file.

Many thanks!

[jyager]

Just getting back to this.

I created a metric template in AutoCAD and set measurement at 1, when I open the file at it's location and check units it shows that it's millimeters, measurement is also 1. Good.

I go back to Inventor, go to the export options of export face as - select said millimeter template as the AutoCAD template file, finish, export. Open file in AutoCAD and it's in inches?

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! I am very sorry I was confused. It seems that Inventor DXF Export honors the unit in Document Settings (Tools -> Doc Settings -> Unit). For your case to work, you need to change it to mm before exporting the DXF file.

Many thanks!

[jyager]

Thanks, that sounds like a nightmare. Going to see if the guy that set up the table wasn't misinformed.

"It only takes metric dxf's...then it converts them to inches"

Biggest headshake in a couple months.