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IndustryArena Forum > CAD Software > Autodesk > AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
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    5

    AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    In AutoCAD 2018, I made a simple drawing , a U shaped 3 sided drawing, with the 4th side a curve of radius 150mm. Save as a dxf file and a pdf file showing the dimensions ( see attached).
    In AutoCAD, in DWG TrueView and in DWG FastView, and in DWGSee Pro, the curve is very smooth, no sign of any faceting.

    When this DXF file is imported into Mach3, the end result is a faceted curve, and the CNC router cuts it like that.
    When the DXF file is imported into Easel (see Inventables.com), the faceted curve appears again , as per the attachment CNC Image.pdf

    Can anybody please advise what might be happening to make these faceted curves appear, and the best way to prevent it and get a smooth curve on the CNC router?

    kind regards to all,
    Joe
    Attached Files Attached Files

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Whatever is creating your g-code is doing it.
    It's been 10+ years since Mach3 had a .dxf importer, is that what you are using? I really have no recollection of how it works at all.

    I opened your .dxf in AutoCAD, and it is an arc, and I imported it into Aspire, and the g-code created from it was an arc.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Posts
    5

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Thanks ger21, you certisnly put me on the right path! Aspire was a real eye opener. Have downloaded the free trial.
    The end result is that when AutoCAD dxf file is imported into Easel, it shows a faceted curve.
    But when the AutoCAD dxf file is imported to Aspire, and then exported as a dxf file, which is then imported into Easel, then Easel shows a nice smooth curve.
    Strange? The problem does not appear to be in the g-code conversion.
    Why does Easel correctly show a dxf file from Aspire, but not from AutoCAD ??
    But in future, all I need is Aspire to accept AutoCAD file and then generate g-code

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Try saving as a v12 .dxf from AutoCAD. That's what I always do, as those are the most universal.
    The problem is with Easel's importer, not AutoCAD.
    AutoCAD sets the .dxf standard. Because the .dxf format changes with each new AutoCAD release, newer .dxf versions don't usually work as well with 3rd party importers, which are not updated very often, if at all.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Posts
    5

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Thanks ger21. I did that, and same result.
    Attached are the Easel screen drawings after importing test dxf drawings which had been saved as dxf 2010 and dxf 2018 formats. They look the same, and when you zoom in you can see the segmented curve quite clearly on both formats.
    With Aspire, I should not have to use Easel again.
    thanks for that valuable information

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    591

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Did you try it in dxf v12 like Gerry suggested?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Posts
    5

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Quote Originally Posted by wendtmk View Post
    Did you try it in dxf v12 like Gerry suggested?
    Oooops, I thought he meant AutoCAD 2012 format which I could not find on the Save As drop down menu, so used 2010 format

    So embarrassed !

    What is v12 and where do I find it please?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Posts
    5

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    I did notice that there was a R12 dxf option for saving, but the resulting file was miniscule, and it only showed two lines at right angles on Easel

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538

    Re: AutoCAD 2018 DXF file curves are faceted in Mach3 and Easel

    Post the original AutoCAD .dwg file, and the v12 .dxf.
    Sounds like your using entities that Easel can't read.
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

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