File size

[tannedsam2004]

Hi there, I am new to AutoCAD and have been chucked in the deep end at work!!!

A work collegue has made an AutoCAD drawing of a mask which needs to be sent to a company to be made. The mask consists of 13 small regions, each region has small features (Around 50 micron). There are sawtooth features, hexagons etc

I believe that he has made the sawtooth feaures with individual lines. Anyway, we sent the file off and the company cannot open the file (It is 110 Mb ).

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to reduce the file size????

Cheers

Sam

[Alan Cullen]

You could try to PURGE it. You could also try to write the entire drawing out to a block, and check the size of the block.

You could also try to do an AUDIT on the drawing.

They are just my first up suggestions.

[mahahaavaaha]

Hi,

this would depend on what the mask is intended for/how it's to be manufactured... IS it 3D? IS it a print job? Cut? LAthe or what. IF it's 2D and say like a stencil cut, there are lots of ways to reduce the size. If however it's a 3D lathe/cast, that's another ballgame.

/Petri

[tannedsam2004]

Hi its a 2D mask, very much like a stencil that will be printed via e-beam lithography.......its final use will be as a photolithography mask....

[watso75]

do they need the raw cad file or would a pdf to scale do the job?

[tannedsam2004]

I think the e-beam they use only imports the AutoCAD files. I have now tried PURGE on the whole drawing - it crashed my comp!

I tried AUDIT and it found no errors..........

[tannedsam2004]

I should also note that i have the individual region files (Blocks) and they are about 12 Mb each

[mahahaavaaha]

OK,

try this:

1. Zoom so that the whole mask is visible. (with relevant layers on)
2. Explode All (dont mind the messages)
3. Saveas --> AutoCAD R12/LT2 DXF format and select Tools -> options (upper right of saveas dialog) -> DXF Options Tab -> Check Select Objects ->Select the visible objects with window or crossing !!NOT ALL!!
4. Close drawing and open DXF -> Save and check size!

/Petri

[CADken]

have you simply tried to *zip the file?

or offer it for download via an FTP server, or have tried a website like www.box.net ?

[tannedsam2004]

The problem was not getting the file there. We uploaded via an FTP site and also sent a CD. The problem was, the company had problems opening the file.