SEANT Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 This is the nightmare of trying to determine a "one method fits all" procedure. The Files attached to this thread show very little consistency with the CAD/Vector software translations*. We haven't even delved much into the various CAM Import quirks. Optimum throughput may require the CNC vendor to set up several "Best Practices" to pass along accordingly, based on a particular customers primary CAD package. *The SSSS InkS Rob-master Spline.dxf in this latest crop shows serious geometry distortion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLW210 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I will check back in with more info once we have the water jet installed here. I never recall seeing problems with feeding the ESAB plasma cutter at one place I worked a few years ago, dxf files straight from AutoCAD. If you go to the Adobe Illustrator forums, most seem to prefer .eps files. Many on there are doing vinyl cutouts, stitching and sign making. The OP left the building without providing the equipment and software they use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEANT Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 (edited) . . . . I never recall seeing problems with feeding the ESAB plasma cutter at one place I worked a few years ago, dxf files straight from AutoCAD. If you go to the Adobe Illustrator forums, most seem to prefer .eps files. Many on there are doing vinyl cutouts, stitching and sign making. . . . . That’s a good point. The specific industry determines the likelihood of encountering Spline type curves. Construction and heavy manufacturing, industries that make good use of plasma cutters, probably don’t require non-arc curves all that often. If I had to guess; probably run into splines at The more visual/artistic industries may kick that up, say to 50% of the time some incoming file contains spline based geometry. A pipeline that accommodates that, perhaps via .EPS, would save a lot of headaches. Edited March 23, 2016 by SEANT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLW210 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Interesting the file types the Omax software can handle. Hopefully I can get a chance to check its spline handling abilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLW210 Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Water Jet is set up and will be running tests tomorrow and probably the rest of the week. This software seems to handle all sorts of splines, everything is lines or arcs if drawn in the program, circles are divided into at least two arcs. The ones ending in imported_dxf.dxf are from the Water Jet program. SplineConversion_imported_dxf.dxf SplineConversion.dxf Ss_Mods_imported_dxf.dxf Ss_Mods.dxf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEANT Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Based on what I see in the ‘SplineConversion’ file, the Water Jet program should handle AutoCAD spline geometry without any further refinement. The geometry has been converted a series of beautifully tangent arcs. The cutting head should be able to zip through that shape without any stops/restarts. I suppose that not surprising with the latest equipment/software. When dealing with other vendors, though, I’d guess the older the equipment/software, the more likely problems will arise, and the more important it will be for the customer to pre-process spline based geometry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLW210 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 True, I can download any of their older software, too. When time allows, I will see how the older programs do the splines. This software automatically converts PDFs (at least Vector) to lines and Arcs, also. It traces Images, as well, I need to go back and double check on the accuracy. Extremely busy right now, between my regular work load and training on the Water Jet. Maybe time to play next week after the holiday. Bosses are already wanting to start production runs. Any more tests anyone can come up with, post them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.