Importing
You can import drawings from other programs with some limitations:
- For DXF only 2D information is transferred - all layers, space, port and
3D information must be added after the transfer. Make sure that your file is not binary and is for AutoCAD version 12 or less.
- For STEP and IGES:
- Only drawings containing solid parts can be imported.
- Non-solid points and curves are ignored.
- Not all designs can be imported.
- Remove side view recesses and chamfers / rounds from holes and protrusions before importing.
- Features not normal to one of thee six views cannot be modeled directly in eMachineShop CAD (see Comments To Machinist).
- You must check the imported design for correctness and completeness.
To import a design file into eMachineShop:
- In the other CAD program open the design.
- Scale design 1:1.
- Remove or change to Comments any title blocks, drawing margin lines,
axonometric projections, detail views, sections, axial or dimension
lines.
- Export the design to ASCII (not binary) DXF (AutoCAD R12/LT12) format.
- Run eMachineShop CAD.
- Choose File | Import. A dialog appears.
- Locate the file you want to import.
- Click Import.
For 2D parts:
- If scaling of your drawing is incorrect after importing, try to
import your drawing again choosing another unit of measure.
- Select all or some lines and choose Line
| Machine | Auto and
enter any desired settings.
For 3D parts imported via DXF:
- Choose View | Top.
- Delete any imported projection lines.
- For each line set the Z value; choose Line
| Machine and select a 3D machine to fabricate your part; and make any needed edge settings.
- Cut and paste lines from the Top view to the appropriate Front,
Back, Left, Right, or Bottom views and again set Z and any needed edge
settings.
- When a projection of your design in any side view is different from
the projection automatically generated by the eMachineShop software,
move the boundary of your design into the appropriate view and enable
the Line | Machine | Boundary checkbox.
Importing a Turned Shape
If you have a CAD file that can output the cross section of a turned part, consider the following method.
To import a turned shape:
- In the other CAD program export the side view profile of your part to DXF format.
- Run eMachineShop CAD.
- Choose File | Import and import the DXF file.
- Select the imported lines and choose Edit | Cut.
- Draw a circle with diameter equal to the max part diameter.
- Choose Line | Machine | Auto.
- Set Z to part length.
- Choose View | Front and Edit | Paste.
- Move
the pasted profile within the light color boundary line to the right of
the center axis (if you are using the full side view, divide it in half
to show just the right side).
- Group the profile.
- Set Z to Revolve.
- Choose View | 3D to check the 3D view.
Tracing Images
You can create a design from a physical object or an image of the object using the Tracing feature.
Advantage of recreating designs
There are advantages of redrawing designs directly in eMachineShop instead of importing:
- Most CAD programs are not designed to constrain shapes to be machinable.
- The import capability has limitations (see above).
- Designs from other CAD programs often have imperfections. eMachineShop drawings must be precise since they are used to generate machine control programs. For example, designs from other programs often have stray line segments, unintended line overlap, small line breaks, etc.
Troubleshooting
In case of difficulty importing a design please see Import Troubleshooting.
