DXF File

[jesse]

Can someone help me print out the DXF file on paper? I opened the file in SolidWorks eDrawings x64 Edition and that didn’t work. A black and white PDF for 8.5 x 11 paper would be nice to have.

[Fig]

Open it with AutoCAD is OK.

[jade39339]

If you use sketch up, there are free plugins that you can load to open up and view DXF files. Alternatively, you can use LibreCAD to open it up.

Also, a problem I discovered I had was to make sure you’re not downloading the individual files from the Git project using Firefox or whatever browser you use online. At least with Firefox, it will save a garbage file that you will not be able to open. You must download the entire project zip, then open the selected DXF file you want from the zip.

[jesse]

I tried LibreCad and SketchUp 8. Neither were able to do it. Autocad has a program called “Autodesk Design Review” that should work but the installer fails to connect to the internet.

Maybe someone can post another alternative or a PDF file on 8.5×11 inch paper with black and white lines tiled across the pages.

Edit: I found a full installer for Design Review and am trying it out.

[jade39339]

Here’s a link to the sketchup 8 plugin that imports DXF files.

https://sites.google.com/site/jimfoltz/my-sketchup-plugins/freedxf/freedfx-0.57.rbz?attredirects=0

I followed the install directions on this page.

https://sites.google.com/site/jimfoltz/my-sketchup-plugins/freedxf

[jesse]

Thanks, I got Autodesk Design Review 2013 working and it has the right options.

http://download.autodesk.com/akdlm/esd/dlm/designreview/2013/enu/SetupDesignReview2013_bundle.exe

Does this look like approximately the correct size of the base?

[jesse]

From the print out, it looks way too small. Would someone please tell me what the scale is? The total width and total height would help too.

[jade39339]

Overall dimensions are width 400mm x height 460mm. The radius of the half circle is 200mm.

[Quentin Harley]

The units in the file should be mm. It might be set up for inches on your computer…

[jesse]

The DXF could be opened in LibreCAD and saved as an image. I chopped and scaled the image in photoshop in tiles for 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

View post on imgur.com

[jesse]

Here’s what it looks like printed and taped together.

[hoff70]

Neat! So the cutout from the bottom piece is used for the top piece? I haven’t gotten that far yet.

[jesse]

How thick should the platform be?

[hoff70]

Thanks for the work on the template! I just printed mine out.

I’m not entirely sure but I’d imagine the thickness isn’t that important because the critical dimensions will be from the top of the bottom plate to the bottom of the top plate. I believe that the inside measurement is what is most important and the thickness shouldn’t effect it.

I think I’m going to go with some 3/4″ jointed pine from Lowes.

[jade39339]

I went and used fiber board 3/4″ @ Homedepot and its cheap. It’s super stiff and does not flex at all, which will provide an excellent base for the X,Y, and Z axis. I’ll let you know how it works out.

If I remember correctly, one of the caveats to using fiber board is it tends to degrade over time, the binding glue begins to dry out if you don’t seal it up. I’m going to probably need to add primer and paint to it in order for the glue to hold up for a long time.

[Author]

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