The problem that this feature will solve:
I use Shapr3D to design products with complex, precisely defined curved shapes, including lighting designs intended for laser cutting.
My workflow involves creating designs in Shapr3D on macOS or iPadOS, exporting them as DXF files, and transferring those files to manufacturing equipment using third-party CAD/CAM software.
Unfortunately, curved geometry such as ellipses and splines is not always interpreted correctly by other applications. For example, elliptical shapes may appear almost circular, even though their geometry is correct in Shapr3D.
Importantly, this issue is not limited to CAD/CAM or manufacturing software. I have also encountered the same incorrect interpretation of curved geometry in DXF viewers. Some viewers display the geometry correctly, while others distort the exact same DXF file.
This indicates a broader interoperability issue involving different implementations of the DXF specification.
Brief description of the outcomes that you expect from this feature:
I would like Shapr3D to support an alternative DXF export representation in which curved geometry is saved as polylines rather than spline entities.
The expected outcomes are:
● Allow users to choose between native spline-based geometry and polyline-based geometry when exporting DXF files.
● Preserve the original shape and dimensions with user-defined geometric precision, ideally down to 0.001 mm.
● Preserve closed contours as closed polylines.
● Generate DXF files that are consistently interpreted by CAD, CAM, CNC, laser-cutting applications, and DXF viewers.
● Maintain the existing DXF export behavior as the default.
The intention is not to introduce a separate conversion workflow, but to provide an alternative way of representing and saving geometry directly within the DXF export functionality.
What can’t you achieve without this feature?
I cannot reliably export certain curved designs directly from Shapr3D into other applications without additional processing.
For products where the exact shape is essential, incorrect interpretation of spline geometry can result in distorted cutting paths or incorrectly manufactured parts.
Currently, I must use third-party software to generate an alternative DXF representation that is compatible with the receiving application.
Is this a workflow blocker for you?
Yes, it significantly slows down my manufacturing workflow.
I can create accurate designs in Shapr3D, but I cannot consistently transfer them directly to manufacturing software or even display them correctly in certain DXF viewers.
Because I design on a Mac or iPad and manufacture on a separate Windows-based laser-cutting system, additional processing steps create unnecessary complexity.
Supporting an alternative polyline-based DXF export specification would allow me to generate manufacturing-ready files directly from Shapr3D, without requiring external software.