I have multiple 3d objects that I put flat on the XY plane. I want to create multiple DXF files for different groups of objects.
What’s the right way to do this? Currently I did this:
Select all 3d objects
project sketches onto the XY plane
that gave me 1 big sketch that I then exported.
However, I need multiple DXF files (about 6), each with a specific subset of those sketches…how can I do that? I do I have to project groups of 3d objects together so that I create multiple sketches or there is a more scalable/smart way of doing this?
Project each object on plane separately, it will makes each time new sketch on same XY plane, and than, select sketches, isolate them and export, there on export window select "Save Each 1st-Level Item Separately ".
That will create .zip file containing all sketches you want
And I highly recommend to project just one face of object. If you select whole body and project it, It will double the lines on same locations and made lot of mess on cnc G code.
I have cnc plasma cutter and I use this workflow very often, so it should work
there is tutorial i made in run to work:) i hope it helps you
Thanks! This indeed works even though I just realized another issue.
If i select the the whole 3D object and project it, the dxf has duplicate lines all over the place. So it seems that I have to select the surfaces instead of the 3d object. This is suuuuper tedious for complicated surfaces that repeat multiple times. How do you all do that?
It depends on your object. I assume that you have some object already built up and you want all sides project to planes and make sketches for each side for cnc production.
If so, there are more ways.
1/You can copy each side you want to project to sketch and separate it from object. (Put all of those in new folder)
Than you need to create new plane on XY (top)
-this is important, because cnc Router/laser/plasma reads just 2D shapes on bottom side
So than align those sides from folder onto that new XY plane. So all of them are facing same side. Than you can arrange it to use small area.
And than project it as I mentioned above.
(Do not forget that material you want to cut has some thickness. You should count with it in you design)
2/ you can project each side of your object on new plane created on that side. So you will have some planes oriented in 3d space, so than, you again need to align them on bottom (XYplane).
I hope that this make sense, I can lately make another video which covers this.
Can you provide some printscreen so I more understand your issue
Thanks! Yeah, I have been basically following this process. The very annoying part is that, once bodies are aligned on the XY plane with the face you are interested in facing "TOP’, you can’t just select the bodies and project to get the sketch to export…I have done that and it creates a mess because there are a lot of duplicate lines.
So I had to go and select one face at a time, which if you have rabbets it’s very annoying. And then project them.
You are right it is XY (XZ is in blender and i wasn’t at ipad to check)
The process is bit boring and repetitive, it really depends on size of project and the parts you want to cut. Sometimes it is also really quick:)
The solution could be area selection tool which select only visible faces from particular view (like in blender). So you pick face, than click spacebar(to set view from normal) and than choose all bodies you need and tool will select just those visible faces from that view. But I tried it right now, andarea selection tool select everything.
So now, that process above is only way for now, i think.
