DRAFTSIGHT - issues!!

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Rog
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:33 pm
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DRAFTSIGHT - issues!!

Post by Rog »

Hi guys, this is going to be a long one so sit down with a cuppa....

I'll try and keep it as short, sweet and simple as possible as it's confusing me and may not be able to explain it properly without it sounding like gobbledy gook so bare with me.

I'm new to lasercutting
I have an OK grasp of Draftsight and know what type of DXF I should be saving/exporting as.
I can work the laser and cut simple things using the lasercut software.
I'm having mixed results using Draftsight.

This is what I'm using:
Lasercut 5.3
Windows 10 (on a windows laptop)
Draftsight 2018 (Latest)

Firstly, I draw something up in draftsight.
- Save as DXF (call this drawing drawing A)

Go to lasercut and click to export drawing A
Drawing A does not show in preview window, it is just blank.
Click open and it renders nothing on lasercut.

Go back to Draftsight.
Make another drawing
- Save as DXF (drawing B)
Go back to Lasercut and click export.

Drawing A now shows in preview and when exported, renders fine in lasercut.
Drawing B however does not show.
What appears to be happening is I have to make a dummy drawing and save it to be able to use the previous saved drawing.

For information purposes, maybe the above is irrelevant as I have found a way around this.
When saving a draftsight drawing, instead of going 'save as', I click 'export'.
I then get this:
Image

As you can see from the little window, everything is there.
Click browse under the destination heading to make sure it exports as a DXF.

Back to lasercut..
This time when trying to import the file in, it is there from the get go. Except the text in the shapes is missing.
Click open and it opens in lasercut with the text missing from the shapes.

I've tried every option (i think) within the exporting options in draftsight and it will not render the text in preview on when imported into laser cut.

The file when reopened in draftsight is complete with text.

I'm proper scratching my head now as I can't work it out.

What's more is I have done a similar thing only 2 days ago (draftsight drawing with text) which did work.

I can't see what I have done different.
Drew boxes in draftsight - added text and then managed to get it to save and render fannying around with creating a dummy drawing like at the beginning of this post.

The only thing I can see is the font is different.
But I have also tried re-doing it with the same standard font (ariel) I used before but that doesn't work either.

Hopefully I've explained it so you can understand my ramblings!

Is anyone using the latest version of Draftsight? Could it be compatibility issues?

Can anyone help!!
Daven
Posts: 1632
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:44 pm
Location: Devon
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Re: DRAFTSIGHT - issues!!

Post by Daven »

I don't use Draftsight now so can help a lot without seeing the files (PM) me the files if you like and I will have a look.

Lasercut does not normally like 'Text' added using the text command in CAD as it is mainly for annotation - you may be able to explode it (txtexp) if that command is available.

Best
Dave
Using two LS3060's and an ex 3020 user
Please note I am not employed by HPC, any advice or recomendations I give are based on my own experience and are not necessarily the same as HPC's. First point of contact on any hardware issues should be with HPC
Rog
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:33 pm
Contact:

Re: DRAFTSIGHT - issues!!

Post by Rog »

Firstly, thanks to Dave for the reply.

I'm updating the thread in case any one else has this issue so may hopefully help.

Dave-
Your txtexp command works and it also works for any font which I also thought I had an issue with

The problem I had with the DXF not rendering is simple really.

YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THE DRAWING IN DRAFTSIGHT FIRST!

If you leave the drawing open in draftsight, you will not see a preview when trying to import to lasercut and it will not render it in lasercut either.

Fairly simple fix really.

Newbie school boy error :lol:

Hope this helps someone
Daven
Posts: 1632
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:44 pm
Location: Devon
Contact:

Re: DRAFTSIGHT - issues!!

Post by Daven »

Hi Rog,
Glad you are sorted :-)

Best
Dave
Using two LS3060's and an ex 3020 user
Please note I am not employed by HPC, any advice or recomendations I give are based on my own experience and are not necessarily the same as HPC's. First point of contact on any hardware issues should be with HPC
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