Design Edge - Working with DXF Files

One of the easiest ways to get a design ready for cutting on the PlasmaCAM system is to import a DXF file. Some work better than others so in this video we go over the basic steps to import a design and what to look for if something is going wrong.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

I am not a plasma cam owner or a CNC person and don't usually watch the software videos people put up but for some reason I watched this one and it was very interesting.

[@TomZelickman]

+Amateur Redneck Workshop Thank you, Harold! I'm trying to take the magic out of doing some of these things so others might feel more inclined to try it for themselves.Best wishes,Tom Z

[@MrDaltonBousum]

Hello, I was wondering how we import more than one DXF file at a time? Every time I go to import a new one, it just wants to start a whole new file and gets rid of the old. I want to import multiple DXF files onto the same cut. Thank you!

[@docbailey8283]

Tom watching your videos sure has helped allot. Being a Former CWO US Army retired Medevac Pilot I have witnessed first hand how our Wounded Warriors have sacrificed for our country. I have started non profit here in Daytona Beach Florida that is Called the Broken Wing Project. Its focuses on training combat wounded vets for free in the field of Aviation, Metal Crafts and designs. I recently purchased a new 4by 4 Plasma Cam, DHC2 with Advance DesignEdge software and learning how to use it. But that's the problem no one here really knows how to use the equipment and we have had some students quit because of the learning curve. I wonder if you would furnish us with some Military Aviation or logs that they could cut and get the ball rolling. We are making some BBQ smokers and fire Polygon pits and using military style logs for our fund raising projects but after two months I am just getting the hang of running the machine but still having problems importing bit maps to cuttable panels that actually looks like the photos. Would you help. Doc Bailey CWO The Broken Wing project, [e-mail] , 386-414 1448

[@TomZelickman]

+Doc Bailey Hi Doc - sorry for the slow reply. I just saw your message here. I’ll call you this weekend.

[@MrPragmaticLee]

Going to get to your place one day soon, I hope, & get a starting point on Fusion360. I have it on both my laptops, but have no idea where to even start. So many of the tutorials expect you to already know CAD & are showing how to use that knowledge in F360. Great video, BTW.

[@TomZelickman]

+MrPragmaticLee Either way I'll help however I can. I can always run down your way as well, sir. Thanks for watching! Tom Z

[@bluehandsvideo]

Had a similar "linkng" problem with a part in fusion the other day....kicked my but for a couple of hours! It was a 3D part imported from my solid edge. Finally figured out that under PATCH is the Stitch option....worked just like your "link" button and connected everything into one solid. For as easy as is its to put out updates on IG, it's kinda hard sometimes to come back to edit vids for youtube! lol! Under a minute total for an IG update......compared to hours of vid editing. I know you know exactly what I'm referring to!! LOL! :)

[@TomZelickman]

+bluehandsvideo Yeah, the Stitch function is a pretty good way of fixing models. Fusion did a decent video series on using Patch and Stitch in the last few months. I watched a lot of that stuff when I was recovering from surgery... IG has become my go-to place to post things, especially since it will cross post to FB and Twitter for me. Not that you are ever on there or anything. ;) Best wishes, Tom Z

[@bluehandsvideo]

+Tom Zelickman (Inspiration Metalworks) I almost refuse to get started with Twitter....buried enough already with social media!! LOL! That's definitely something really nice about IG is that it will cross post to the others. That's how I keep updates going to FB. KZbin will do it, but it's a separate process....at least from what I can tell.

[@danradusinovich332]

Thank you, I also have a DHC2 with Advance DesignEdge software and love it. Keep up the good work

[@TomZelickman]

+Dan Radusinovich Hi Dan! Have you added any of the software upgrades to your setup. I've seen a couple that Keith Fenner has on his but haven't quite made the leap here. It seems like there are features in each of the bundles that would mean needing to buy them all in order to get what I really want. Thanks for watching and if you have any suggestions please let me know. I don't get on the forums enough so I should probably check there more as well. Best wishes, Tom Z

[@danradusinovich332]

Thanks for the reply, if you are thinking of the nesting or pipe cutting software updates I have not done those. I do update mine often and have advance with digital height so I am pretty happy with what I have but the cost for nesting seems high. If I can help with anything let me know. I am in Northern California. Amador Metal Works. Thanks again, Dan. I have to see what Jeith has added, I would like to get his snap away Tourchmate kit

[@reideichner8597]

Hi Tom, I have had the same problem with the different layers and have not found an easy way to delete the second layer other than exactly what you do. I have used a couple of different programs (Illustrator and Inkscape) to convert files to DXF and both gave the same results. Maybe a good feature for PlasmaCam to incorporate in their next upgrade to Design Edge. Good video, Tom. Great explanation of "how to". Take Care, Reid

[@TomZelickman]

+Reid Eichner Thank you, sir. It really is one of those tough issues that really doesn't have a great solution. I use the same tools plus a few web-based ones and the results are typically the same. Glad to hear I'm not the only one but really wish neither of us had the problem! Best wishes, my friend. Tom

[@geraldtaylor4436]

I have a problem getting a Gcode from DesignEdge to have Z axis I thought maybe you could help

[@TomZelickman]

Hi Gerald - I'd be glad to help if I can. Are you using it for plasma cutting? What version of Design Edge are you running? If you want, send me an email and we can continue the conversation there.

[@youngbuckrestoration3912]

I used to do a lot of PlasmaCAM work when I was in high school two years ago, and I would always make my own custom designs in an open source program called Blender and would export it as a .dxf file, however when I would go to import that .dxf file into PlasmaCAM it would show up nearly a tenth of the size it was supposed to be. And that would be a big problem for projects that had critical dimensions. Now I don't know if this is a problem with Blender itself since it I get the same result importing that .dxf file into QCAD. Is there any fix for this that you might know of?

[@TomZelickman]

+Matt Larson Hi Matt! That generally happens when the units aren’t set the same. PlasmaCam doesn’t have a place to convert the units so they have to be set correctly in your other drawing software first. To get a correct import, make sure the units are set to inches. Hope this helps! Tom

[@ulfberner4397]

Excellent

[@jamesspires8096]

Hey Tom do you have the POW MIA logo in your files?

[@TomZelickman]

+James Spires Hi James! I do have that logo and have used it a variety of ways. Mostly signs but also on a custom sissy bar for a motorcycle as well.

[@jamesspires8096]

OK I have an idea that I would like to talk to you about I'll email you the details

[@mikethomason2446]

What are the icons on the left running vertical I can't find mine

[@TomZelickman]

+Mike thomason Which version are you running? They are shortcuts to various things you might select in the menus. Sincerely, Tom Z

[@BleuJurassic]

I use freecad it works for me grins

[@TomZelickman]

+Bleu Wolf I've used FreeCAD before as well, especially on my Linux machines. It did pretty well for basic design work but I typically do my work in Fusion360 these days. Thanks for watching! Tom Z