SDS_DXF_CNC_CONVERT-DEMO

SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert is the program for DXF→DWG, DWG→DXF and DXF-CNC conversion of drawings generated by Designdata SDS/2 steel detailing system or other non-AutoCAD-based programs, using DXF format output. New option in version 6 – conversion of DXF files for CNC burning machines. With this application you can work more efficiently and transform your drawings into a much more desirable appearance with a minimum of effort.

Minor update – ver. 5.1 - includes two new fonts RomansF.shx (no slash in fraction) and Big font spec_bar.shx (horizontal slash). Also added an option for adding Plate symbols for each font used in program.

Minor update – ver. 5.3 – save as drawings in different formats.

Version 6: added DXF-CNC conversion

Main Features of the program

A. DXF→DWG conversion (Export DXF)

Option

Description

Automatically convert any number of DXF files in one step

Apply stacked format (four styles: no slash, horizontal, diagonal and Architectural) for text

Before conversion ►

After conversion ►

Produce CNC DXF files for plate burning machines

All text items will be placed on layer “Text”

After conversion ►

Lines with linetypes “Hidden” and “Center” will be placed on layers “Hid2” and “Cline” respectively (selected option “Layers”)

After conversion ►

Assign drawing’s scale, set LTScale, DimScale variables as well as rescale your drawing accordingly with the scale

Main Form (part) ►

Create, edit and store in database scenarios of conversion

Main Form (part) ►

Apply auto numbering for drawings

Drawing number in stamp ►

Automatically attach XReferences

Title Block with company Logo attached to converted drawing in Auto regime ►

Fill holes with hatch

Before conversion ►

After conversion ►

Eliminate main material piece marks (like w226 for W-shapes or ts221 for Tube steel or c220 for channels) from bill of material.

Before conversion ►

After conversion ►

Enclose face-to-face dimension of main material in angle brackets

Before conversion ►

After conversion ►

Instead of ‘Dia’ apply diameter symbol

Before conversion ►

After conversion ►

Change NS/FS to (BS)

After conversion ►

(BS)

Change Date $ special symbol used in SDS/2 to common Date format

After conversion ►

Date $ → 03/25/05

Change PL text in plate specification to special symbol

Before conversion ►

After conversion ►

B. DWG→DXF conversion (Import DXF)

Options	Description
Text modifications: special symbols used in AutoCAD (diameter, plus-minus etc.) will be replaced with appropriate text readable in SDS/2. Inch symbols will be removed. The color of all Text objects as per setting in form can be changed. The program has special procedures for modifying of other AutoCAD objects: blocks, blocks with attributes, multilines and others.	Text and dimensions Imported DXF in SDS/2: WITHOUT using SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert ► Inappropriate handling of text entities, lost data (dimension text)
	Text and dimensions Imported DXF in SDS/2: WITH using SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert ► Improved representation of objects in the drawing
	Anchor Bolt Detail Imported DXF in SDS/2: WITHOUT using SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert ► Blocks with attributes, text and dimensions were not imported properly
	Anchor Bolt Detail Imported DXF in SDS/2: WITH using SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert ► The program able to transfer different ACAD objects without loosing data.

New in Release 4:

· Import DXF files in SDS/2: preparation of AutoCAD drawings for the following translation in DXF format and import in SDS/2

· Enhanced Join Lines command

· Text Stacked style selection in main form

· Improved performance and interface

New in Release 5:

· Increased speed of Conversion

· Architectural stacked text auto conversion

· More options in text color assignment

New in Release 6:

· CNC conversion for plate burning machines

As the main advantage you will get more powerful and convenient AutoCAD environment for final edition of your drawings. With this application this task (cleaning up of the drawings) can be performed by beginners in AutoCAD, not by experienced SDS/2 users. With using different AutoLISP and VBA routines AutoCAD drafting at least 2 times faster than drafting in Interactive Graphic module of SDS/2.

Installation

After auto installation the new folder will be added to your system under drive C:\ called SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert

Setting

Play video and read the following instructions

Start AutoCAD and configure your support path information to include the directory C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert

Enter AutoCAD command: options

Click on Files tab and expand Support File Search Path

Click on button Add…, next button Browse…

Find folder C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert and press OK

Press OK to close Options dialog window

Click on Open and Save tab and set Proxy graphics as shown below

Include files SDS-ACAD-01.LSP and SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert.dvb in ACAD Startup Suite:

- Enter command appload

- Press button “Contents…”, then click on “Add…” button and browse to find two files C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert\SDS-ACAD-01.LSP

And C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert.dvb

- Click on them and close dialog windows.

Copy Special fonts (files with extension SHX) found under C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert\Fonts directory into AutoCAD FONTS directory.

Using application

Start AutoCAD.

Enter at the command prompt: SDS to start the program.

The main form shows up.

Select NOT CNC in CNC output for DXF-DWG Conversion.

Setting Template

The program uses SDS-ACAD.dwg (located under C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert folder) drawing as a template (EXISTING layers and text styles in that drawing SHOULD NOT be modified!). You can transfer in this drawing different dimension and text styles, Layers etc. in order to work with final edition of the drawings more efficiently. To open template click on button ‘Modify Template’, SDS-ACAD.dwg will appear on the screen. Make necessary modifications, save and close drawing.

Translation DXF-DWG

Select folder with .dxf files. Using arrows select files for conversion. Select style of stacked text, check appropriate boxes ‘Del.PcMk’; ‘Fill Holes?’ etc.), select scale; define LTScale, Dimscale and DWGscale (read comments below).

Remarks:

· Before experiment with settings try to use the default scenario. Just press big right directed arrow and then click button “Convert”. After that you can start to use different options, assign, edit, create new scenarios etc.

Comments:

· After scale is assigned (i.e. 1½) Dimscale variable will be changed respectively. It gives you the ability to add dimensions and text accordingly to scale. You can choose value for LTScale depending on your preferences or type of DXF file (erection drawing or detail drawing etc.)

· DWGscale value represents the scale factor: the drawing will be scaled in accordance with the number you have entered in this text box.

· Del.PcMk – check this box if you wish to eliminate main material piece marking in BOM.

· On checking box “Layers” different types of lines will be placed on special layers.

· In order to use XReferences check box “Add XRef?” Play video or read instructions:

Open any *.dxf file from the group of files to be converted, insert AutoCAD drawing you are planning to use as XReference. Rescale inserted drawing, move to proper location, explode and apply Wblock command (insertion point should be 0,0). Remember location of new file. Close .dxf file without saving. Open drawing you just assigned to be XReference and edit it, if necessary. Next time you make the conversion just select this drawing from ‘Select XRef file’ list box.

· You can apply auto numbering for drawings (number = drawing file name). To do it: define location and scale of text representing DWG number. Press button ‘1’ in main form, Follow instructions in the Message box.

Fill holes

In order to fill holes with hatch, make setting in SDS/2 ‘Drawing Cosmetics’ and ‘DXF Export Pen Colors’ providing contour of holes color different from other objects in SDS/2 drawing.

Text fonts: Drawing C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert\SDS-ACAD.dwg is used as a template for the conversion. In this drawing text style “StackDiag” has big font addbom.shx (diagonal slash in fraction); style “StackHoriz” is based on big font: spec_bar.shx (horizontal slash in fraction), style “StackNoSlash” is based on font: RomansF.shx (no slash in fraction); style “Arch”: arch-ss.shx (architectural font; see the beginning of this Help file for more information about arch. fonts).

Warning: DO NOT CHANGE THE NAMES OF TEXT STYLES in template as well as the NAMES of layers and dimension styles! The other parameters, such as colors of layers, width of text etc., can be changed.

CODES FOR SPECIAL FONTS

RomansF.shx	addbom.shx	spec_bar.shx
%%131 = 1/16	~1 = 1/16	~1 = 1/16
%%132 = 1/8	~2 = 1/8	~2 = 1/8
%%133 = 3/16	~3 = 3/16	~3 = 3/16
%%134 =1/4	~4 =1/4	~4 =1/4
%%135 = 5/16	~5 = 5/16	~5 = 5/16
%%136 = 3/8	~6 = 3/8	~6 = 3/8
%%137 = 7/16	~7 = 7/16	~7 = 7/16
%%138 = ½	~8 = ½	~8 = ½
%%139 = 9/16	~9 = 9/16	~9 = 9/16
%%140 = 5/8	~A = 5/8	~0 = 5/8
%%141 = 11/16	~B = 11/16	~q = 11/16
%%142 = 3/4	~C = 3/4	~w = 3/4
%%143 = 13/16	~D = 13/16	~e = 13/16
%%144 = 7/8	~E = 7/8	~r = 7/8
%%145 = 15/16	~F = 15/16	~t = 15/16
%%148 = plate symbol	~P = plate symbol	~P = plate symbol
%%130= centerline symbol	~L= centerline symbol	~L= centerline symbol
%%146 = 2L (angles have long leg back to back)	~s = shift text up
%%147 = 2L (angles have short leg back to back)

C. DXF- CNC conversion

For conversion you should have DXF files produced by SDS/2 with single detail on each drawing.

1. In main form select CNC 1 in CNC Output and press button CNC Setting

2. Make appropriate changes in CNC Setting form (layers names, colors etc.)

In order to make DXF-CNC conversion the contour of detail in SDS/2 DXF produced file should have color different from other lines.

For instance the color of Detail contour is red, dimension lines white, holes green. There are no color requirements for text objects.

Use Drawing Cosmetics setting in SDS/2 to achieve this.

3. Select DXF format in Save As and check Delete DXF file?

Note: It is advisable to have a reserved copy of initial DXF files, because during conversion they will be replaced with new files with the same name.

4. Press button Convert!

Import DXF files in SDS/2:

The program can help you in Importing DXF files produced in AutoCAD:

· More data can be saved during import DXF procedure

· The time you need to spend in cleaning up imported drawings can be significantly decreased.

In order to prepare the drawing for DXF import you have to make two steps:

First (button ‘Import: Step 1’) you define insertion point and objects to be included in DXF file (new drawing will be created under C:\SDS-DXF-CNC-Convert\DXFfromACAD folder). After you made all necessary modifications in the drawing press the button ‘Import: Step 2’. The program applies the sequence of commands providing better results for DXF import: burst blocks with attributes; change dimensions’ fraction format; explode blocks; edit text and MText objects (replace special AutoCAD symbols, remove inch symbol) and others. Finally you have to save modified drawing in DXF format.

In demo version of this program DWG → DXF translation is disabled. At your disposal are Movies and DXF files (you can import them in SDS/2 and compare the drawings) located in directory DXFfromACAD:

Remark: the program cannot provide IDEAL DWG-DXF translation of files!

How to register

If you decide to buy, you need to register your license. For registering, current price of the program and conditions of payment follow the link:

http://www.nyacad.com/BuyOnLine.htm

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If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us via email NYacad@gmail.com or visit our web site at: http://www.nyacad.com