Hi there,
I use AutoCAD to create most of my files and have them saved as a DXF file. My laser guy was able to print from them, so I’m pretty sure they’re fine. However, when I open it into Lightburn, it shows the the file is loaded (name of file appears in top left corner and it creates a backup lightburn file) but nothing is shown. Any ideas what I need to do to actually see my drawing?
Can you upload an example DXF file to have a play with?
Sure thing. Had to put it on my Gdrive because it was too large to upload here. This is the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gzxW8-iqqY5GnGNE2My2Bf5AkFQ2oY7F/view?usp=drive_link
Yup - ditto. Tried to open the file to check it, but can’t.
This DXF file contains a ton of extra stuff that’s not actually visible, or necessarily used, and one of those shapes was not being cleaned up properly.
I’ve fixed that bug, but when you load the file, all the random garbage strewn off to the sides makes it hard to find the important bit. It loads properly, but it’ll be easier to use if you just export that single piece.
Sorry about that. Not sure why it wouldn’t let you in, but you should be able to access it now.
Thanks Oz. Not sure I’m following tho. This file is fairly simple compared to the ones I usually create in AutoCAD and there shouldn’t be a ton of extra stuff in it. How did you get everything to show up? When I create a file in CAD, do you suggest I have each element (or the entire file) as a block - meaning it is all one thing? Or should I have each line independent from the other? Thanks for your help. AD
I’m still unable to get in, I get the same page as before. It’s probably academic now anyway as you’ve undoubtedly got the best person helping you to be honest.
To allow anyone access, the permissions need to set like this:
@Amandakwd I downloaded your DXF file. Like @LightBurn said, there is a lot of extra information (unused blocks etc) that are not visible.
What I did was copy what was visible, and paste into an empty document in Draftsight CAD, which is a AutoCAD knockoff. Then I exploded your logo. Then I selected all of the text, changed it to RED, and exploded the text. It then imported correctly into LB.
dollhouse.dxf (376.5 KB)
I suspect LightBurn isn’t paying attention to the visible / invisible settings. The big indication for me was that the file is 11mb and is really only a few dozen straight lines, a small logo, and some text.
If you actually delete all the invisible stuff before exporting, or only export the things you want, the import should work fine and the file will be smaller too.