I imported this DXF, some portions are shown below:
The sizing is correct based on autodetect. However, the lines are not joined. These are my settings:
I tried Auto-Join and closed select paths. Neither worked. I there a way to select all and have LB do the joining?
could it be taps?
Bernd is asking if those are tabs in the original, as in intentional gaps so the pieces donât fall out of the wood. If you can post the original file (either here, or email to support@lightburnsoftware) I can have a look.
The auto-join tool uses really close tolerances at the moment. The âClose shapes with toleranceâ would let you do anything with only a single gap, but anything with two breaks in it would be considered two independent shapes, so they wonât âcloseâ - they would have to be joined with each other.
I also wondered about âtabsâ. However, even the holes have gaps. Joining straight lines is annoying but easy. Circles is another thing entirely.
Sending original file.
Those gaps are in the source file, so they were intentionally tabbed like that to prevent the parts from falling out of the wood when cut.
Ok. So how do I close the gaps? I tried drawing two lines side by side. Canât make them join either?
I can close these gaps using the âDraw Linesâ tool to snap the start of the new line at one end of the gap and dragging until the line snaps to the other end of the gap. Do this again for several of the gaps, then select all that you have edited, both the new line segments and the original sections you are closing and use ALT-J to join these sections.
Try that and let us know how you get on.
Once snapping the lines together, what will ALT-J do. Donât see anything happening.
Also, how to properly close this gap:
The trick for straight lines wonât work here.
Selecting ALT-J will try to auto-join these sections into a single, closed path shape. You can see this change indicated by a direction change in the âmarching antsâ marquee of the selection. You can find open shapes by selecting âEditâââSelect open shapesâ from the menu.
Why wonât it work here? You will need to edit the line if what you want is for the segment to follow in the same arching path, but it does work.
I donât find the exact same section in the file I have but it does have circles with gaps, so I will use that in my example.
I draw a line segment snaping to the ends of the gap, then enter the âNode Editâ mode.
Grab the center of this new line segment and drag down to match the arching shape. I drew another circle and used it as a template to help with visual alignment.
Again, selecting ALT-J will try to auto-join these sections into a single, closed path shape.
Yeah I forgot about âNode Editâ, that worked. However, I still see no results with ALT-J. I it supposed to take the original circle and join it with the new segment?
If so it doesnât do that. So how does one end up with a complete closed circle after the ânode editâ.?
I do not understand why this is not working for you. These are the exact steps I took and it works as expected here. Make sure you have both the original semicircle and the connecting line selected and choose the menu item âEditâââAuto-Join selected shapesâ. Are you saying that when you do this, the 2 shapes remain as independent shapes and are not joined into a single object? Are you using the hot-key or doing this task via the menu interface?
Try this, pull the line node away, and without letting go, snap it back to see if it closes.
Make sure the shapes arenât grouped - Auto-Join wonât work if the shapes are grouped with others.
Alt+J (Auto-Join) will connect things if theyâre touching, but not connected. You have to select all the shapes you want to be considered for joining.
I must not be doing it right. The circle has a break in it. I draw straight line from one point of break to the other. I adjust it with node edit. I then select the circle and the line and ALT-J. The line patch stays as an independent part.
In another case the circle is actually two semi circles. I zoomed in all the way:
How do I make this a continous circle?
draw a new circle the size you need.
Use node edit, grab the end of one line and drag it to the other one until they snap.
Tried that. Does not maintain the proper arc.
How far off is it? Given that the sources were offset, they werenât âthe proper arcâ to begin with, so unless youâre cutting engine parts with your laser, I doubt that level of accuracy is required.
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