Sprutcam and Autocad DXF

I just got my CNC mill about 2 weeks ago and I am now in the process of learning which CAD/CAM tool I will set myself for life with. At the moment, I am heavily considering SprutCAM for CAM which I will buy if it works out, and AutoCAD 2011 for which I have a license at work.

I just did a very simple part in AutoCAD and as I try to import it on SprutCAM, either nothing comes up or an error pops up. Nothing comes up when I try to import the DWG. Curiously, I can see the part on the preview pane before trying to import. STL files will also come up with nothing.

An error pops up when trying to open the DXF file. No matter what AutoCAD version I save the file under, it states the DXF file can not be opened.

If I do a part in Rhino, it shows up immediately!

Is AutoCAD not a suitable CAD software to work with? Or what am I doing wrong? Thanks!

I have used many Autocad DXF files as an input to SprutCam. Most of the things were for machining contours. Not at home to check the versions but know the early 20xx versions worked as well as the older R12 or is it R14. I have also used DXF files generated from a host of other CAD programs. Can you post something you are having issues with?
Robert

I did more experiments and this gets odd by the minute.

On my work computer, Sprutcam will open the DXF files with no problem. On my home computer (running both demo versions of SprutCAM and AutoCAD), is where I get the error.

I am attaching a quicky cylinder which I just draw. My SprutCAM installation will not open it.

Yesterday, I was also getting a weird window (seemingly from Rhino, for which I also have a demo version installed) asking for me to submit the error information for further code development. I wonder if having Rhino installed in the computer has messes up the DXF filters or something.

Thanks for helping me with this issue!

I was able to get the error reporting window to come up. It is more than clear it is being generated by Rhino. Except Rhino is not open. Unless SprutCAm is rhino or is somehow using it under the curtain to open up DXF files. I will uninstall the Rhino demo version to see if it goes away.

You can see the error reporting window attached.

I tried to open your DXF. It opens just fine in SC 7 but there is nothing there. I also opened it in NCPlot and there is nothing there.

But it looks like you found the problem with Rhino.

Scott

You really need to save in an older .dxf format. AutoCAD 2009 can't open your file either.

I think the problem is AutoCAD 2011 then. I removed Rhino and the problem is still present. I don't get the error reporting window, but SPRUTCAM can not open the files. Here is what I know so far:

1. The DXF files will open up in AUTOCAD 2011 and show content, but on SPRUTCAM, they are empty.

2. It does not matter which DXF revision I save them on (R12, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010) the files will show nothing on SPRUTCAM.

3. I can work with STL files and if I use the mechanical version of AUTOCAD 2011, I can generate IGS. Both STL's and IGS's files will open up as expected in SPRUTCAM.

I am going to install both pieces of SW on a third computer and see what happens. It is very possible Computer #1 has so much junk installed in it, there is some kind of conflict arising.

Thanks to all for helping mw with this question!

If you are trying to save solids as .dxf files, then perhaps SprutCam doesn't support their use in a .dxf?

Most CAM programs use .dxf files for 2D geometry only.