topic DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium in Manufacturing (CAM)

DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

MSPAINTCOMEBACK — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 20:21:42 GMT

I am using Creo Parametric - Release 4.0 (connected) Release 4.0 and DatecodeM150

DXF Exports are not opening correctly in PCB makers' software. Another client was able to export it at M040 level and it imported fine. We are unable to revert to an older "M" version. Versions M100 and M150 both do not export these files correctly for them to open in Altium software.

Another designer at our client was able to export the DXF layout with default DXF Export setting with Creo Parametric 4.0 M040 and import into Altium fine (title block displayed, no missing letters, numbers or symbols)

When they tried to import the M100 or M150 exports from me (same settings), it was missing random letters, leaders were not aligned with the features they were to dimension, symbols were coming in as "~" for diameter and "n" for degrees. Title block did not import at all.

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

tbraxton — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:57:47 GMT

What do the "bad" dxf files look like when read back into Creo?

Is it possibly a font issue? Try changing the config option to stroke font characters.

dxf_out_stroke_text configuration option

https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/usascii/index.html#page/data_exchange/interface/interface_configuration_options.html

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

MSPAINTCOMEBACK — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 20:02:28 GMT

I have tried changing the font to the default Times New Roman that Altium uses and it still came in as whatever this font is. It also doesn't explain the missing title block lines. I did try stroking texts with one of my exports and the text simply didn't show up.

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

tbraxton — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 20:15:11 GMT

Is your Creo installation on a local drive or on a network drive?

There is also some history of network drive environments causing this type of problem. If the good DXF exports are made using a local install and the bad ones are from a network install this could be the issue. Contact tech support if this is the case. It is related to the Windows fonts not being read correctly from network install. This may or may not be an issue with Creo 4 builds.

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

MartinHanak — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 07:28:34 GMT

@MSPAINTCOMEBACK wrote:

I am using Creo Parametric - Release 4.0 (connected) Release 4.0 and DatecodeM150

DXF Exports are not opening correctly in PCB makers' software. Another client was able to export it at M040 level and it imported fine. We are unable to revert to an older "M" version. Versions M100 and M150 both do not export these files correctly for them to open in Altium software.

Another designer at our client was able to export the DXF layout with default DXF Export setting with Creo Parametric 4.0 M040 and import into Altium fine (title block displayed, no missing letters, numbers or symbols)

When they tried to import the M100 or M150 exports from me (same settings), it was missing random letters, leaders were not aligned with the features they were to dimension, symbols were coming in as "~" for diameter and "n" for degrees. Title block did not import at all.

Hi,

please open DXF file in Notepad++ and check its header. See following example:

999 DXF file: h.dxf 999 Pro/ENGINEER 2017380 by Parametric Technology Corporation 0 SECTION 2 HEADER 9 $ACADVER 1 AC1024

It contains DXF version ... in my example it is AC1024.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.dwg page for details.

Compare DXF files generated from M040 and M150.

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

MSPAINTCOMEBACK — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:04:44 GMT

Both myself and the Colleague that exported the "good" DXF are working with local creo installations so I don't think that is causing the issue this time.

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

MSPAINTCOMEBACK — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:52:50 GMT

That config option doesn't seem to be available in Creo 4.0. It seems to be new to 5.0

Re: DXF Exports not opening properly in client Software - Altium

MartinHanak — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:44:16 GMT

@MSPAINTCOMEBACK wrote:

That config option doesn't seem to be available in Creo 4.0. It seems to be new to 5.0

Hi,

you can find dxf_out_stroke_text option on following Creo 4.0 Help page...

http://support.ptc.com/help/archive/creo40/creo_pma/usascii/index.html#page/data_exchange/interface/interface_configuration_options.html