I am having a challenge.
The local community collage wants me to create a plasma file to cut some bench supports. They first sent a file that came as an edrawings file that I could open in our edrawings viewer but not in SW. No dimensions but I was able to measure it, sort of and it was 135"x 150". Seemed large so I asked for a drawing with dimensions or a dxf file.
He tells me the dimensions should be closer to 23"x25" and sends me a pdf. Not a dxf but I should be able to insert it as a sketch picture and trace it. So when I attempt to add the sketch picture I get the message “Adobe Illustrator C53 required to import this file”. No problem, I will paste it in Paint and then use that. same message. Naturally I don’t have illustrator and am highly unlikely to ever have it.
Does someone have Illustrator or know of a different program that can convert it to a png or gif or other standard format?
This would be WAAAAAAy easier of they would send the (.DWG) or (.DXF) file rather than trying to trace it…
That said download Rhino 3D and drag and drop the PDF into it. It will give you curves with which to then generate some 3D from. Then export out as a (.STEP file.
I would just kick it back and insist on a dxf (or at least STEP). They need to learn appropriate formats for manufacturing, and (hopefully) pass this knowledge on to their students.
Seems ridiculous that they took the time to give you another useless export but didn’t take the time to give you something useful. There are some customers that you want the competition to steal.
Thank you for the input everyone. I tried to get a better file from the school but the “drawing” is coming from the Marketing & Public Relations department and I suspect they are unclear just what a File is let alone what a dxf file is.
The interesting thing is that they said this 25" x 23" part is too big to fit their plasma.
Better get a dimensioned “drawing” and redraw it.
They had something to create edrawing. Get that “something” file.
Get the original file. Not one that got translated a billion time.
I know I’m sounding obtuse if not outright belligerent. In practice, I do actually do these things, but with my best Midwest-nice demeanor. But I stand firm.
I know this has been answered, but can’t you save illustrator files in DWG or into JPEGS? If you were to save into Jpegs, you could then either convert the jpeg to DXF with a web application and then scale it to the appropriate size
I thought I recall something about Photoshop/Illustrator being able to export as DXF
Yes, But I had nothing that would open it. The first file that he sent was able to be opened but was about 6 times the size it should have been. Then when he resent I was unable to even open to resave.
