mtutaj Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 I am having a problem converting an illustrator outline to a polyline. It is a logo (basicly text outline) that is going to be laser cut out of stainless steel. and for some reason, his program does not like splines. The export from Illustrator to .dwg or dxf converts the paths to a spline. I have traced over the objects before, but some of this is getting way too time consuming, so I am looking for other options, Please help. Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 do you have max/viz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtutaj Posted May 16, 2004 Author Share Posted May 16, 2004 I have max 5. I was thinking about that last night.. What would I do. Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 well there's a free script that optomises splines, call re-spline, to be found here - http://www.boomerlabs.com/freeware.html i use it all the time, it's great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtutaj Posted May 17, 2004 Author Share Posted May 17, 2004 But my problem is that it can't be a spline at all. It has to be converted to a polyline. a spline causes the laser cutters program to crash. Let me know, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAT Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 in that case ur gonna have to trace over it with plines in cad (unless anyone knows of a tracer lisp routine) take a look at this too - http://www.softcover.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graphix Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 I have spent many an hour converting splines to polylines. My suggestion is a good set of headphones with good music and alot of coffee. graphix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEANT Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 ACAD has some options with varying degrees of success. One is to print through a DXB driver (usually available with autocad) then insert that dxb file. Another is to export as a Windows meta file. A re-import can be exploded into a faceted representation of the original spline. It will need to be scaled accordingly. As far as I know they are all straight sections (i.e., no arcs) so the geometry may be too "unsmooth". One thing to keep in mind about WMF is that it is display based. If autocad is displaying a faceted circle, that is what is exported. To get a finer division perform a regen first. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Warner Posted May 18, 2004 Share Posted May 18, 2004 Don't know if this lisp works or not, but I just found it on cadalyst's site....go here: http://new.cadalyst.com/code/tips/CodeSearch_Advanced.cfm and search for "splines." The last lisp is a spline to pline converter. -Chad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtutaj Posted May 18, 2004 Author Share Posted May 18, 2004 I found out the solution. In Illustrator you need to export out as .wmf then you need to import that into acad. explode and then all the line items are 2d polylines. Thanks for all the suggestions, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted May 22, 2004 Share Posted May 22, 2004 Gentlemen I was working on a similar issue retracing everything..... Then I read your postings...... What a nice trick..... Now I will have more time with my children...... Many thanks Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishChef Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 If you have EXPRESS Tools then you can use the Flatten command http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/message.jspa?messageID=5412632 Sorry, not allowed to post links yet so you have to cut and paste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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