CNC, perspex case design.....

I've found a place that will give me a quote. But they don't accept Solidworks.

Is it easy for you to save the files in a different format?

> Autocad - DWG
> Autocad - DXF
> Corel Draw
> Adobe Illustrator
> Jpeg, BMP
> EPS

Also what's the overall size of the side panel? Is it more than 35" x 47"?
 
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Sorry I missed this. :o

It's a tremendous amount of work to convert the entities to DXF or DWG since those are essentially 2D representations and the conversions are not automated. I can do it if you like but it'll take me a while when just working in my spare time.

I can obviously do .jpg or .bmp, as you've seen but they probably want something more specific than that. Do they want, essentially, dimensioned engineering drawings for all the parts as if they were to be printed and handed to a machinist just like in the days of yore?

The side panel measures 673 mm wide by 519 mm high (~26.50 inches by ~20.43 inches).
 
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Yes, it contains a 2D model of the front of the front panel. If you wanted to print it it would not contain human-readable dimensions.

A machine like the laser table on which this will be cut can work with this data (or more accurately this data will be fed into a program which will then generate the appropriate G-code which the machine can interpret). If a human is going to machine it manually he'll need human-readable dimensions.
 
Isee, will email them and see what they say on the dimensions, How about the slots in the back of the front panel?

Will they need a 2d picture of the back?
 
This isn't as easy as I thought.

Several places haven't be able to open the file and would prefer it in pdf with measurements. Any chance you could do this again with just the front panel. Much appreciate all the time you have spent so far.
 
Sure, I can get to it early tomorrow. I'll leave a little to the imagination regarding the grill portion since fully defining it on paper would be an exercise in monotony.

Still, they'll probably either want a digital model from which they can generate a toolpath, or charge you to redraw it using the tools they use.

Also, seriously? A CNC machine shop that doesn't have a copy of AutoCAD or even a free reader in which they can open a .dxf? Weird.
 
it even says they except dxf. But they say teh file doesn't open. But a few places I've contacted all prefer pdf. Maybe taht's why charge for redrawing..

Which I could just find somewhere which excepted solidworks files. What file formats can you save to in solidworks?
 
3D models can be saved pretty much just as SolidWorks files. If I project a 3D model into a 2D view I get a bunch of other formats that are more suited for printing like the shops seems to want. I'd tell you the full list but I've not got the program in front of me. Will report later.
 
Call around at some salvage places. There's a place by me that buys up scrap Lexan and sells sheets more than big enough for PC modding needs for pennies-on-the-dollar. I put a bunch of it on my last robot and spent about $20 for it all.
 
BillytheImpaler said:
Call around at some salvage places. There's a place by me that buys up scrap Lexan and sells sheets more than big enough for PC modding needs for pennies-on-the-dollar. I put a bunch of it on my last robot and spent about $20 for it all.
Click to expand...

Robot, you say? Now that I do want to see pics of :D

Great thread btw - muchos kudos to all the hard work you've put in Billy :)
 
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