Skip to main content
1-Visitor
August 24, 2015
Question

Generate DXF script/automation?

  • August 24, 2015
  • 4 replies
  • 6350 views

The company I work for has a team of engineers that create 3D models and displays, when they're done, they then take each piece and export as a DXF so that the CNC Programmers can begin cutting and assembling. We've come to the conclusion that it's taking a lot of time for each display to be broken down and exported, and were wondering if it was at all possible to make a script/automation for the DXF export process?

Thank you


This thread is inactive and closed by the PTC Community Management Team. If you would like to provide a reply and re-open this thread, please notify the moderator and reference the thread. You may also use "Start a topic" button to ask a new question. Please be sure to include what version of the PTC product you are using so another community member knowledgeable about your version may be able to assist.

4 replies

23-Emerald IV
August 24, 2015

Yes, this can be automated.  If using Creo standalone, take a look at "Distributed Batch".  If using with Windchill, take a look at "additional file types" for the CAD worker.

1-Visitor
August 24, 2015

I was looking for more of push-button solution to put into Creo on engineers machines, via script or hotkey, something.

Unless I'm just completely misunderstanding the actual Batch functionality.

23-Emerald IV
August 25, 2015

Mapkeys are handy, and can automate a lot of picks and clicks for you, but you will still need to manually start them on each model or drawing.

24-Ruby III
August 25, 2015

Michael,

please explain what is a display. Maybe you can also attach some pictures.

Martin Hanak

1-Visitor
August 27, 2015

What I mean by display is a 3D model of a shelf or product display; a container of sorts.

24-Ruby III
August 27, 2015

Michael,

do you need to generate:

a.) 3D DXF file containing 3D geometry ?

-OR-

b.) 2D DXF file containing a drawing ?

Please attach some pictures to better describe what you want achieve.

Martin Hanak

1-Visitor
September 3, 2015

MartinHanakJose Costa

So after meeting with the engineers, they have DRW files generated by CREO which they then take and put front, back, and both side views, remove the sheet, isometric, and guidelines, and then save as DXF in a certain network share. They want a script or macro in 2 parts; the first one to make all the views of the part, remove all the unnecessary information. The next to "Save As" DXF pointed at a shared folder, with a prompt to name it. 

Thanks for your help!

24-Ruby III
September 3, 2015

Michael,

I think that it would be difficult to use existing part drawing, because I do not know how to remove unwanted contents from it (drawing, notes, tables, ...).

My suggestion is to create 4 drawing templates for FRONT, BACK, LEFT, RIGHT views and for every part repeat the following procedure.

Requirements: Every part must contain FRONT, BACK, LEFT, RIGHT views.

  1. create temporary drawing using FRONT drawing template, save partname_front.dxf and remove temporary drawing
  2. create temporary drawing using BACK drawing template, save partname_back.dxf and remove temporary drawing
  3. create temporary drawing using LEFT drawing template, save partname_left.dxf and remove temporary drawing
  4. create temporary drawing using RIGHT drawing template, save partname_right.dxf and remove temporary drawing

Note:

It is possible to create one drawing template containing FRONT, BACK, LEFT, RIGHT views and instead of 4-step procedure have 1-step procedure. But I do not know how to prevent overlaying of 4 views.

Martin Hanak

HamsterNL
18-Opal
September 4, 2015

If you want to do some automation, take a look at these slides

Then download sBatch here