Export For CAM software

yvan · 30 Jul 2010, 11:24

As a shopfitter / cabinetmaker I love the way Sketchup works! We currently use Sketchup and Layout to design shops and to produce presentation and workshop drawings.

I would like to use Sketchup models and export them to CAM softwares such as Enroute or Bobcam.
Is there a way to export a series of DXF files generated from the largest face of each selected component in the model.
Each of the DXF file should be named the same as the component name. Then I would like use a CSV file created directly in sketchup with part attributes such as: part name; dxf file name; material name; board thickness; edge banding properties etc...

This CSV file can then be used as an import file in many CAM softwares.

Has anyone seen or used sketchup for manufacturing?

Kind Regards,

Yvan Reichenbach

TIG · 30 Jul 2010, 11:31

I'm sure it's quite possible.
However, there's considerable coding involved - the Plugins forum [Request] is perhaps the best place to air this.
I have written very complicated Exporters etc but have nothing quite like this as a crib.

dedmin · 30 Jul 2010, 11:44

I was hopping someone could make this with SketchUP - I think it is possible. But only limited attempts here and there. What I have found so far:

http://www.sketchdata.com/
http://sketchuppluginreviews.com/2010/04/30/phlatscript-google-sketchup-plugin-review/
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100225&highlight=SketchUP

There is a lot of useful data we can put inside a dynamic component, but the problem is to export it from SketchUP in way suitable for production. At least as a cvs or html report and cutlis. I made components that calculate area, price, contains data for the grain, banding, oversize and etc., but I have to learn Ruby to make a script that exports this data.
AS a compromise if we can export dynamic's component options to a cutting optimization software as CutListPLus it can export the cutting diagram as a dxf for CNC. I'm sure there is a huge demand for a such softwre and we a ready to pay for it! See this thread: http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/cad.pl?read=660643

honoluludesktop · 30 Jul 2010, 19:39

Yvan, Why does the dxf file have to start with the largest face of each component? What is the selection criteria for the following faces, and how do want to handle sub components?

If you re-post this in the plug-in section, it would help people like TIG if you provide as complete a description of your requirements as you can.

yvan · 31 Jul 2010, 11:57

@honoluludesktop said:

Yvan, Why does the dxf file have to start with the largest face of each component? What is the selection criteria for the following faces, and how do want to handle sub components?

If you re-post this in the plug-in section, it would help people like TIG if you provide as complete a description of your requirements as you can.

Maybe the plugin should let you manually select the faces to export? The face with most machining.

sketchdata · 31 Jul 2010, 16:21

We are currently working on a project to export data from SUP to the 2020 Shopware software Product Planner. We are also beginning work on a reporting program to generate PDF and text files, but having trouble finding a solution that will work on both PC and Mac. Future plans do include SUP plug-ins for defining and exporting CNC machining operations to a DXF file.

xrok1 · 31 Jul 2010, 18:04

project or product?

dedmin · 31 Jul 2010, 20:23

@sketchdata said:

We are currently working on a project to export data from SUP to the 2020 Shopware software Product Planner. We are also beginning work on a reporting program to generate PDF and text files, but having trouble finding a solution that will work on both PC and Mac. Future plans do include SUP plug-ins for defining and exporting CNC machining operations to a DXF file.

I checked some of yours plugins and dynamic components and they look promising. We badly need reporting plugin and CNC connection. It is a shame that all the power of dynamic components cannot be used for calculations, cut list and reporting!

yvan · 1 Aug 2010, 03:44

@dedmin said:

@sketchdata said:

We are currently working on a project to export data from SUP to the 2020 Shopware software Product Planner. We are also beginning work on a reporting program to generate PDF and text files, but having trouble finding a solution that will work on both PC and Mac. Future plans do include SUP plug-ins for defining and exporting CNC machining operations to a DXF file.

I checked some of yours plugins and dynamic components and they look promising. We badly need reporting plugin and CNC connection. It is a shame that all the power of dynamic components cannot be used for calculations, cut list and reporting!

Do you have a link to your plugins?

dedmin · 1 Aug 2010, 08:47

@yvan said:

@dedmin said:

@sketchdata said:

We are currently working on a project to export data from SUP to the 2020 Shopware software Product Planner. We are also beginning work on a reporting program to generate PDF and text files, but having trouble finding a solution that will work on both PC and Mac. Future plans do include SUP plug-ins for defining and exporting CNC machining operations to a DXF file.

I checked some of yours plugins and dynamic components and they look promising. We badly need reporting plugin and CNC connection. It is a shame that all the power of dynamic components cannot be used for calculations, cut list and reporting!

Do you have a link to your plugins?

See my post above - the first link.

dedmin · 1 Aug 2010, 09:32

I'm not very familiar with the CAM technology, but could the way SketchUP handles the geometry be a problem? That everything is just a bunch of lines, instead of real curves?

dedmin · 1 Aug 2010, 10:54

I know this, but the question remains.

yvan · 1 Aug 2010, 11:07

@dedmin said:

I'm not very familiar with the CAM technology, but could the way SketchUP handles the geometry be a problem? That everything is just a bunch of lines, instead of real curves?

Sketchup is a mesh modelling software. you can find more info about mesh modelling here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygon_mesh .
Smooth curves can be achieved by increasing the number of segments.
With a CNC flatbed router we currently export faces as DXF polylines with [url=http://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl:lzs2i8uh]skp_to_dxf plugin[/url:lzs2i8uh] and then import these dxf files in the CAM software for tooling and G code generation.

yvan · 2 Aug 2010, 12:34

I will not give-up!
SU's dynamic components architecture is so powerful that it would be a shame if it cannot be used for manufacturing.
My wish is to find a script that would let you select a face in each components as primary face to be sent to the CNC.

Then,

Then all parts should be exported as individual dxf polylines in a specified folder ready for import in a CAM/nesting package.

dedmin · 2 Aug 2010, 13:42

Fully agree with You!! I wonder why nobody did this already - there are so many fellow woodworkers ready to pay for this!! But when You export a 5mm circle from SketchUP as .dxf it is not a circle anymore - that is why I asked above if this is a problem with CAM?

dedmin · 2 Aug 2010, 13:52

And there is need for a hole drilling plugin like this one - http://www.smartmachining.com/

sketchdata · 2 Aug 2010, 15:27

I think holes will work better if a component is used, that way center point is easy to determine, and overall number of entities is reduced. Thinking there would be a component for 5mm system holes, 8mm construction holes, etc, and an attribute for export DXF layer. For routing paths, I think a DXF Export Layer attribute should handle tool diameter, depth of cut, any cutter compensation, and lead in/outs, depending on the CAM post. So the plan is to create a script that writes a DXF for each face thats defined for machining and create any routing and/or drilling on that face.

yvan · 2 Aug 2010, 20:55

@dedmin said:

Fully agree with You!! I wonder why nobody did this already - there are so many fellow woodworkers ready to pay for this!! But when You export a 5mm circle from SketchUP as .dxf it is not a circle anymore - that is why I asked above if this is a problem with CAM?

It is not a problem. If you place the holes in a layer called a certain way ex: "DV_5" you can then set your CAM software to automatically use a 5mm bit to drill to the centre of any geometry placed in the layer "DV_5". no matter what shape the geometry is.
For curved free form shapes, increasing the number of segments will produce an acceptable result.

dedmin · 3 Aug 2010, 00:49

That is good news - I was wondering for a long time can this be a problem!

TIG · 3 Aug 2010, 09:38

Note that you can extract a DC's 'attributes' and use them in your 'reports'... there are several threads about this already...