The geometries should also be exported as follow:

1. Create a dynamic component with attributes to be exported in the csv file.

2. Select primary face in all components to be machined. (components such as hardware are excluded if no face is selected). Only one face per component can be selected.

3. Tooling is set by placing geometries in specific layers. For example vertical drilling with a 5mm bit would be associated with the dxf layer called “DV_5”; Routing offset for external shape with DXF layer “ROX_9” (9 for a 9mm router bit.) any combination of machining can be accomplished by linking tooling “strategies” in the CAM software with DXF layers created by Sketchup.

4. When the model is ready all “primary” faces are exported as DXF polylines in a specified folder together with the csv file.

5. The csv file is then used to automate the import in the CAM software (Enroute, Aspan etc...)

@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.

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 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.

@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?

@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.

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