Need some very basic ACAD help please...getting frustrated!

[shiner2001]

I've posted before about transferring things in and out of ACAD, so hopefully this won't be too much of a repeat, but I'm still pretty lost on what is probably second nature to many. I purchased the plans for the geodesic fire pit that was on here some time back, and my problem lies with getting the artwork for all the panels that I have done in Inkscape over into ACAD so I can insert them. I know it's probably a very basic thing, but I just never have been taught this before. Saving DXFs out of Inkscape and opening them in ACAD makes them look like complete crap. Basically with ANY DXF that is "artsy," whether it's freehand or what, how does one incorporate that into a technical drawing such as the plans I mentioned above?

Thanks in advance, guys. And also, I don't have Corel Draw and I know that's what a lot of people here use.

[steel 35]

One thing about ACad is it does not always look as good as it is, will cut/Print/draw, My two pennies say get the sizing and move the technical drawing to Inkscape; check the sizing first then add the artsy.

[shiner2001]

I tried to open the DXF in Inkscape and it didn't work at all, which I didn't understand. Taking that part of the drawing into Inkscape would definitely be preferable so I could edit the artsy more freely.

[tnbndr]

Its funny, I have Inkscape, Corel and a bunch of others and I do everything in Acad except for text. Text I do in a program called Stencil Fonts and save as DXF and then use Insert/Block to import into my drawing in ACAD.
What do you mean by "looks like complete crap"? To get into ACAD use the Insert/Block and browse for your dxf file, insert and position anywhere. You can Move it around later, when in position if you need to work on the items in the block just use the Explode command to send the block into individual items that make it up.
As far as looking like crap if it is the curves and such look bad go to the Tools/Options dialog box, select the Display tab and play with the screen resolution settings. I attaced a screenshot of where my setting are and things look okay.
Ask any questions or PM me and I will try to help. I only monitor this site once a day, usually in the early morning.

[acourtjester]

There is another way and that is to use Sheetcam. You can bring the original into SheetCam and the New part option and bring the art work in and position is where you want over the original. You would treat the artwork like one layer and do that cutting first then finish with the panel of the fire pit. To do fine positioning of the artwork use the placement options at the bottom of the page.
Entering small movements for the Z and Y directions you just change the number up or down to move the objects. You can even change the angle of the artwork there too.

[sodfarmer]

One thing I have found out is when I export out of Inksacpe is to make sure to save as a LWPOYLINE only. When I have have the ROBO-Master spline output checked it seems to make the files export weird. Hope this helps.

[KIDTech]

When it is in ACAD use your "REGEN" command. This typically cleans the drawing up to look as it should.