How can we go around finding a solution here? Regardless which tool is to blame, it is best for Blender to offer Blender users some way/workaround/pipeline of getting their designs as a usable file. This is enough proof that Blender is at least partially to blame, or at least it can export the data differently like Pepakura does so these programs will import it correctly.Ģ) I believe it is important to make Blender a practical tool for designers CNC milling or laser cutting their designs. I disagree for the following reasons:ġ) As I've mentioned, AutoCad as well as CorelDraw import polygonal data from other programs such as Pepakura Designer just fine. You can say since there is at least one program which imports the data, then it is not a Blender issue and shouldn't be asked. I have not been able to test other programs yet such as Solidworks. Sadly, most CNC service providers I've come across don't use Rhino, mostly jewelers do. Imports even the DXF exported from Blender just fine. Blender can export DXF, however when it is imported only lines are imported, no polygon (surface) data.įrom the formats Blender exports it also only imports DXF.īeing a 3D program, imports OBJ, STL, DXF, X, etc. Now, let's look at what formats these programs can import and how they import them.įrom the formats Blender exports it only imports DXF. So I hope we can find a solution here, I believe an answer would benefit many people who might be forced to use another program to design their milled/cut parts right now like I do.Įxample Blender model (.blend is attached):
I have to pay extra to get the model "cleaned up" and in worst case the CNC milling/laser cutting service provider will refuse to do that and tell me to send them proper drawings, and rightfully so.Īnd this is not a limitation of these programs, a DXF exported by another program (for example Pepakura Designer) imports fine. I've had this issue both with CorelDraw and AutoCAD, with different services, and both had to take my model file and modify them in their own programs by creating surfaces from those lines, a time consuming process. For some reason with the formats these programs ask, either Blender exports incomplete data or wrong/different data, because both these programs import them as wires, no surface data is preserved.
Blender can export to DXF, STL and many other formats. They ask formats which these programs can open. However, getting something from Blender to be (2D) CNC milled/laser cut doesn't seem as easy.įrom personal experience from using services of both, common programs such services use for CNC milling and laser cutting is AutoCAD and CorelDraw.
USING A IMAGE IN ESTLCAM PROFESSIONAL
Repetier-Host) as an interchangeable format as well as professional 3d printers such as the ones by Solidscape, the users of which mostly use the Rhinoceros (Rhino) program which imports STL files exported by Blender just fine. That is good for both hobby 3d printers which all use programs which use STL (eg.
Blender has 3d printing tools as well as STL exporter.