>How are you exporting the DXF from SketchUp 2017 Make?
In Make 2017, I export as DAE then convert online to DXF.
I paid for SketchUp online and do a direct export to DXF.
Both methods don’t work.
>Why aren’t you just importing the SketchUp model directly into Vcarve?
The CNC router guy said he needs DXF. I didn’t know that was an option.
If I go with a CNC laser guy that uses Carbide Create, it requires DXF format.
How can I export a DXF and have it work in either CAM product?
Evidently you scaled the butterfly component without scaling its definition so I did that. I also filled in the missing faces on the bottom and made it a solid component. After that I exported a 3D .dxf file from SketchUp and get a 3D file. This shows it in perspective in Autodesk True View. I am using SketchUp 2026 but you should get similar results from SketchUp Go.
I am brand new to exporting for CAM work.
How can I scale the definition that is separate from the component so that I can do it myself?
What faces were missing and how do I fill them in? Do I just extrude them?
When I use the online Autodesk DXF viewer, it has consistently looked correct.
The issue has been importing them into CAM software is where it fails. Is that because the CAM software is 2.5D not true 3D?
First, that has nothing to do with exporting for CAM work.
If you open the component for editing and scale the geometry, the definition will get scaled automatically. Since you didn’t do that in this model, you can right click on the componnt and choose Scale Definition.
The missing faces are due to the way you extruded it from flat. You could have used Option to make Push/Pull leave the original faces. At this point you trace an edge segment with the Line tool to “heal” the missing faces or you could use Option with Push/Pull to extrude the faces from the top downward. Make sure when you are finished there are no exposed blue back faces.
I used the desktop client True View and it did not show the geometry correctly until I repaired the model.
I don’t know the specific software you are using for that end of it. You should contact their customer support to see if they can tell you.
Are you doing this as a hobby project? What is the pull going to be made from?
WOW! Good catch on the bottom. I didn’t look at the bottom. I will fix that.
I’m still a little fuzzy on scaling the component but let me try following your instructions to see if I can make it work.
Are you doing this as a hobby project?
Yes. I am a weekend woodworker hobbyist. I am building Asian inspired furniture for my Chinese wife and I. I don’t sell or build for anyone because I already have a full time job where people tell me what do to. This is my hobby.
These are a couple of nightstands that I built as an experiment using the PantoRouter which worked out great. I purchased the pulls and corners but they are not what I really want. After I restored a Korean cabinet, I realized that I really want a butterfly theme for the pulls and corners.
What is the pull going to be made from?
1mm brass plate that I can purchase online.
I will hire a local person to either CNC route or CNC laser the parts. I was initially thinking router but laser might be the better choice. I discovered the DXF issue after sending the DXF file to the CNC router guy.
Nice nightstands but I can’t look at the PantoRouter site. There’s no room in my shop for one of those! Another woodworker was trying to tempt me with a Shaper Origin.
So the butterfly is the escutcheon plate? I expect laser would be better. I’d worry that a router bit might try to pick up the brass since there’s no good way to ensure it stays flat. The laser shouldn’t do that.
Part of the component’s definition is its dimensions. If you scale the component instead of opening the component for editing and scaling the geometry you aren’t editing the component’s definition. Again, you can open the component for editing and scale the geometry within which will update the component’s defintion. Or you can update the definition after scaling via the right click>Scale Definition thing.
In a similar way, if you apply a material to a component you do not change the component’s definition. If you edit the component and apply the material to the faces inside, you do update the definition.
An analogy which might reduce the fuzz. Think of a sandwich as the geometry in the component. The component is the sandwich bag in which you placed the sandwich. The definition, then includes the kind of bread, cheese, peanut butter, and onion you made the sandwich from. If you put mayo on the sandwich bag you aren’t changing the sandwich’s definition. You have to open the bag and put the mayo on the actual sandwich to do that.
Yes. I was calling it backplate or just plate vs the pull handle that I ordered online.
Thanks for the clarification on component scaling. I have applied that concept when applying a color to the components inside of a component of components.
I searched for issues importing DXF files generated by SketchUp. Both Carbide Create and VCarve have people reporting issues. That does not confirm the issues are the same. I will clean up the drawing, add the mounting holes and try again.
As a sanity check, I will drop back and try a very simple extruded box, export as DXF and try to import it into Carbide Create to see if that will work.
