Running the DXF2GBR Engine Directly

Introduction

Artwork’s dxf2gbr engine can be called by an external application and used to convert files from DXF to Gerber. This paper describes the how the calling application (client) should prepare the resource files and call the engine.

A typical application would be a Gerber CAM station that needs to import DXF data. By calling the dxf2gbr engine one can convert the DXF into Gerber and import it but make the process seamless to the end user.

Preliminary Operations - Scanning the DXF File

Layers - AutoCAD’s DXF file format can contain data on multiple layers. Very often the user wants only to import some of the layers -- not all of them. The first thing a calling application should do is to have dxf2gbr engine scan the DXF file and return a list of layers. The list of layers can be presented to the user who will then “check” the layers to import.

Circles - The scan routine can return a list of different circle diameters found in the DXF file as one option is to convert such circles into round flashes.

Donuts - The scan routine can return as list of unique donut diameters (inner/outer) found in the DXF file as one option is to convert such donuts into flashes.

Polyline Widths - the scan routine can return a list of unique widths found for polylines - one option is to map each such polyline to a draw using a round (or square) aperture of the width of the polyline.

Blocks - the scan routine can return a list of blocks found in the AutoCAD DXF file as one conversion option is to map some or all of these block insertions into a flash in Gerber.

Text Styles - the scan routine can return a list of text styles ( and the associated font file) for use in mapping text to Gerber draws.