Reading DXF file

[nathanielleong]

I am working on a project which requires importing a DXF file and using the DXF file for motion controls. Is there a way for this to implement this in LABVIEW? 

[Worle]

The first two things that come up on google are these. Have you had a look at them?

https://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Importing-and-displaying-DXF-files-into-Labview/td-p/44430/page/3

https://github.com/DashZhang/dxf-interpreter

I've not tried to run them so I don't know if they work. If they don't let us know

[nathanielleong]

The program works to display the dxf file as an image. I'm not sure if I can get the data from the dxf file and use it for motion controls. I'll have to look into that. 

[rolfk]

The second link definitely returns the data in a format that could be used to process it further. The real problem is likely that it only supports a subset of 2D geometry elements that you can have in a DXF file and that it won't work for 3D elements at all.

Also the data in these files is describing things without any respect to tools that might be used to turn it into a physical entity. If you want to control a CNC machine you have to account for instance for the thickness of the (various) cutter tools used and also post process the CAD data to describe which parts need to be done with which cutting tool, drill or whatever. Similar things apply for 3D printers. This is often the much more difficult part and also the one that isn't very easy to automate. The importing of a specific data file format, while also quite a bit of work, is relatively simple in comparison.