Hi Michael,
We use Corel here too, albeit we're still on the old version 12! I've quite often found Corel's DXF exports to be a bit flaky, with several other applications besides LaserCut too. In fact, it seems whatever format you use, there will be the occasional drawing that makes LaserCut spit its dummy out!
Here's a few things you can try that we often use as workarounds (NB - some of the dialogues might have different names in your version of Corel!)...
- Whichever format you export, if there's a 'Text as Curves' export option, always tick it, as this will prevent problems due to incompatible fonts. If that option isn't there, save your Corel drawing with a new name, then select all of your text, and use the 'Arrange->Convert To Curves' menu item to turn all the lettering into outline paths before exporting.
- Remove any fills from your text and shapes, to leave only the outlines - for some reason filled shapes seem to confuse the exporter sometimes, especially shapes that have holes in them.
- However, when you have a shape that is supposed to be a 'closed loop', or has holes in it, try filling it temporarily just to make sure that the outline is all joined properly. If the shape won't fill, then the outline is broken somewhere - so select it all, and use 'Arrange -> Close Path'. (then remove the fill!)
- LaserCut is pretty much 20th Century software, so when exporting a DXF and you get the options dialogue up, try exporting using a 'legacy' AutoCAD version (we normally use the 'AutoCAD 2002' version.)
- I've often found that exporting as Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or Plotter (.plt) files works better than DXF. Exporting as 'AI' files is pretty straightforward. With PLT files you have to take a little more care - on the 'Page' tab of the export options dialogue, there's a setting "Plotter Units" - you must set this to either 1000 units or 1016 units. When you import the PLT into LaserCut, it will ask you which of those two settings the file was exported with, so that it can match up the dimensions.
It's all a bit of a faff sometimes - I've got into the habit of exporting DXF, AI and PLT for every Corel drawing these days - I've not had an occasion yet when at least one of them hasn't worked! (fingers crossed)
Cheers
Steve.
