DXF import Board Outline

[Peter_Bham]

I am having trouble importing a DXF file into Ultiboard 10.  The outline was created in Autocad 2007 and saved in dxf format.  It is my understanding that DXF files are unitless.  When I import into Ultiboard I select Merge into Board Outline and Interpret Units as Inch.  The outline is 6.97 x 5.78.  I get the following error:

Data exceed the maximum board size (2m X 2m) and will not be imported.

I have attached the dxf file, change the ".txt" to ".dxf".  As always thanks for all the help these groups provide.

Peter A.

BTW:  what I need is an SCXI board outline.

[lacy]

Unfortunately changing the file extesion doesn't work. It still is listed as a text document and Ultiboard won't load it. If you can't post it as a DXF File directly on the forum then try zipping it and post the zip file.

I have had this happen to me on occassion, but I can't remeber under what circumstances the error was produced. I would like to experiment with you file and try a few things to see if one of my theories is correct. Once I get your file I can try this theory then I can post my findings.

[lacy]

O.K I did manage to get Ultobard to recongnize the file. What has to be done is the name changed as you save the file instead of whating until after you save it.

I have tried various different import techniques and still couldn't get it to the size you need. When I tell it to import in inches I get the sane error that you do.

If you did this on another CAD Pacage, then maybe you could try to chabge the units of measure within it and retry the import. Use either mm or mils and see if it will import then.

This is the only option I can find and I don't see in the manuals or help file where there is a board size limit.

[Peter_Bham]

Worked on this over my holiday break for a while, have an update. 

I tried saving in several different dxf formats (i.e. 2000, 2003, 2007...) no change.  When I imported the same file in mils or mm, Ultiboard will open the file.  The dimensions were correct except they were in mm or mils and not inches.  Decided to scale the dxf drawing by 1000 and import as mils instead of inches.  This worked.  Not sure why Ultiboard was upset with the inches import. 

Peter.

[lacy]

You may have come across a bug with the DXF import. I had a sneaky suspicion that was what was happening. I am glad to hear you at least got it to import for you. NI may have to address this at to whether or not it is indeed a software bug.

After importing you can always go back to inches if that is what you are more comfortable with. Just edit the PCB Properties.

[Tien_P]

Hi,

DXF are unit less and you should be able to import this file into Ultiboard as mils or mm.  Once you get it into Ultiboard, change the origin by selecting Design>>Set Reference Point and place the origin at the lower right corner of the rectangle.  Now, export the DXF file using the same unit as when you imported to create a new DXF file.  Import the new DXF file you created and select inches this time, it should work.  The problem with the original DXF file is that the origin was set so far away from the segments and Ultiboard thinks the board is larger than is really is.