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TEMPLOT 3D PLUG TRACK - To get up to speed with this experimental project click here.   To watch an introductory video click here.   See the User Guide at Bexhill West.

  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed. Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.
  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.

DXF problem

Quick reply >
@Mike183

Hi Mike,

Welcome to Templot Club. :)

Please can you explain your problem? What error messages do you see when trying to export DXF files?

Are you trying to export 2-D or 3-D files?

I just tested a 2-D export to DXF from Templot 235a and opened it in a CAD program without any problems.

Anyone else seeing problems?

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Mike183

p.s. Mike,

Just to add that if you want a 3-D DXF, you need to change this option to DXF or both:

dxf_for_cad.png


If you forget and leave it on STL you will still get a default DXF -- you can find it at:

C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\dxf\dummy.dxf

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Mike183

Hi Mike,

Welcome to Templot Club. :)

Please can you explain your problem? What error messages do you see when trying to export DXF files?

Are you trying to export 2-D or 3-D files?

I just tested a 2-D export to DXF from Templot 235a and opened it in a CAD program without any problems.

Anyone else seeing problems?

cheers,

Martin.
Hi Martin
Trying to export dxf stl after going into output drop down but when i try to do this i get error mesage
Unable to create DXF STL Files
Please check the file and folder name and this file is not in use by another Application
If saving to floppy disc please check that it is not write protected DXF files are much larger than templote box files a larger drawing
may have exseeded the capacity of floppy disc
no im not tring to save to floppy disc and this did not happen untill last update
Thanks Mike
 
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@Mike183

Hi Mike,

Thanks for replying.

Just a hint there of the age of Templot! I doubt many Templot users are still using floppy disks. :) I must go through the code and update some of those original texts from 23 years ago.

Are you exporting 2-D or 3-D files? There is no difference in the 2-D export from previous versions. The most likely explanation is that you are re-using a file name which is currently open in your laser-cutting CAD program or some other program. Try closing other programs or saving to a different file name.

If still no joy, try restarting Templot, or restarting Windows.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Mike183

Hi Mike,

If you are laser-cutting timbers, have you tried some of the latest DXF options?

You can use sprues to link the timbers instead of webs under the rails. These are much easier to remove after assembly or tracklaying, without damaging the track:

sprues_3d_brick.png


sprues_2d_brick.png


I believe the green colour causes the laser cutting software to treat the lines as external edges.

You can set a kerf width adjustment which causes Templot to increase the timber sizes fractionally to allow for the cutter kerf, for an accurate result. (This isn't necessary if your laser software does this automatically.)

Here are some of the settings to click on the DXF dialog:

sprues_2d_brick_dxf.png


Note that at present, sprues are available only if you set the template as a brick template and match the brick colour above. I may look at changing that for 2-D exports.

Removing webs from below the rails risks damaging the track as the knife blade forces the timbers apart. Webs below the rails also make it difficult to add ballast, and prevent replicating the characteristic daylight below the rails for bullhead track:


index.php


Hence the preference for sprues on the timber ends. Easily trimmed flush with Xuron-type rail cutters. But as far as I know all commercial suppliers of laser-cut timbering bases are still using webs below the rails.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Mike183

Hi Mike,

Thanks for replying.

Just a hint there of the age of Templot! I doubt many Templot users are still using floppy disks. :) I must go through the code and update some of those original texts from 23 years ago.

Are you exporting 2-D or 3-D files? There is no difference in the 2-D export from previous versions. The most likely explanation is that you are re-using a file name which is currently open in your laser-cutting CAD program or some other program. Try closing other programs or saving to a different file name.

If still no joy, try restarting Templot, or restarting Windows.

cheers,

Martin.

Marting,

I've just hit this same problem when trying to export a 2D DXF. I'm running 2.41b

TemplotScreen-01.JPG


I'm saving to the DXF folder and there is no filename clash. I tried changing filenames but the fault still persists. I've restarted Windows as you suggest, and no change.

I've used this facility a lot in the past and with no problems.

Jim.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

Can you say a bit more about the settings you are using on the DXF dialog? Have you been using the preview functions and left the preview window open? If you look in DXF-FILES folder does the file actually exist, maybe with a file-size 0?

What happens if you try saving the file somewhere else?

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

Can you say a bit more about the settings you are using on the DXF dialog? Have you been using the preview functions and left the preview window open? If you look in DXF-FILES folder does the file actually exist, maybe with a file-size 0?

What happens if you try saving the file somewhere else?

Here's the settings I'm using

TemplotScreen-02.JPG


I tried saving to Desktop and changing filenames, but with the same result.

Jim.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

That's odd. I can't replicate the problem here. Have you accidentally got two instances of Templot running?

Try going to C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\dxf\ and delete the file dummy.dxf

Try going to C:\TEMPLOT_DEV\internal\pre\ and delete the files preview.dxf and preview.stl

Try closing Templot and then re-starting it by right-clicking on the icon and Run as administrator.

I will do some digging.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

Are other files saving ok? BOX files, BGS3 files?

Martin.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

Are you using any 3rd Party antivirus other than Windows Defender? If so, try switching it off while saving the DXF file.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

Please can you post your BOX file here?

I will try exporting it and see what happens. Thanks.

Martin.
 
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@Jim Guthrie

Hi Jim,

Thanks. DXF created here no problems. Attached below.

I'm puzzled. If I can't create the problem here, and you have checked everything I can think of, I don't know what to suggest next.

Have you been saving DXF files to this same location before without any problems? Have you had a recent Windows update?

cheers,

Martin.
 

Attachments

  • newnscalelayout_23_09_25_2332_50_mm.dxf
    3.9 MB · Views: 36
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Latest BOX file attached.

Jim.
Jim,
Just noticed the posts from you and Martin. I tried an export to DXF ( which I had never done before with Templot ) using your box file and it worked and produced a file which appears to be the same as the one Martin has posted. Not sure that helps you much though......dxf is attached. I just saved it to the default folder.
Rob
 

Attachments

  • jimsnewlayout1.dxf
    3.9 MB · Views: 37
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I had been working on my Dell Precision 7710 laptop running Win 10 Professional. I tend to use it a lot now since it means I can sit on a comfortable settee whilst using it. :) I then tried my Dell Desktop running Win 10 Home running from the same installation of Templot in Onedrive, and the DXF export worked with no problems. So the problem is somewhere in the laptop. There was a recent Windows update on the laptop which might have had something to do with it. Microsoft doesn't recommend updating to Windows 11 for laptops like the Precision 7710 so something may be affecting even Windows 10 setups.

And the layout is an amalgam of two versions of a layout featured in the February 1969 Model Railroader ...

MR-Layout.jpg


...and a bit larger than the compact version using FS160, with minimum radii of at least 12". I've got a drawer full of N scale rolling stock so I need something large enough to house it. :cool:

Jim.
 
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Why not just Install Templot on your laptop?
Steve
@Jim Guthrie @Steve_Cornford

If you have multiple computers, the best place to install Templot is on a USB stick. You can then bung it in whichever computer you are using and you will have all your files and settings right there, self-contained.

It works fine, on one condition -- no spaces anywhere in the path, use underscores instead:

F:\RAILWAY_STUFF\TEMPLOT_STUFF\

Just edit the path in the installer setup dialog to whatever you want.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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Hi Jim

Just to chip in to this, I once also ran the same installation of Templot on either my laptop or desktop via OneDrive. It never seemed to work very well (and Martin did/does advise against installing on cloud drive folders at all) but now that I no longer have a laptop I find that having Templot in a OneDrive folder but running exclusively from my PC works just fine. I suspect your problem is not your laptop, but OneDrive getting confused - it does that! I use OneDrive extensively on a PC, Mac, tablet and phone and something like 720Gb of personal stuff so do feel I have good experience of its foibles.

Martin has also emphasised above not to include any spaces anywhere in the path. I ignore that as well and it still works fine, including DXF exports :) However, I'm very aware that if I start getting problems because of this, it's not Martin's responsibility to fix it. Everything I do is in the OneDrive folder so for me it makes no sense not to include Templot in that.

Very occasionally I use Templot on my work PC (with permission) but do that by copying from my online OneDrive folder to a memory stick.

Cheers,
Paul
 
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I'm actually quite happy with the use of Onedrive. It gives me a not-quite-instant network between PCs in the house. I could use a USB drive but I know that the major problem would be finding it. :)

Jim.

I have a network file-server. It's an old PC running TrueNAS. (It's free.) Seems to be extremely stable and very fast. The only problem I have with it is remembering to hit the power button when power is restored after an outage. I suppose I could arrange for some auto restart mechanism but I haven't felt the need for that.
 
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