.
With 228z available, some detailed notes about this dialog are needed:
But as it changes almost daily at present, it's difficult. If you are reading this after 30th September 2021, bear in mind that almost certainly there will have been some significant changes since then.
1. In an ideal world it would all be explained by clicking the
help button. In practice, those notes haven't changed since written in 1998, so they won't be much help now. On the other hand you ought to read them, because most of that stuff still applies. One fine day when the 3D stuff is finalised and fully tested I will re-write them, or a Companion page, but there is no point in doing that while this dialog is in constant flux.
2. The first thing to set is whether you want a 2-D or 3-D file export.
2-D files will be wanted for importing into CAD and CAM programs for use with laser-cutters, CNC millers, etc., and for track and layout design in CAD programs.
3-D files are wanted for 3D printing, and for layout visualisations and walk-throughs in CAD rendering programs.
If you select 2-D for the DXF file, you can also optionally have a matching EMF
* metafile
(not yet implemented) for use in graphics design and drawing programs, some of which can't import DXF files from Templot.
Small 2-D DXF files can also be re-imported into Templot's
background shapes, and EMF files can be displayed on the
sketchboard or loaded as
background picture shapes. By such means you can see what is being exported even if you don't have any CAD or graphics program which can import the files.
If you select 3-D for the DXF file, you can also optionally have a matching STL file for use with 3D printing software.
3. If you leave everything on the default settings and click the
export DXF button, this is what you get when imported into a CAD program:
i.e. a 2-D file containing almost everything except the 3-D chair detail, as thin single lines.
It shows the timber outlines (with extensions), timber flanges and webs, chair base outlines, chair screw/bolt positions, and socket outlines (in red), and the kerf cutter lines for laser and other cutters (in green and blue). Plus timber centre-lines, track centre-lines, dotted and solid background shapes, and the timber numbering. Plus the rails of course.
It's very unlikely that you would want all of this at the same time, it would be usual to switch off the unwanted items before exporting a 2-D file. For example you won't want the timber and socket outlines, and the kerf cutter lines, at the same time. Just one or the other. Alternatively, because each item is in its own DXF layer, items can be switched on and off, or have colours changed, in most CAD programs.
Some of the above items can also be switched off in the
generator settings in the usual way -- Templot can only export what has been generated.
A lot of this is meaningless for 3-D purposes, such as the track centre-lines, other dashed and dotted lines, timber numbers, etc., and is automatically excluded from 3-D files. Optionally the background shapes can take on new meanings in 3-D files -- rectangles can become support slabs for 3D chair printing, lines can become timbering splints, target marks can become timbering brick connector clips.
More about all this to follow.
*EMF files can also be exported as image files at
output > export a file. In that case they can include thick lines, solid areas of colour, background maps and images, etc., but don't match the DXF 2-D export.
p.s. 2-D and 3-D are hyphenated like that when referring to
files, and not hyphenated when referring to
processes, such as 3D printing. I'm not too sure why I'm doing that, but having started I shall carry on.
Martin.