Generator settings for DXF

[AndyB]

Hi Martin,

It's more than a bit toasty here so I thought I'd take shot at printing another turnout for my layout. (The baseboard has been sitting for a very long time )

Might it be possible (maybe it is already?) for Templot to export a 2-D DXF that only consists of the timber outlines and the gauge faces of the rails and check-rails?

Cheers!
Andy

 

[Martin Wynne]

Might it be possible (maybe it is already?) for Templot to export a 2-D DXF that only consists of the timber outlines and the gauge faces of the rails and check-rails?

@AndyB

Hi Andy,

Sure it's possible -- has been since the beginning of time -- well 1997 anyway.

Here's a B-7 turnout in your H00-DN gauge:

For DXF exports you can work only with background templates. Forget the control template. Forget all the experimental 3D stuff I've been doing. Use the generator settings to get what you want:

You MUST click rebuild all background templates after making any changes. It's easy to forget. You can change a lot of settings in one go by clicking use skeleton settings, although you will want to make some further changes:

To get:

On the DXF dialog just leave everything unchanged and click the green export button. The result in TurboCAD is:

But I would have thought you wanted the timber centre-lines rather than timber outlines. Or maybe both?

To see them on the trackpad* you need to tick this box:

although they will export to DXF regardless:

* for track templates -- nothing can be shown which hasn't been generated; nothing can be printed which hasn't been generated; nothing can be exported which hasn't been generated. This does not apply to the background shapes, sketchboard, etc.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[AndyB]

Brilliant! Thanks Martin. I better save this so I can find it the next time.

I like the timber outlines because I extrude them to the required timber thickness (usually negative so that the top surface is the datum). Timber center lines are good to have too but easy enough to recreate from the timber outlines. In some situations I'll nudge a chair along the rail to keep the screw holes as far as possible from the edges of the timber. I'm not sure if that's really prototypical.

Thanks again,
Andy

 

[Martin Wynne]

@AndyB

p.s. Andy,

To save your generator settings between Templot sessions you can include them in your saved program preferences, if you are using them:

I usually recommend not including the generator settings, because it can get beginners in a terrible muddle. But that's up to you.

cheers,

Martin.