Help needed - AUTOCAD / .dwg file - how to find dimensions of a straight line?

[knight2001dts]

Hi!

I had some drawings done recently for an arcade cabinet design (.DWG format)

I've found someone to cut them out for me nice and cheaply, but they need to know the dimensions in between the arc's of the corners / curves of the cabinet.

I'm a complete nuffy when it comes to AUTOCAD - I know NOTHING about it….

I have loaded the .DWG file into Adobe Illustrator, and I can "select" each straight line element (4 of them), but I need to know the length of each line so that this information can be manually put into some old CNC cutting software. (The software the cutter is using does not accept a file of this type apparently)

Is there anyone here who is laughing at how easy this sounds?


I hope so!!!!!!!


I can send through the drawing to anyone who thinks they might be able to help - it is just the side of an arcade cabinet that has a few rounded corners.



CHEERS!

[lsemmens]

Not sure if this will work but, can you load the file into and measure it from there? Are you familiar with sketchup? It's a freebie (Sketchup Make) and I find it does everything I ever did in Autocad (20 years ago).

[tristen]

I have occasionally used Autocad some years ago but am no expert.

I do know that there are various versions of .dwg depending on which version of Autocad was used to produce the file.

Drafting programs other than Autocad can also produce .dwg files.

There are also programs which can be used to convert dwg files to other formats.

Before anyone can offer assistance, we need to know what file format the CNC machine requires.

I wonder if the dwg file you currently have is "drawn to scale" or merely to illustrate a shape.

There are many CNC experts over at CNC Zone dot com who will be able to advise you better.

[koshari]

You can likely open the drawing in free librecad and use the rulet function to add dimensions

[tristen]

Further to my post above, you should be able to open the dwg file in Autodesk DWG TrueView, which is a free download from . No registration or $$ is necessary.

You will need to install it on a computer running Windows 7 or upwards.

Once the program is installed, you can use it to open the dwg file (and access the dimensions you require).

[knight2001dts]

Thanks for all the replies

I'm going to try a few suggestions out and see how it goes.

Thankyou for your help!!!

It never ceases to amaze me the knowledge on this forum!!!!

CHEERS!!

Knight

[knight2001dts]

Just an update - I used the DWG True View software, and it worked a treat

It highlights the end points on the line, and when selected, gives the exact dimensions I was after…..

Thankyou!!!

PROBLEM SOLVED!

[tristen]

Just an update - I used the DWG True View software, and it worked a treat

Good. It's a very useful program to have on hand when dealing with cad drawings.

It highlights the end points on the line, and when selected, gives the exact dimensions I was after…..

Thankyou!!!

PROBLEM SOLVED!

I'm glad that you worked how to use the program, particularly how to measure the dimensions required.

File the information away for future reference.

Thanks for the update.