EXPORT - Exporting files

Export the drawing to a DXF file from the Output tab, and the limits of the EXPORT command.

What it does

Exports a 2D drawing as a DXF file (R2018) for other CAD/CAM programs.

Where to find it

Ribbon: Output › Interchange › Export (Export DXF)
Menu: File › Export DXF...
Command line: EXPORT (aliases EXP, DXFOUT)

Steps

Click Output › Interchange › Export.
Name the .dxf file and click Save.

Note: In this 2D edition, the typed commands EXPORT and DXFOUT are for exporting 3D (STEP/IGES/STL) and report No 3D shape to export. Use the Export button on the Ribbon, or SAVEAS with the DXF type, instead. Special objects (Table, Multileader, Tolerance) are exploded into lines and text in the DXF.

Exporting other formats

To get	Use
DWG	SAVEAS
PDF	PLOT, PUBLISH
G-code	GCODE
Separate DXF sheets after nesting	NEST
CSV of a table	`TABLEEXPORT`, see TABLE
ZIP for sending	ETRANSMIT

Try it: Cable-entry gasket for the waterjet shop

A 160 x 80 rubber gasket that seals a cable-entry cut-out in an enclosure wall. The waterjet shop asks for a DXF, so you draw it and export it in under three minutes.

Outline with chamfered corners: Polyline - Closed Loop through 8,0 152,0 160,8 160,72 152,80 8,80 0,72 0,8, then Enter.
Cable opening: REC 25,25 → 110 Tab 30. Bolt holes: C radius 3.25 at 12,12, 148,12, 12,68 and 148,68.
Output › Interchange › Export, name the file cable_entry_gasket.dxf and click Save.
Open the DXF to check it: the same six closed shapes come back in millimetres, ready for the cutter. Add a DLI of 160 and a DVE of 64 between the corner flats if the shop wants a check size.

The exported gasket DXF opened again, with check dimensions 160 and 64

Challenge: Send the same gasket to an AutoCAD user as DWG with SAVEAS.