Tony, There is a bug in Adobe Illustrator when working between version 9 and other versions in Illustrator itself that relates to the ATTRIBUTE settings for curve "flatness." This attribute setting has its own pallet under the Window menu item. On the pallet, set the output value according to the resolution of the output device (e.g. 300 for a low level laser printer, raster (rip) output; 800 for higher end). The bug apparently relates to Adobe not passing this value successfully, instead allowing a very low value to default (50). Low values result in the curve being interpreted in a series of chords like the sides of a polygon. The larger number of chords used on the arc, the closer the appearance to a smooth curve.
Thus, whenever moving a file from Illustrator 9 to other graphic systems, always double check this parameter setting. It may go under different names in other software, but it controls the same characteristic in the curve interpretation. Larry Bohlayer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Moss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Sundial Mail List" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 5:43 AM Subject: Query > Fellow Shadow Watchers, > I've recently been using a combination of Adobe > Illustrator 9.0 and a local waterjet cutting company to profile large > dial components in stainless steel. The first, a 4ft diameter indented > plate, proceeded flawlessly and so lulled me into a false sense of > security which was brought to an abrupt halt yesterday. > > The components for a large meantime dial in 16mm thick stainless steel > consist mainly of blended flowing curves which Illustrator handles > perfectly. These were 'exported' as 'DXF' files which most CNC machines > can use to cut any complex profile. When my waterjet contractor imported > these into AutoCad on his PC they behaved perfectly and appeared on > screen just as I had designed them BUT, when placed in his toolpath > controlling software, small flat and wiggles appeared at widely-spaced > intervals. These can probably be 'tweaked' out by hand but suddenly a > beautiful process has become an unreliable niggling worry. > > Various 'fixes' were applied such as exporting the 'perfect' AutoCad > files in native form and re-importing them but the same blemishes > sprouted at the critical stage. One additional puzzle is that a > component with a central slot will have the slot displaced sideways. > > I would be delighted to receive any comments or suggestions from any > cognoscenti in these matters. One fly-in-the-ointment might be that I am > using Mac.OS9.2 on a G4. In that connection I would also be pleased to > learn of any appropriate CAD software for the MAC as I might have to > approach this with directly generated DXF files. Especially welcome > would be a specimen file which would put this MAC (not PC) software to > the test on my contractor's system with a DXF. I can send a PDF of the > sort of thing I need help with if anyone can assist. > > Hoping!!!!..... > > Tony Moss. > - -
