CAD question

[Larry Renger]

How can one get a .pdf file from a .dwg Autocad file?  Is there a conversion program out there somewhere?   

[Tim Wescott]

If you have Autocad, then get a PDF printer utility.  These things (they're out there for both Windows and Linux, probably Mac as well) will install themselves as a printer, then when you 'print' to them they'll generate a PDF file.

If you don't have Autocad, try Autocad's free viewer -- it may allow printing.  Or find a friend with Autocad and see if they'll print the thing out for you.

[bruce fraser]

You can open the DWG file using DraftSight (free software from the same outfit that makes Solidworks). You can edit, create new drawings, print etc. Works like AutoCad.

[builditright]

If you have Autocad, then get a PDF printer utility.  These things (they're out there for both Windows and Linux, probably Mac as well) will install themselves as a printer, then when you 'print' to them they'll generate a PDF file.

If you don't have Autocad, try Autocad's free viewer -- it may allow printing.  Or find a friend with Autocad and see if they'll print the thing out for you.

Tim is correct with his suggestion.

There's a downloadable work a like PDF program called "CutePDF"
 here is the link to download the program.

Though I have not attempted to do a full size plot from them it yet, it appears to work pretty good otherwise.

http://www.cutepdf.com/download/CuteWriter.exe


   attached is a sample of a conversion from CAD using this program

[proparc]

Larry, if your question is specifically, how to convert dwg to pdf then no problemo!! I will email you a program.

[Bob Kruger]

How can one get a .pdf file from a .dwg Autocad file?  Is there a conversion program out there somewhere?   

Larry;

The quickest way I know is to send me the dwg and tell me the paper size you wanted it printed on along with the lineweights.  I will "plot" one out in .pdf format and fire it back to you.

There are some freeware and shareware Adobe Acrobat Pro .pdf like utilities out there, but I have never had much good luck with them.  Being fortunate enough to have gotten a good deal on Adobe Acrobat Pro a few years ago, I tend to stick with it. 

V/r

Bob

[Alan Resinger]

Larry,
I use a pdf print program called doPDF.  You simply use your AutoCAD file and print it using doPDF as the printer/plotter.
Simple as that it saves the print as a pdf file.
Alan Resinger

[RogerGreene]

Cutepdf is a great software and will make any size you need of your plotter. I have used it for the last 4 years! It works in any software from CAD to what-ever because it is a type of virtual printer.

Roger

[Geoff Goodworth]

I used CutePDF with great success for quite a few years until I needed the extra capabilities of Acrobat Pro for work.

We still use CutePDF on the other computers in our small business.

Over several version upgrades, it has become much easier to install than the first versions I worked with.

[Larry Renger]

Thanks for all the great input!  I guess I wasn't clear on what I really needed.  I can plot out my .dwg files no problem.  I just need to make .pdf files to send to others who don't have Autocad.  I'll try your suggestions.

[Bob Kruger]

Thanks for all the great input!  I guess I wasn't clear on what I really needed.  I can plot out my .dwg files no problem.  I just need to make .pdf files to send to others who don't have Autocad.  I'll try your suggestions.

Larry;

I don't think they missed anything.  Generating pdf format files from CAD is not like turning a jpg file to tiff format, or something similar.  It is a multi-stepped configuration and generation process that can be a bit complicated.

To create a PDF format file, you have to load a driver or program onto your system that acts like a printer or plotter.  Once the driver is loaded, it actually shows up as one of your "Printers and Faxes", just like an HP Plotter would.  When you go to output from the CAD program, you "print" or "plot" to the PDF generation driver that shows up in your "Printers and Faxes".  This processes the CAD file output and then routes driver output to a pdf file.  So, if you are using Adobe Acrobat Pro, once loaded properly, to create the pdf file you would print or plot to a printer named Adobe PDF.  This CAD program output will be processed by the corresponding Adobe PDF driver just like if you were sending it to an HP Plotter.  However, once the output from the CAD program is processed by the PDF output driver, it sends then sends it to a PDF format file with whatever name you want to give it rather than to a physical plotter.  At that point you now have an Adobe format file rather than a hard copy paper plan that can then be distributed as you see fit.

It seems simple, but can get a little complicated.  You have to configure the PDF generation program to insure that the paper size and orientation are correct, lest you run into scaling or clipping problems.  Take a look at the file generated by my good friend Walt Umland above using CutePDF, which is a printer driver/program that works like Adobe Acrobat Pro.  You can see that the borders do not correspond with the paper size and orientation.  He plotted a plan that should be about 56" x 36" (in Landscape format) to 8 1/2" x 10" in a Portrait format.  Now, if you just want to send the files generated to your friends for their review and comment, you can get away with that. But, if you want to generate PDF format files that they can take to a print shop and have plotted out accurately to scale on standard sized paper, it won't.

Note - This is not a swipe at Walter, but it does show how many steps that must be executed in correct order are involved with generating an accurately sized PDF file from a CAD file, regardless of CAD format (dxf, dwg, etc).  Our work over the past eight or nine years together have shown that I know how to make an error with each and every one - numerous times...

CutePDF works well enough, but it can be tricky.  So, I stick to my copy of Adobe Acrobat Pro.  Getting scaling, paper orientation, and paper sizes correct can be frustrating and time consuming.  And, we haven't even gotten into line coloration and sizing...

Hence, my offer stands.  If you want some DWGs exported to Adobe PDF format for full size printing, I will be glad to assist.  

Whatever your decision, best of luck.  

V/r

Bob Kruger

[jim ivey]

darn larry I thought you meant cad plating. 1 or  2.  cad 1 id clear cad 2 is gold.   jim

[Joseph Lijoi]

Depending on what version of Acad you have, I think you can open the DWG file and go to the pulldown File/SaveAs.  The dialog box that appears for file locations also has file types. Scroll down, pick PDF and save as.

[Bob Kruger]

Depending on what version of Acad you have, I think you can open the DWG file and go to the pulldown File/SaveAs.  The dialog box that appears for file locations also has file types. Scroll down, pick PDF and save as.

Joseph;

Which version of AutoCAD are you refering to?

Bob

[Larry Cunningham]

Well, of course Acrobat Writer (even an older version like mine) configures a virtual printer and you simply "plot" from AutoCAD to that printer. Newer versions of AutoCAD may offer a direct PDF output capability; my ancient AutoCAD LT 2000 has no such feature.

With the Acrobat Writer virtual printer you can create a PDF output from any program that prints. Like most Adobe software, Acrobat Writer is a bit expensive, so free utilities are appealing.

L.

"Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail." -Richard Friedman

[Bob Kruger]

Well, of course Acrobat Writer (even an older version like mine) configures a virtual printer and you simply "plot" from AutoCAD to that printer. Newer versions of AutoCAD may offer a direct PDF output capability; my ancient AutoCAD LT 2000 has no such feature.

With the Acrobat Writer virtual printer you can create a PDF output from any program that prints. Like most Adobe software, Acrobat Writer is a bit expensive, so free utilities are appealing.

L.

"Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail." -Richard Friedman

Larry;

CuteWriter from CutePDF that Walt Umland mentions above works well, but can be a little tricky to set up, especially with custom paper sizes and orientation.  And, its hard to beat the price once you get past the initial learning curve.  Uses the same principal as Adobe Acrobat Writer, e.g. sets up a virtual printer and then send the output to a file.

Between CuteWriter and Progecad, modelers actually have both an AutoCAD workalike (same basic look, feel, and commands) and PDF generation capability that is free for non commercial use.  Who would have ever thought 20 years ago....?

V/r

Bob

[John Harold]

Thanks for all the great input!  I guess I wasn't clear on what I really needed.  I can plot out my .dwg files no problem.  I just need to make .pdf files to send to others who don't have Autocad.  I'll try your suggestions.

I use CadStd Lite, a free downloadable CAD program,that comes with an Export command to several formats, including PDF.

http://www.cadstd.com/

[Larry Cunningham]

Hi Bob,

I agree, the quality of modern shareware is rather awesome. Progecad looks particularly appealing; I see the "pro" version which you can use for commercial purposes is under $500 (AUDs = 1.049..USDs currently), which is a lot less than AutoCAD in any form. Who'da thunk it back when I was farting with a Model I TRS-80, cassette tape mass storage and a 9" RCA black and white TV monitor?

At this point, I'm just an old dog (64 now) who doesn't learn new tricks so well, so I'm stuck in my own ruts by design. But a young whipper snapper like you still has a working left lobe and can really take advantage of this stuff. My left lobe is severely damaged nowadays from the alcohol and drugs and bacon fat and cigarette smoke; unfortunately when it worked I wasted it disassembling TRS-80 BASIC and TRSDOS.

Now I'm retired and my excuse is I don't have a company supplying me newer CAD software any more.

(..so I got that goin' for me. ;-> )

L.

"A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-lagunga. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice." -Carl Spackler, Caddy Shack

[Bob Kruger]

If I was going to buy a commercial quality Autocad workalike new, it would be BricsCAD, which can be had for $316 from CadDepot.  There are a few things it doesn't do as well as AutoCAD, but for the money is hard to beat.

The one I think has the most potential but, being an older dog (I am not that far behind you, and remember the TRS 80), learning a new interface is difficult, is Turbocad.  You can regularly find the previous release for sale on Ebay stores for less than $50.  I keep a copy I bought years ago for $20 just to be able to do some sizing of airfoils prior to lofting and sectioning that you just can't do that easilly with Autocad or its workalikes.  I just wish it had a drop in Autocad command interface that gave the same look, feel, and functionality.  Everytime I use it its like I am trying to teach myself Hungarian while doing CAD.  Someone has made a "low fat" version with a somewhat Autocad look and feel called DoubleCAD, and its freeware as well.  But, the look at feel is at best 50%..., so the functionality I would like to have is missing.

For those of us who learned with command line OSs, there is something very simple about just dropping down to the command line box, typing in "offset", specify the distance, then off to the races.  Doing that with icons (for me) is very clunky and inefficient. 

Still, Turbocad gives great value for the money if you can make it work efficiently.  It even allows 3D lofting and sectioning, something very handy for making airfoils.

V/r

Bob

Hi Bob,

I agree, the quality of modern shareware is rather awesome. Progecad looks particularly appealing; I see the "pro" version which you can use for commercial purposes is under $500 (AUDs = 1.049..USDs currently), which is a lot less than AutoCAD in any form. Who'da thunk it back when I was farting with a Model I TRS-80, cassette tape mass storage and a 9" RCA black and white TV monitor?

At this point, I'm just an old dog (64 now) who doesn't learn new tricks so well, so I'm stuck in my own ruts by design. But a young whipper snapper like you still has a working left lobe and can really take advantage of this stuff. My left lobe is severely damaged nowadays from the alcohol and drugs and bacon fat and cigarette smoke; unfortunately when it worked I wasted it disassembling TRS-80 BASIC and TRSDOS.

Now I'm retired and my excuse is I don't have a company supplying me newer CAD software any more.

(..so I got that goin' for me. ;-> )

L.

"A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-lagunga. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice." -Carl Spackler, Caddy Shack

[pat king]

If I was going to buy a commercial quality Autocad workalike new, it would be BricsCAD, which can be had for $316 from CadDepot.  There are a few things it doesn't do as well as AutoCAD, but for the money is hard to beat.

The one I think has the most potential but, being an older dog (I am not that far behind you, and remember the TRS 80), learning a new interface is difficult, is Turbocad.  You can regularly find the previous release for sale on Ebay stores for less than $50.  I keep a copy I bought years ago for $20 just to be able to do some sizing of airfoils prior to lofting and sectioning that you just can't do that easilly with Autocad or its workalikes.  I just wish it had a drop in Autocad command interface that gave the same look, feel, and functionality.  Everytime I use it its like I am trying to teach myself Hungarian while doing CAD.  Someone has made a "low fat" version with a somewhat Autocad look and feel called DoubleCAD, and its freeware as well.  But, the look at feel is at best 50%..., so the functionality I would like to have is missing.

For those of us who learned with command line OSs, there is something very simple about just dropping down to the command line box, typing in "offset", specify the distance, then off to the races.  Doing that with icons (for me) is very clunky and inefficient. 

Still, Turbocad gives great value for the money if you can make it work efficiently.  It even allows 3D lofting and sectioning, something very handy for making airfoils.

V/r

Bob

Bob,
Dassault Systems ( the people who make Catia and Solidworks) have free 2D software that is good. It is DraftSight, it will open or save as all AutoCad .dwg formats and all Autocad .dxf formats. The price is right and it is good software.

Pat

[proparc]

Bob,
Dassault Systems ( the people who make Catia and Solidworks) have free 2D software that is good. It is DraftSight, it will open or save as all AutoCad .dwg formats and all Autocad .dxf formats. The price is right and it is good software.

Pat

I use it. Good Stuff.

[Joseph Lijoi]

The file formats for ACAD LT may be different.  I have only worked on professional versions of Autocad, not LT.  Professional ACAD is a DWG file.  I think LT is DWF. 
You may be able to use this link to get free software that will print your PDF from a DWF:

 http://usa.autodesk.com/design-review/ 

Open the file as a DWF and print as a PDF.

I have no experience with LT so listen to the guys who do.  Both Dussault and Siemans (SolidWorks and SolidEdge) offer free
2D Software.  This is a selling tool to get people to move to 3D CAD.  Good luck to you. 

[Bob Kruger]

Autocad LT works on DWG, DXF, etc. 

As for 2D vs 3D, 2D handles 95% of what I need to do in CAD for models.  The only real benefit I see for doing plans and having 3D is lofting airfoils between a root and tip rib.  The only design I ever put into CAD that I needed 3D for the fuse was the "Galloping Comedian". 

The only problem I have seen with ACAD LT is that the price is creeping upwards significantly.  They are very proud of their product...

3D is nice to have, but my experience is the time spent working it is not worth the time for most model airplane apps.  That could be my initial training so many years ago was at a drafting table with a T-Square, triangles, compasses, protractors, and french curves.  I've met some people who claimed they were proficient with 3D, and they got results, but the time spent was significant.

I guess it all depends on where you want to get to and what you want from the CAD program.

At any rate, to get to where Larry wanted when he started this thread, there are a number of freeware options that allow a model designer to CAD and print/export to PDF without an outlay of cash - just time needed to master it.

V/r

Bob

The file formats for ACAD LT may be different.  I have only worked on professional versions of Autocad, not LT.  Professional ACAD is a DWG file.  I think LT is DWF. 
You may be able to use this link to get free software that will print your PDF from a DWF:

 http://usa.autodesk.com/design-review/ 

Open the file as a DWF and print as a PDF.

I have no experience with LT so listen to the guys who do.  Both Dussault and Siemans (SolidWorks and SolidEdge) offer free
2D Software.  This is a selling tool to get people to move to 3D CAD.  Good luck to you.