KB: How to Create a polygon from DXF outline
Created: October 09, 2024 | Updated: November 15, 2024
Altium Designer
Starting in version: 18
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How to create polygon from the DXF outline
Solution Details
Sometimes it's necessary to import a shape to get a precise polygon polygon shape. This article will provide the user with the information that is needed to perform this action as well as what to do when the board imports multiple objects from the DWG/DXF drawing.
Step 1: Importing the DWG/DXF
- To import a DWG/DXF go to File >> Import >> DXF/DWG
- It can be helpful to know the actual size of the drawing, to prevent any scaling issues
- once the correct settings have been chosen, select import.
Step 2: Converting the imported model
- Select all of the outside primitives and then navigate to Tools >> Convert >> Create Polygon from Selected Primitives
- Once imported, the DWG/DXF primitives will remain; if you don't need them, they can now be removed.
Step 3: Multiple polygon situation
- There can also be situations where the DWG/DXF that is imported has multiple polygons that are needed.
- There is another situation where the DXF/DWG can have inner and outer polygons that intersect, preventing a 'good' import.
- Both of these situations can be solved by separating the different items before converting.
- To do this, select the items that need their unions broken and navigate to Tools >> Convert >> Break all objects unions
- After this, the user will be enabled to separate the items or get the correct polygon; follow step two and create polygons from the imported objects.