Sink DXF question

[ash20ash]

I'm ready to start putting sink DXF's into my system. Build a library as I go I guess.

Just trying to prepare for when we do get our cnc. One less thing to do then.

Whats the best place to start getting these. And what kinda things do I need to start "practicing" on and "learning" so that I have some knowledge of whats going on when the machine finally does get here.

Basically..........give me "sink DXF for dummies" if possible.

[Rick George]

Our library is getting quite large and your always welcome to ask for that tough to find dxf. We started by downloading the required dxf from the manufacturers website and modifying the file to fit our needs and then save it in our file. After every job, your file just keeps growing and you will only need to create each file once and then its very easy to import them into your drawings. Most reputable sink manufacturers have real good cad files to download. If you can't find them on their website, we will call the manufacturer and have had good luck with most, but you will always have your SFA bro's to help you out which has gotten us out of numerous jams!!

One tip though, I ALWAYS check every sink dxf against the actual sink BEFORE putting it into the cad drawing and cutting it! Sinks do vary and change from time to time and you will save yourself an enormous headache by just getting in the practice of ALWAYS checking EVERY sink before checking... Don't ask how I know this

Also, every manufacturers dxf files have different reveals whether its negative, positive or flush and this is your opportunity to check this and adjust the file to have the reveal that you prefer.

Just a thought... I imagine I could copy my sink library onto a flash drive for someone else to download??? Or is that too big of a file??? Sorry, I'm computer illiterate most of the time??? Also, most of my sinks were drawn as a .tag file (exclusevely for Intermac) and I am slowly changing them to .dxf files.

Sorry for rambling... hope some of this helps! Call, email, PM anytime if you need some help with this!

[Brian_Stone]

Just a thought... I imagine I could copy my sink library onto a flash drive for someone else to download??? Or is that too big of a file???

that would be very possible since most dxf and dwg files are only about 100-300 kb. You could easily fit a couple thousand sink cutout files on a 1gb memory stick.

[Brian_Stone]

Since someone will probably ask...

There are 1024 kilobytes (kb) in 1 megabyte (mb) and 1024 megabytes in 1 gigabyte (gb)

That means that there are 1,048,576 kb in a gb.

If every sink file is 500kb then you could theoretically fit 2097 files on a 1gb stick. I say theoretically because a 1gb memory stick never has a full 1gb of space.

[Marmi Natural Stone]

You're going to want to get dxf files for any sinks that you sell, obviously, and the popular ones that you do often, like Kohlers, Blancos, etc. You can save them and rename them "flush", "with overhang", or "with reveal" depending on how you offer your sink cutouts. If you're going to do T31 slots on your machine, you can place your clips on your popular dxfs and drop it all in when programming a top.

We bring our sinks to the shop and measure each one and check it against the dxf. There's an old saying "Measure twice, cut once". When you get a new dxf, you may want to print plastic or cut a piece of scrap first before cutting a top.

Some of the dxf files from the manufacturers will have broken or missing segments or too many little lines and you'll have to clean up their file. In EasyStone, if the software won't let you offset the cutout, the drawing has a break somewhere.

The SFA is a great place to get dxfs. Start downloading all the ones that are posted in the dxf section. If you run across something that you don't have, just ask. Chances are someone has done it before. Occasionally you'll get a no-name sink and you'll have to digitize it or draw it yourself.

[ash20ash]

Ok. Cool.

So, my once I get the dxf , I should cut the vynil and save for checking each job there after? Do you still lay the vynil on each sink before programing? Seems like overkill. Thats honestly probably what I'll do for a while anyway as thats what we do even manually cutting them.

I guess a sink could change after time with out an updated dxf?

[Anna Almonte]

Good Thread!!!

[james d]

Ok. Cool.

So, my once I get the dxf , I should cut the vynil and save for checking each job there after? Do you still lay the vynil on each sink before programing? Seems like overkill. Thats honestly probably what I'll do for a while anyway as thats what we do even manually cutting them.

I guess a sink could change after time with out an updated dxf?

They can change a little we check everyone because 50 cents vs 200 dollar mistake
is a no brainer when we screw something up it is usally cause we assumed ass u me d

[Marmi Natural Stone]

I cut plastic each time I do a new sink that I haven't machined before. And that's regardless of whether I get the dxf from a manufacturer, the SFA, or draw it myself. Once I confirm the cutout with the plastic, I save my file for future use. From then on, when I get a new job, I check my digital library to see if I have done that sink before. I open the sink box and make a quick sketch on paper with dimensions left-to-right and front-to-back and the radius size in the corners. I can then compare my sketch with my dxf.

The steel sinks stay fairly consistent. The china vanity sinks can vary quite a bit in size from box to box. It does take me some extra time to sketch my sink and check my dxf file, but I'd rather be a little slower and have it be right.

[Rick George]

We do just about exactly as John has mentioned. We don't check every sink with the template, but do double check dimensions every time to confirm manufacturer hasn't changed anything. This is a quick double check to potentially save you thousands if you were to cut it wrong!

[ash20ash]

Thanks guys/gals.

I'm very anal about checking the temp to the sink. Its so easy to grab the wrong one doing it manually. Seems like it could be even easier digitally. One wrong click..................BAM! $ out the window.

[ChrisYaughn]

Chris
We check sinks with a tape measure, the dxf, and the sink. Rarely an issue that should not have been caught by a good fabricator .

One thing to watch for is set backs and squareness to the front edge. If your templating device doesn;t square you up to the "screen". When you drop in setbacks or centerlines, the center of the sink can drift a little. Can't remember if you are using an older LT or not, but if you are. Sometiems the centerline doesn't get drop in the center of the "cross". But off to the side a little. Sometimes it is hard to catch on the PDA. FWIW

[Lake Granite]

Chris,
I will send you a copy of my library whenever you are ready for it, I have 1510 sinks as of this morning and is constantly growing a little more every week, but like mentioned above always check you files!!! Just pm me when you get ready for your machine, I am always happy to help someone out ( thanks to all the guys that helped me when I started into the digital world a couple of years ago!!), that's what this place is all about

[ash20ash]

Thanks Jeremy.

This place amazes me more and more

[Joe Durfee]

You guys can always asked me, our library is 1,629 files as of this morning. I upload them to the DXF files room. If you post in there, I subscribed to that forum so I get an email.