DXF to KNA

Version 1.01

Introduction

DXF2KNA.exe program converts layouts stored in the DXF file format and converts them to the KNA & CO's file format for the step and repeat machine. This program has a graphical interface that is used to examine and/or modify the layout data before it is stored in the step and repeat machine. The user has the option to examine each image and set parameters.

Requirements

The program has some simple requirements:

• The DXF file layout MUST place cross hair marks on the exact center of every image. Currently the program only searches for the cross hairs.
• The program must run on Windows95, Windows98, or Windows NT-4.0.

Operation

When the program is started, the opening screen appears as the one show above. The display has three major parts.

• Menu Bar. All functions are listed in the menu bar.
• Tool Bar. This is a short-cut to the more common functions. All of the tool bar functions are in the menu bar.
• Viewing area. This is where the drawing will appear (once loaded). The system starts up with a blank viewing area.

Basic Functionality

• The program begins with a blank screen. Select the 'file' option in the Menu Bar and open the DXF file. (NOTE: the dxf file must have cross hairs in the center of each image.)
• Once the layout is loaded, the screen will display all the cross hairs (which represents the center of each image) in the images. The program makes a guess on a layout order, this can be changed. See Layout Route.
• To modify any of the properties of any of the images, click the mouse on the proper cross hair. This will pop-up a window with all the changeable parameters.
• You must save the program to disk before you exit. Press the save button on the tool bar (The one that looks like a small disk) to save, or there is a save option on the file menu bar.

Table Settings

Setting the table size is done through the menu item "edit". The table setting is just for reference, the table size data is not stored in the KNA file. The default settings is a table 60 high and 40 wide with the origin at the bottom center. There is no restrictions on the table size.

Global Offset

The global offset will shift all the images, by a constant amount. This is used to move the image onto the XY table. The default is to center the loaded image on the table. The program calculates the image size and adjusts the global offset to center the image on the table.

Zoom

The zoom function allows the operator expand or contract the screen in order to see the layout better. One can set the zoom values one of two ways.

1. The menu bar has a menu option to set the scale factor and X,Y offset.
2. While holding down the "shift" and "Ctrl" keys on the keyboard at the same time, and pushing the left button on the mouse, the program will zoom up at the location of the mouse. Also while holding down the "shift" and "Ctrl" and the right-button of the mouse, the program will zoom-out at the point of the mouse.
3. In the zoom menu, there is a reset button. This will force the scale to 1.0 and a zero offset.

Layout Route

Altering the layout route requires that the operator select two points (cross hairs). The flow will travel from the first point selected to the second.

To select a point:

• place the mouse on the desired cross hair.
• hold down the "shift" key on the keyboard and push the left mouse button.
• The cross hair should turn red if it is selected.
• If you hold down the "shift" key and push the left-mouse button while the mouse is not on any cross hairs, the program will clear all selected points.

Select Starting Point

The starting point is the first image the step and repeat machine will move to first. The following images are processed in the order laid out by the green arrows. The starting point is represented with a solid black circle for the cross hair. To set the starting point, select "Edit Starting Point" under the "Edit" menu item on the Menu bar. If you select "OK", then the next cross hair you select with the left-mouse button will become the starting point.

Save Layout

The save option under the File menu

Known Problems

Here is a current list on known problems:

1. none