DXF import error

Layout
1

I’m trying to import my edge cut file into Kicad and I am getting this error.

Screenshot 2025-04-16 113010
Screenshot 2025-04-16 113010566×642 24.6 KB

I tried it with and without the fix discontinuities option and it doesn’t work either way.

I created the edge cut file based on a dxf of my components that I exported from Kicad. This has worked for me before. But I must be doing something wrong now because I completely remade the edge cut DXF and the error still occurs. I also tried two different CAD DXF exports (fusion and draftsight).

2

Here is a screenshot of the DXF

Screenshot 2025-04-16 122325
Screenshot 2025-04-16 1223252568×1400 149 KB

3

From the error message, it doesn’t seem to be complaining about the contour but the size, it even let you know the maximum possible scale, try importing again using 0.5 instead of 1.0 as scale an check the results

4

Thank you for the suggestion. I went ahead and tried that, but it didn’t work. Just changed the max scale allowed in the error message.

Screenshot 2025-04-16 131453
Screenshot 2025-04-16 131453563×650 24.4 KB

5

Use the Help>About Kicad>Copy Info button and paste your Kicad information here, also if you want share your DXF, in this way someone could test in their system.

6

Thanks for your help. I dug into this some more and the dxf that were working for me were created in inches. So I plotted another dxf from Kicad in inches this time, and remade the edge cuts again. Now this inches based DXF worked and imported fine.

Not sure why this would be especially considering I’m working in Kicad in mm like the dxf that weren’t working.

I’m using the stable release Kicad 9.0.1 for reference.

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7

I use DXF import pretty frequently in mm without problems, if you will like to give it a try I am attaching a DXF file created by me in FreeCAD to see how it behaves in your system. However I am using a test build of what would be v9.0.2, see information below.

grafik

grafik
grafik702×688 8.22 KB

FPC_Drawing_v6.2-BodySketch.dxf (17.2 KB)

Application: KiCad PCB Editor x64 on x64

Version: 9.0.1-152-g2cebea3b04, release build

Libraries:
	wxWidgets 3.2.6
	FreeType 2.13.3
	HarfBuzz 10.2.0
	FontConfig 2.15.0
	libcurl/8.11.1-DEV Schannel zlib/1.3.1

Platform: Windows 10 (build 19045), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
OpenGL: ATI Technologies Inc., AMD Radeon (TM) Graphics, 4.6.0 Compatibility Profile Context 24.9.1.240813

Build Info:
	Date: Apr 14 2025 05:44:55
	wxWidgets: 3.2.6 (wchar_t,wx containers)
	Boost: 1.86.0
	OCC: 7.8.1
	Curl: 8.11.1-DEV
	ngspice: 44
	Compiler: Visual C++ 1942 without C++ ABI
	KICAD_IPC_API=ON

Locale: 
	Lang: en_GB
	Enc: UTF-8
	Num: 1,234.5
	Encoded кΩ丈: D0BACEA9E4B888 (sys), D0BACEA9E4B888 (utf8)
8

Your file imported for me perfectly. Here is my kicad info.

The file I exported from Fusion that didn’t work was imported to fusion from Draftsight. So maybe the problem is with Draftsight? Draftsight is where I made all the dxf files in both mm and inches.

Application: KiCad PCB Editor x64 on x64

Version: 9.0.0, release build

Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.2.6
FreeType 2.13.3
HarfBuzz 10.2.0
FontConfig 2.15.0
libcurl/8.11.1-DEV Schannel zlib/1.3.1

Platform: Windows 11 (build 26100), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
OpenGL: NVIDIA Corporation, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER/PCIe/SSE2, 4.6.0 NVIDIA 572.83

Build Info:
Date: Feb 19 2025 17:46:53
wxWidgets: 3.2.6 (wchar_t,wx containers)
Boost: 1.86.0
OCC: 7.8.1
Curl: 8.11.1-DEV
ngspice: 44
Compiler: Visual C++ 1942 without C++ ABI
KICAD_IPC_API=ON

Locale:
Lang: en_US
Enc: UTF-8
Num: 1,234.5
Encoded кΩ丈: D0BACEA9E4B888 (sys), D0BACEA9E4B888 (utf8)

9

there were many bugfixes between v9.0.0 and v9.0.1, not sure of the DXF problem is one of them, but you should give it a try with the newest version.

10

Thank you very much. That fixed it for me

1 Like