Equipment/Laser Cutter Inkscape - Revision history

Mat-c: added export notes

2018-02-08T13:04:32Z

added export notes

Mat-c: /* Preferences */

2016-01-16T23:34:58Z

‎Preferences

Mat-c: /* Page and grid setup */

2016-01-16T23:34:41Z

‎Page and grid setup

Danieljabailey: /* Exporting */ Added note about export setting

2015-09-13T13:57:27Z

‎Exporting: Added note about export setting

Mat-c: /* Rounded rectangles */

2015-09-02T01:49:35Z

‎Rounded rectangles

Mat-c: /* Page and grid setup */

2015-09-02T01:49:03Z

‎Page and grid setup

Mat-c: made default svg file more clear

2014-10-24T20:26:47Z

made default svg file more clear

Mat-c: added default inkscape file

2014-10-24T20:25:46Z

added default inkscape file

Mat-c: add

2014-10-03T18:18:22Z

add

Mat-c: /* Page and grid setup */

2014-01-20T02:38:10Z

‎Page and grid setup

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ==Exporting==
-In the latest version of inkscape you have an option from ''''File->Save As'''' to save as ''''Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)''''. With the default options this seems to work perfectly with the laser, dimensions are preserved etc. If you don't have this option upgrade your version of inkscape, it appeared some point over the last month or two.
+In the latest version of inkscape you have an option from ''''File->Save As'''' to save as ''''Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)''''. With the default options this seems to work perfectly with the laser, dimensions are preserved etc.  (Default = nothing ticked.  Ticking boxes is bad for exporting).
 Note, 'default options' means export unit is set to mm.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 16 January 2016
Line 23:		Line 23:

	0.91 is latest and greatest. It very occasionally crashes (PC) compared to previous version (rock steady). Worth upgrading. Has newer image tracing options, but best of all, you can put formulae into its number boxes. So if your circle is as 0.543 mm and you want to move it right 1mm you can edit it to 0.543+1 mm and it sorts it all out for you. Also *2, /2, etc are handy for scaling.		0.91 is latest and greatest. It very occasionally crashes (PC) compared to previous version (rock steady). Worth upgrading. Has newer image tracing options, but best of all, you can put formulae into its number boxes. So if your circle is as 0.543 mm and you want to move it right 1mm you can edit it to 0.543+1 mm and it sorts it all out for you. Also *2, /2, etc are handy for scaling.
−
−	~~==Preferences==~~
−
−	Find step and change it to something sensible like 0.5 mm. (Edit -> Preferences -> Behaviour -> Steps). Also change to inset/outset to 0.075 (ie half laser kerf). Now you have a 1mm grid and 0.5mm nudge increments. Shift-arrows give 5mm increments.

	==General hints==		==General hints==

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 16 January 2016
Line 13:		Line 13:

	This is a (zipped) default inkscape document (mm as default and 1mm/1cm grid) [[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip]]		This is a (zipped) default inkscape document (mm as default and 1mm/1cm grid) [[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip]]
		+
		+	==Preferences setup==
		+
		+	Interface -> Grids. Set to origin 0, Spacing 1mm, major grid ever 10 (as above for the default document)
		+
		+	Behaviour -> Steps. This is a personal preference but I (Mat) prefer Arrow Keys Move By to 0.5mm. With a 1mm grid and 0.5mm nudging I get a 1mm grid with optional 0.5mm positioning. Inset/Outset I set to 0.075mm which matches half the laser cutter kerf.

	==Version 0.91==		==Version 0.91==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 13 September 2015
Line 59:		Line 59:

	In the latest version of inkscape you have an option from ''''File->Save As'''' to save as ''''Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)''''. With the default options this seems to work perfectly with the laser, dimensions are preserved etc. If you don't have this option upgrade your version of inkscape, it appeared some point over the last month or two.		In the latest version of inkscape you have an option from ''''File->Save As'''' to save as ''''Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)''''. With the default options this seems to work perfectly with the laser, dimensions are preserved etc. If you don't have this option upgrade your version of inkscape, it appeared some point over the last month or two.
		+
		+	Note, 'default options' means export unit is set to mm.

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ==Rounded rectangles==
-If you try to use these the cutter will largely ignore them. Use the ''''Path->Object to Path'''' to convert them into a generic path before exporting.
+If you try to use these the cutter will largely ignore them. Use the ''''Path->Object to Path'''' to convert them into a generic path before exporting.  Same for all boxes and circles.
 Alternatively, enable the "use ROBO-Master type of spline output" (an option during saving) if your version of Inkscape supports it.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:49, 2 September 2015
Line 13:		Line 13:

	This is a (zipped) default inkscape document (mm as default and 1mm/1cm grid) [[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip]]		This is a (zipped) default inkscape document (mm as default and 1mm/1cm grid) [[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip]]
		+
		+	==Version 0.91==
		+
		+	0.91 is latest and greatest. It very occasionally crashes (PC) compared to previous version (rock steady). Worth upgrading. Has newer image tracing options, but best of all, you can put formulae into its number boxes. So if your circle is as 0.543 mm and you want to move it right 1mm you can edit it to 0.543+1 mm and it sorts it all out for you. Also *2, /2, etc are handy for scaling.
		+
		+	==Preferences==
		+
		+	Find step and change it to something sensible like 0.5 mm. (Edit -> Preferences -> Behaviour -> Steps). Also change to inset/outset to 0.075 (ie half laser kerf). Now you have a 1mm grid and 0.5mm nudge increments. Shift-arrows give 5mm increments.

	==General hints==		==General hints==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 Now save your document as "MyDefaultInkscapeDocument" and use it to start every project you work on :)
-[[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip | Zipped default inkscape doc with mm set and 1mm/1cm grid created]]
+This is a (zipped) default inkscape document (mm as default and 1mm/1cm grid) [[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip]]
 ==General hints==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:25, 24 October 2014
Line 11:		Line 11:

	Now save your document as "MyDefaultInkscapeDocument" and use it to start every project you work on :)		Now save your document as "MyDefaultInkscapeDocument" and use it to start every project you work on :)
		+
		+	[[File:DefaultInkscape01.zip \| Zipped default inkscape doc with mm set and 1mm/1cm grid created]]

	==General hints==		==General hints==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 A selection of hints to get the best out of Inkscape with our laser cutter. This applies to Inkscape 0.48.4.x and later, if you have an earlier version you should upgrade.
 ==Outline mode==
@@ Line 31: / Line 49: @@
 In the latest version of inkscape you have an option from ''''File->Save As'''' to save as ''''Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)''''. With the default options this seems to work perfectly with the laser, dimensions are preserved etc. If you don't have this option upgrade your version of inkscape, it appeared some point over the last month or two.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:38, 20 January 2014
Line 34:		Line 34:
	==Page and grid setup==		==Page and grid setup==

−	I find it easiest to get a sense of how big the piece is going to be if I set the page dimensions to those of the laser cutting bed, i.e. 900x600mm. You can do this from ''''File->Document Properties...'''' then entering a custom size, remember to change units to mm. At the same point you can create a grid, I use a 1cm grid with 1mm minor lines - select the ''''Grids'''' tab and click ''''New'''' to create a new rectangular grid, for the one I use set units to mm, spacing to 1 and major grid line every 10. I change the colours so I can see the major grid lines even when zoomed in fully. By default Inkscape won't actually use the grid, the buttons on the far right allow you to enable snap (first button from the top), to bounding boxes (second from top and subsequent four) and path nodes (the next group down). If you're not getting the snapping behaviour you expect play with turning these on. When snapping to path points it'll use the point closest to your mouse when you're dragging, so it matters where on the path you click!	+	Set the default units (file->preferences) to mm. Then design everything in mm. These are preserved in dxf (choose mm as the units) and you won't have to resize in the laser software.
		+
		+	I find it easiest to get a sense of how big the piece is going to be if I set the page dimensions to those of the laser cutting bed, i.e. 900x600mm. You can do this from ''''File->Document Properties...'''' then entering a custom size, remember to change units to mm.
		+
		+	At the same point you can create a grid, I use a 1cm grid with 1mm minor lines - select the ''''Grids'''' tab and click ''''New'''' to create a new rectangular grid, for the one I use set units to mm, spacing to 1 and major grid line every 10. I change the colours so I can see the major grid lines even when zoomed in fully. By default Inkscape won't actually use the grid, the buttons on the far right allow you to enable snap (first button from the top), to bounding boxes (second from top and subsequent four) and path nodes (the next group down). If you're not getting the snapping behaviour you expect play with turning these on. When snapping to path points it'll use the point closest to your mouse when you're dragging, so it matters where on the path you click!