7/26/2023 0 Comments Inkscape laser cutting![]() ![]() We’ll do a final double check by using the View > Display Mode > Outline command, and it’s definitely correct. Now we use the Path > Combine command, followed by the Path > Union command.Īll of these shapes have now been combined into a single object ready for laser cutting with Ponoko. ![]() First, we’ll select all the shapes that we’ve laid over each other. So now we have something vaguely arty – let’s turn it into a single object for laser cutting. We’ll open a new Ponoko template – and create a collection of overlapping shapes which are formatted for laser cutting with Ponoko… Let’s go through this process one last time. Once again, this a true representation of what will be laser cut – and this time it’s what we want. Now when we change to View > Display Mode > Outline, we can see that these letters and the rectangle below are truly a single vector object. We then use the Path > Combine command – which combines these shapes into a single unit.įinally, we use the Path > Union command to turn all of these separate shapes into a single path running around the outside of them, and to remove all the lines which would otherwise separate them. The first thing we do is select all of the shapes we want to combine together. The white fills I placed over these cutting lines would be ignored, and the lines underneath them would still be cut. When it comes to cutting lines and vector engraving lines, the laser cutter will cut or engrave them anywhere they are present in the design – even if they are covered by something else. What I have done instead is place white fills over the blue lines in my design that I do not want cut out – which unfortunately would not have worked. In this case, what it has revealed is that these letters and this rectangle are not truly connected. This ‘Outline View’ reveals the true vector content of a file – and lets us know what will actually be made. However – if we change our view mode using View > Display Mode > Outline – you can see that all is not what it seems. There is a thin blue line which traces around the letters on the top, and a rectangular base on the bottom. To do this, we’ll be using two key menu commands:īefore we look at this process in greater detail, lets check out an example of shapes in Illustrator which have been combined incorrectly for laser cutting with Ponoko.Īt first glance, this looks perfect for laser cutting. Hi – this is Josh from Ponoko – and today I want to show you how to combine shapes in Inkscape for laser cutting. If you’ve watched the Illustrator video, you may experience a sense of deja vu – the main difference here in what commands to use in Inkscape, and where they can be found. ![]() You'll get another window of export options, make sure the Base unit setting is mm, Use ROBO-Master type of spline output is unticked (this can cause problems with curves) and then hit OK.Two weeks ago I posted a video tutorial for combining shapes in Illustrator for laser cutting, and I wanted to make sure that our large number of Inkscape users had the same technique available to them… Inkscape can write DXF files, just go to File → Save As…, or File → Save a Copy… and select Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14)(*.dxf) from the list of filetypes (it's near the bottom) The laser cutter does a reasonable job of importing DXF files, so that's our preferred format for importing. ![]() It may appear that nothing has happened, but in fact your objects are now paths and you're ready to export to the laser cutter! This is easy to fix: select all of your drawing ( Edit → Select all, or +A) and then run Path → Object to Path. The laser cutter software only imports paths, not Inkscape objects, so if you don't convert then you might lose objecty things like rounded boxes and text. Before exporting, make sure to convert all objects to paths. ![]()
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