Bruce Westfall wrote:
Aaron Spike-2 wrote:
I know there are different formats used to send information to the cutters, would it be good to work on a more robust DXF export option too? I don't know the first thing out GSD, does does someone want to work on this ?
We've made some simple improvements to DXF recently and more can be made I'm sure. We just need to be more specific with what the problems are so that we can find solutions. Thanks to everyone who has worked on it lately.
Just wondering if there is a reason to decode the graphtec format when .ps files can be piped directly to the plotter? So far anything I draw is cut just fine without converting to curves.
There is a large body of existing work in the GSD and DXF formats. Ability to work with these files gives our users instant access to these assets. Also DXF is used as a interchange format for many applications. Properly supporting DXF (or even improperly supporting as we do now) gives our users the ability to interoperate with much of their other software.
The steps to get to cut are more than I like, but it works just fine. Largest so far was 44" tall and over 30 feet long stencil for painting a gym floor.
I really want to help get a "PLOT" button on Inkscape. With the extensions, it seems the ability to cut vinyl could just be an add-on. I'm here and willing to try out things until they work. Just really uneasy about DXF - I've had problems with that format for about 16 years now...
I don't believe it will remove the utility of supporting non-SVG file formats, but being able to cut directly from Inkscape is a fantastic goal. I invite you to research the issues, make some mockups, and experiment. There are a large number of users who would appreciate your work.
Aaron Spike