I know that there is at least one utility that will convert .dxf to .svg. However, is there one that will convert going the other way, from .svg (or a bitmap) to .dxf? I am looking for something open source, if possible. I have found a couple of shareware windows only programs.
The end goal is this: To be able to scan something, convert it to a .dxf file which will then be converted for a Trumpf laser cutter to cut that shape out of sheet metal.
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Elwin Estle wrote:
I know that there is at least one utility that will convert .dxf to .svg. However, is there one that will convert going the other way, from .svg (or a bitmap) to .dxf? I am looking for something open source, if possible. I have found a couple of shareware windows only programs.
I think that utility you heard of is pstoedit - http://www.pstoedit.net/ From what I see from its website, it can generate DXF too. From conversion from bitmap to a vector format, you may need to trace it first (with the Inkscape built-in functions or potrace from command line).
file > save as....
select dxf as the format.
job done.
On 9/24/07, Elwin Estle <chrysalis_reborn@...12...> wrote:
I know that there is at least one utility that will convert .dxf to .svg. However, is there one that will convert going the other way, from .svg (or a bitmap) to .dxf? I am looking for something open source, if possible. I have found a couple of shareware windows only programs.
The end goal is this: To be able to scan something, convert it to a .dxf file which will then be converted for a Trumpf laser cutter to cut that shape out of sheet metal.
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Thanks for all your help, guys. The saving to .dxf directly from Inkscape did the trick.
I work in a factory. We have this fancy, half million dollar machine that cuts parts from sheet metal with a laser beam. ( http://www.trumpf.com/ )
Someone had something they wanted to scan and then cut out on the machine. I scanned the image, used Gimp to make it so it was just a black outline on a white background, then imported the resulting bitmap into Inkscape and ran trace bitmap on it. I simplified and cleaned up the resulting .svg, then saved it as a .dxf, which the Trumpf software could convert and use to cut out the shape.
The examples below were done directly in Inkscape (not from scans) and saved as .dxf. There is a picture of the resulting cut metal objects in sixteen gage sheet metal.
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9753/piee6.png
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5249/biohazarduv3.png
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/990/metalshapesys1.jpg
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Hi Elwin and list
I hope you don't mind me opening up an old thread but this is exactly what I want to do too. I would like to bring some drawings to a company to have them laser cut.
The design has one part that must be 3.02 mm.
I am new to Inkscape and just learning the basics. Do you know if there is a way save dimensional information in the .dxf with Inkscape? Did you have to do this afterwards?
Any information you can provide would be really appreciated. BTW your designs in sheet metal look really cool-Patrick
Elwin Estle wrote:
Thanks for all your help, guys. The saving to .dxf directly from Inkscape did the trick.
I work in a factory. We have this fancy, half million dollar machine that cuts parts from sheet metal with a laser beam. ( http://www.trumpf.com/ )
Someone had something they wanted to scan and then cut out on the machine. I scanned the image, used Gimp to make it so it was just a black outline on a white background, then imported the resulting bitmap into Inkscape and ran trace bitmap on it. I simplified and cleaned up the resulting .svg, then saved it as a .dxf, which the Trumpf software could convert and use to cut out the shape.
The examples below were done directly in Inkscape (not from scans) and saved as .dxf. There is a picture of the resulting cut metal objects in sixteen gage sheet metal.
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9753/piee6.png
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5249/biohazarduv3.png
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/990/metalshapesys1.jpg
Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=summer+activities+for+ki...
This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ Inkscape-user mailing list Inkscape-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-user
That I couldn't tell you. I only created the .dxf file and handed it off to the laser programmer who converted it to run on the laser. However, he did say that the scaling on the inkscape .dxf files was a bit funky. I am wondering if you could put in some sort of reference object, like a line or circle that is at some specified dimension and then, when loading the .dxf into the laser software, just scale the whole .dxf so that the scale for the reference is correct, then just delete the reference. I don't know if this approach would be possible or not, since I have no experience with the actual laser software, but it might be a start.
--- Patrick <optomatic@...1001...> wrote:
Hi Elwin and list
I hope you don't mind me opening up an old thread but this is exactly what I want to do too. I would like to bring some drawings to a company to have them laser cut.
The design has one part that must be 3.02 mm.
I am new to Inkscape and just learning the basics. Do you know if there is a way save dimensional information in the .dxf with Inkscape? Did you have to do this afterwards?
Any information you can provide would be really appreciated. BTW your designs in sheet metal look really cool-Patrick
Elwin Estle wrote:
Thanks for all your help, guys. The saving to .dxf directly from Inkscape did the
trick.
I work in a factory. We have this fancy, half million dollar machine that cuts parts from sheet metal with a laser beam. ( http://www.trumpf.com/ )
Someone had something they wanted to scan and then cut out on the machine. I scanned
the
image, used Gimp to make it so it was just a black outline on a white background,
then
imported the resulting bitmap into Inkscape and ran trace bitmap on it. I simplified
and
cleaned up the resulting .svg, then saved it as a .dxf, which the Trumpf software
could
convert and use to cut out the shape.
The examples below were done directly in Inkscape (not from scans) and saved as .dxf.
There is a picture of the resulting cut metal objects in sixteen gage sheet metal.
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9753/piee6.png
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5249/biohazarduv3.png
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/990/metalshapesys1.jpg
Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=summer+activities+for+ki...
This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ Inkscape-user mailing list Inkscape-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-user
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Elwin Estle wrote:
That I couldn't tell you. I only created the .dxf file and handed it off to the laser programmer who converted it to run on the laser. However, he did say that the scaling on the inkscape .dxf files was a bit funky. I am wondering if you could put in some sort of reference object, like a line or circle that is at some specified dimension and then, when loading the .dxf into the laser software, just scale the whole .dxf so that the scale for the reference is correct, then just delete the reference. I don't know if this approach would be possible or not, since I have no experience with the actual laser software, but it might be a start.
The scaling behavior is certainly "a bit funky" by design. You will notice that the dxf format has a rather specific label. It was created for interoperation with robomaster software for desktop cutting plotters like the wishblade. The scale factor is easy to find in the python source you can easily change it to fit your needs.
Aaron Spike
participants (5)
-
Aaron Spike -
Elwin Estle -
john cliff -
Nicu Buculei -
Patrick