Laser Cutter #007 - Free Cutting Files 02 (Convert with Inkscape)

In my previous laser cutting post I posted a link to a video with free laser cutting files. Some of those sites did not have any SVG files or just a few. Fortunately, Inkscape can make the conversion. I've tried .cdr, .cxf and .eps files. I use Inkscape 1.3 on Linux machines, Ubuntu and Mint. Inkscape in Windows 10 is a different beast. For example, in the Windows version I use with my laser cutter, there is no access to all the items in all the layers. I haven't tried this conversion in Windows yet so your mileage may vary. (Update: after writing this post, I did a conversion in Inkscape 1.3, in Windows 10. Basically, open Inkscape, open your file then open File --> Save As... it defaults to save as an Inkscape SVG. Beyond that, I don't have experience with yet.) More on Linux and Windows at the end of this post.

I found this file at Ponoko.com that is a nice ornament. Use search term "ornament" to limit the files shown.

As you can see on the bottom right, it is an .eps file. Clicking on the project tile immediately downloads the file but after clicking on a couple of projects the site wants you to sign up. 

I'm using Inkscape 1.3 on a Linux Mint 20.2 Cinnamon Laptop. I right clicked on the file and chose Inkscape to open it in. 

This window popped up and I selected Page by page in the drop down menu. For laser cutting, I don't think it matters what you select but I didn't try all of them.

Then this next window pops up. I just left the default values and hit OK.

Inkscape will open up with the file. My file looked pale so I went into the Fill and Stroke menu and changed the stroke values to mm which magically darkened the lines. I would change the line thickness to 0.100 mm but this shows up better and I can do it later.

You don't have to save anything and keep the original file. Inkscape will export the changes you currently see. Next choose Export in the File menu.

Then the export section will pop up to the right.

 

At the bottom right of this section, select Inkscape SVG in the drop down menu.

Then click the wide Export button under the drop down menu and your file will be exported to the folder the original was in.

The file will be named the original name with .svg tagged on at the end. This SVG file can be edited in Inkscape and used in the Xtool Creative Space software. As you can see, I've done it to a couple of files in this folder.  

One problem I did run into is that Inkscape will only Export what is on the white page in the middle of the workspace. To expand the page select File --> Document properties and choose "Fit page to Drawing" This should make the page just as big as everything on the workspace. If you want some margin, you can add it in the value fields and move the drawing to center it. Then everything should Export. You may have to fiddle with text and grouping in the .svg file. I might make another post on that in the future. I haven't cut this ornament out yet and I'll update in a new post when I do. 

We have also done this with PDF patterns my husband purchased and wanted to cut out of leather. Again, your mileage may vary. Many PDF patterns have watermarks and other things you need to edit. He is not reselling or uploading these patterns elsewhere and I do not encourage it. He has mobility issues and the laser cutter has opened up many new opportunities for him. Editing on a computer is easier for him than cutting the pattern by hand but he can do both and does when necessary.

I encourage everyone to try out Linux. I recommend Linux Mint for ease of use but I prefer Ubuntu. Mint looks the most like Windows, great for internet browsing, but sometimes has problems running software like KiCAD. Ubuntu is more of a foundational OS, its actually what Mint is built on top of, and most software available for Linux runs in it very well. There are many tutorials online to do the following: you can use Linux within Windows by installing a virtual machine or setting up a dual boot system. (I'm not discussing that on this blog, please search for that information elsewhere. I cannot guaranty your results as I've had problems doing it at times and its been a while since I've attempted either.) Or you can install Linux on an old unused computer or one that crashed and the hard drive may not be stable for Windows. 

We use Linux on many computers both as a dual boot system and stand alone. I had a laptop that crashed during a power failure and I could never get it back up. I finally installed Ubuntu, which lets you partition the hard drive and  install the OS at the end of the hard drive instead of the beginning. It works and is very stable. Its now my primary design machine. Unfortunately the Xtool software is not available on Linux yet. I use a cloud based drive to transfer files to a Windows computer. Google drive or Dropbox should work fine. A USB drive formatted in exFAT will also work between the two machines.

Inkscape is awesome and great for design once you get the hang of it. There are many tutorials online and on YouTube for Inkscape. Most tutorials are not for laser designing and we've come across some issues that work for graphics but not laser cutting. Laser cutting design has a learning to curve to overcome and I like the challenge. I think I've figured out the bulk of them and may post resolutions to issues of designing in Inkscape for laser cutting later. I love that I can create and modify designs to suit me.

Happy Making!

Michelle