.svg help

pbody140 · Post by **pbody140** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:01 pm

im using version 4.1.16 but i cant seem to get an svg file to import. ive saved it multiple times with inkscape with all different settings but it never takes it in. when i import the file the screen zooms ridiculously far out and doesnt show anything. anyone got any ideas??

Ray Phelps · Post by **Ray Phelps** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:51 pm

Try saving as DXF file, that's all I've ever used ?
Ray

To: problems@forum.sheetcam.com
Subject: .svg help
From: pbody140@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 09:01:54 -0500

im using version 4.1.16 but i cant seem to get an svg file to import. ive saved it multiple times with inkscape with all different settings but it never takes it in. when i import the file the screen zooms ridiculously far out and doesnt show anything. anyone got any ideas??

Post by **Les Newell** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:55 pm

Could you post a sample svg file so I can try to find out what is going on.

pbody140 · Post by **pbody140** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 4:23 am

thanks for looking into this guys, Ive tried saving as a dxf out of inkscape and it does the same zoom out thing. I got the person who sent it to me to send it as a dxf from their software (I think adobe something) and it kinda comes up. It splits into two pieces and isn't solid. I want to engrave this with my Mitsubishi laser but all Ive ever done is cutting parts and engraving single line letters. never any polygons. here is a link to my dropbox folder with the files Ive been using in it along with a couple screen shots:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rcwlysfe4njzuyv/fEoHflCLq3

thanks again guys

ArchieF · Post by **ArchieF** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:35 am

Trying to export your svg file from Inkscape with the buildtin save-as *.dxf file failed.

But I installed this extension and had success :

http://www.bobcookdev.com/inkscape/inkscape-dxf.html

Richard

Post by **Les Newell** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:49 am

I found the problem. The SVG library I use doesn't support the 'switch' element. Your svg file uses switch because it has an embedded version of the drawing in Illustrator format. I have attached a hacked version of the library that does support switch. To install it, unzip the attachment into C:\program files\SheetCam TNG or C::\program files\SheetCam TNG Develpment.

Note that in 64 bit versions of Windows you need to use 'Program Files (X86)', not 'Program files'

If you have trouble with this, the fix will also be in the next release.

Post by **Les Newell** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:53 am

I just had a look at the dxf file. That file is horrible. I don't know what Inkscape is trying to do but the end result is a mess. Hopefully the fix should solve your SVG issue.

pbody140 · Post by **pbody140** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:08 pm

That's great Les, it worked right away. It set it up so I could cut out on the lines. Now I know that I'm asking for a lot but what I really want to do is engrave the logo solid. So everything you see in black gets a pass by the laser. Like a printer or kinda like doing a pocketing routine over all the black area with a super small diameter end mill, except of course just using my laser on a super low setting. I hope I'm making sense and don't sound like a fool... Is that a possibility in sheetcam?

Post by **Les Newell** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:42 pm

You can't pocket with a laser tool but try this: Set up a mill tool with equivalent diameter and cut height. Now do a zigzag pocket with this tool.

The results won't be perfect as you will probably end up with a deep line around the edge of the engraving but it may work well enough for you.

Just a thought - you may need to do a cut with a laser tool first to set up things like the power and start and end delays.

ArchieF · Post by **ArchieF** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 10:31 pm

Looks like V 4.1.16 doesn't do the job. Had to copy your hacked library into the Sheetcam folder to make it work with pbody's svg file.

Richard

Post by **Les Newell** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:13 pm

That is right. Only 4.0.16 Stable has the update. I will release a new 4.1.17 Development once I get the latest round of additions debugged and working.

pbody140 · Post by **pbody140** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:03 pm

so i ended up just going back to dxf and drawing lines inside of the outlines of the letters. took forever to do it but it looked so sweet... thanks again for the help les.

--ray

Post by **Les Newell** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:57 am

Ouch. That sounds like hard work. Are you likely to do this sort of thing often?

pbody140 · Post by **pbody140** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:01 pm

hopefully so... If I can mange to get it to work Id pick up a decent amount of business engraving. I found that it looks pretty crappy if you just go back and forth over the letters.(aswell as takes for ever!)It gives crappy edges that look like a crayon drawing outside a line. What worked best was to spiral inward every .02 inches. probably not such an easy feature to add.

Right now I'm out of country but when I get back I'll see if I can snap a few pictures.

--ray

skirschenmann01 · Post by **skirschenmann01** » Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:27 am

I am having this exact same issue. My wife exports .SVG from her Silhouette Studio program and emails it to me. When I save and import the drawing nothing appears. Please Help!

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Re: .svg help