New-ish

[Pebley Ironworks]

Hey everyone! I joined the forum back in March and have looked around at some peoples work...everyone is so talented!
We have a CNC plasma table and I love making signs and gifts and things. Looking to get more active on the site, still a lot to learn. And hope to figure out how to share some of the things I've made so others can enjoy them too!

[plasmanewbie]

Welcome! Always like seeing other members work. To post pics and files you want to share you need to use the "Full Editor & Preview" posting page rather than the quick reply posting box. See image below I have circled the button to click to access this page and let us know if you have any questions. Have fun!

POst Box.PNG

[adbuch]

Welcome aboard! What kind of table, cutter, and cad/cam software are you using? There are specific sections on the forum for different tables, cutters, and software. Let us know if you have any questions and we will be happy to try to help.
David

[Pebley Ironworks]

Thank you for the info on posting! I will have to try that out
We have a Torchmate table and use Torchmate software as well. We might be upgrading to Fusion 360. The cutter is a Hypotherm Powermax 85
I have a lot of questions about image conversion on the software. Maybe you can point me in the right direction? I see a lot of people use SVG or DXF files (same if purchasing from someone) but how do I use them if I want to slightly edit or make multiples? Software doesn't seem to like SVG files, I've always used jpeg images to create something. Not sure what I'm missing here.... any help is appreciated!

[adbuch]

I am not familiar with the Torchmate software, but I assume you can import dxf files to your software to create cut paths for creating your finished part. DXF or SVG files can be edited using Inkscape, Fusion 360, CorelDraw, and a host of other cad programs. Inkscape and Fusion 360 are both free, so those may be your best bets for something inexpensive to try out.

How are you using Jpeg images go create something? Auto tracing or do you manually trace? What program do you use to do this with?

David

[adbuch]

Inkscape will not open dxf R14 files, so I generally use LightBurn as my "go-to" for converting dxf to svg. Once you have opened your existing file with Inkscape - it should be fairly simple to do your slight edits or make multiples.

[adbuch]

Here is a simple example. Assume you already have the file with the plate with 4 holes, but you wish to add an additional 1" diameter hole to the center of the plate, and then create multiple copies for cutting.

sample plate with holes 1.jpg

sample plate with holes 2.jpg

sample plate with holes 3.jpg

sample plate with holes 4.jpg

sample plate with holes 5.jpg

sample plate with holes 6.jpg

[Pebley Ironworks]

Thank you for all that info! Very helpful! I will have to look into getting those other programs. At first I tried importing a DXF file into my Torchmate software and it came up as being almost "broken up" into segments. A bunch of individual lines. So I connected the path thinking that would help but when I tried making the tool/cut path it was a bunch of individual lines and entry points. After I asked my question on here, I tried it with some other DXF files and the images seemed to pull up fine in the software. So it must've just been something with that particular image?
Now that I know I can bring DXF into the Torchmate software, that will help. But I will need the other programs for SVG files.
And yes, I usually pull in JPEG images and autotrace and then fix up the image or use part of it to make my own creation. And this is all through Torchmate, it's the only program I've used.
So that brings me to another question....if I use say Inkscape to edit an SVG, I can create a cut file from there and just import it to my cut program? I don't have to put it into Torchmate drawing before exporting the DXF?
I really appreciate your help and expertise! It's nice to actually ask someone these questions and not just try to figure it out on google!

[adbuch]

At first I tried importing a DXF file into my Torchmate software and it came up as being almost "broken up" into segments. A bunch of individual lines. So I connected the path thinking that would help but when I tried making the tool/cut path it was a bunch of individual lines and entry points. After I asked my question on here, I tried it with some other DXF files and the images seemed to pull up fine in the software. So it must've just been something with that particular image?

At your first try importing a dxf, where did you get the dxf? Did you draw it yourself or download it from the internet? In either case, I expect that your file needed to be linked to connect all of the individual segments (open paths) to closed paths for cutting. There was just a discussion about this here.

https://plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.php? ... 28#p215028

If you import and then export your problematic file to LightBurn, it will automatically link/join the individual segments to create closed paths.

When you say the "images seemed to pull up fine", I assume you are referring to the vector files (dxf) and not actual bitmap images.

David

[adbuch]

So that brings me to another question....if I use say Inkscape to edit an SVG, I can create a cut file from there and just import it to my cut program? I don't have to put it into Torchmate drawing before exporting the DXF?
I really appreciate your help and expertise! It's nice to actually ask someone these questions and not just try to figure it out on google!

When you say "import it to my cut program" do you mean that your "cut program" imports a dxf vector file and creates the cut paths (g-code)?

I know nothing about the Torchmate software. It sounds like it may have two separate parts - one for drawing and another for creating cut paths. Is that correct?

Does you "cut program" work with svg, or only dxf?

Inkscape files can be saved as dxf or svg, but these are vector files and not g-code cut paths. Inkscape will open/import svg files, but not dxf R14. I use LightBurn to convert from dxf to svg for opening with Inkscape.

[Pebley Ironworks]

Yes, Torchmate has 2 parts. Drawing, which creates a CADlink drawing file and then you have to export it as a DXF. Then over to the cut/g-code program where you import the DXF and cut from there.

[Pebley Ironworks]

Welcome! Always like seeing other members work. To post pics and files you want to share you need to use the "Full Editor & Preview" posting page rather than the quick reply posting box. See image below I have circled the button to click to access this page and let us know if you have any questions. Have fun!

POst Box.PNG

Hey David! I can't figure out how to post a "preview" of my DXF within the post...I posted a couple things and it just shows the file so you'd have to download it to view it. I'd like to show the image in the post if that makes sense?
Thanks in advanced for the help!

[adbuch]

Welcome! Always like seeing other members work. To post pics and files you want to share you need to use the "Full Editor & Preview" posting page rather than the quick reply posting box. See image below I have circled the button to click to access this page and let us know if you have any questions. Have fun!

POst Box.PNG

Hey David! I can't figure out how to post a "preview" of my DXF within the post...I posted a couple things and it just shows the file so you'd have to download it to view it. I'd like to show the image in the post if that makes sense?
Thanks in advanced for the help!

Take a screen shot of your image as you see it on your screen, then save as jpeg and attach to your post. You could also add in the dxf file so we can take a look.
David