New to plasma cutting asking for help already!!

[Chris Linetty]

Hello, I just received my arclight 48x96" table. I've made some cuts and I'm getting the hang of sheet cam and the Mach3 programs. The one I'm kinda struggling with is Inkscape. I'll get it, its just gonna take a while. Anyway I'm dying to cut out this logo and was hoping someone could convert this for me to dxf. I would need an oval around it to work. Thanks in advance. I can wait to start designing my own stuff and contribute back to this board. You guys have been so helpful with your knowledge, experience and file sharing! Thanks again...Chris

[Greolt]

Here it is traced.

You are almost always better to find the relevant font and redo text. It always comes out better.

[ben de lappe]

Here's the lettering in the proper font saved as .dxf and .svg

[little blue choo]

WOW! Ben, when did you start doing SVG's?

Rick

[ben de lappe]

WOW! Ben, when did you start doing SVG's?

Rick

Torchmate cad saves in a variety of extensions, .svg included. I saw where Chris mentioned he was learning Inkscape and thought he may want to try that way as well.

[Chris Linetty]

Thanks for the responses guys, I'm not sure what the .svg file is used in. Can someone tell me that? How about the boat clip art? Is it possible to convert all of it with the text together?

Thanks

[ben de lappe]

While it's possible to convert all at once this lettering does not trace well for me and judging by Greolt's reply he has the same issue, though I have not looked at his file. Clean crisp text makes a huge difference. Many people here use .svg in programs such as Inkscape, just another way to work files.

[acourtjester]

Here is what I could do in Inkscape I should have copied the above text and installed it with the boat trace.
I would cut the oval as a background and the rest as pieces to attach on top for a 3 D effect as the letters are not stenciled

boat.svg

boat.dxf

boat 2.jpg

[Chris Linetty]

Hey thanks, I May try that but was hoping to do this in all one piece. I'm a little confused as to the how the text in the above post would work as it is not stenciled. Like I said, I've still have a ton to learn, so please forgive me for not knowing what is probably simple for you guys!

[acourtjester]

the problem with not using stenciled letters is the inside parts fall out, R,a, g, and e. Problems with making changes if you then change the original LOGO appearances.

[ben de lappe]

You are correct, the letters need to be edited. When I posted the lettering I thought you would be able to take it and use it, editing as needed. Sorry if I assumed. I went ahead and traced the file, put it in an oval, added and edited the lettering. Hopefully this will work for you.

[Chris Linetty]

Ben, thanks. This is what I was after. Did you use inkscape to do this? The lettering in your first post didn't appear stenciled. I'm so green at this so once again go easy on me! I have much studying and OJT to do, that's for sure!

[ben de lappe]

You are welcome Chris. I use Torchmate CAD. The lettering in my first post is not edited, as stated above I mistakenly assumed you could edit them, sorry. No one is going to be rough on you here. We all started somewhere. You've come to the right place to learn. All the information needed for you to learn to edit letters, trace in Inkscape and any other questions you may have regarding the construction of this piece is all gathered here along with top notch professionals ready and willing to help.

[acourtjester]

Stencil letter are already done in window fonts but look like old military stencils. Many programs have a way to reshape letters so they can be cut. The thing is they don’t all do it the same way which could just be the names they use for the operations to shape stencil letters. As with Ben’s lettering you have a more pleasing appearance to the letters. It is not that hard to do when you learn the way your software does it. There are many posts here with different software that the guys use, you can try the search function to find some very good info. Try different names for your searches it is like Google a slight change in the name gives different results.

[radnurse68]

Hey Chris I'm sure Scott at Arclight has already told you but he has all the info you need to learn Inkscape on videos. You can get to them on his website or on Youtube. Good luck.

Steve

[Chris Linetty]

Steve, You're absolutely right. I have all the tutorials and have reviewed them twice, but I was still having a mental block on inkscape. I just need to spend time with it. Repetition is the key for me!

[acourtjester]

there is a large number of inkscape videos on the web I cannot tell you how many I have downloaded and stored on my hard drive and viewed to learn tips and tricks. find and download youtube downloader so you can save them to your drive just rename then as to the topic so you can view them as a refresher later.
Here is a start once you see one they link to many other.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=in ... ls+youtube

here is a start for beginners about 8 to 10 basic videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SRkALUGXDw

One warning if you make a change to a shape using inkscape and some other functions you must change it back before you exit or Inkscape will keep it like that when you start it again. example if you change the view function to outline you must change it back to normal before you exit.
Both green shapes were drawn with the square tool but the oval was done by moving a point on the side and it will keep that shape when you try to draw another square unless it is change back.

square change.jpg

outline.jpg

[Chris Linetty]

Thanks for the tips fellas!

[chevybythesea]

Everything I have learned about cutting with a CNC Plasmatable has been on here. Had mine for about 4 months now, have done enough to pay for my table a few times over. And still - learning new stuff everyday. This thread for example - I keep checking in, as even little tips are HUGE helps to me. Thanks, Everyone!