Change kerf-offset in InkScape for lasercutting

Magic spell to post process svg or other drawings for lasercutting kerf

  1. Step 1: Change kerf-offset in InkScape for lasercutting, by A Koene.

    == To be freely distributed in opensource communities. ==

    Thx to ‘ragistan’ on https://alpha.inkscape.org/vectors/www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic8101.html?t=18634

    My situation:

    -From Freecad 0.21, export Shape2DView’s as ‘Autodesk 2D .dxf’.

    -Open in InkSkape 1.3.

  2. Step 2: Prepairations

    -Set Stroke style > Width to ‘Hairline’.

    ...

    -menu > Path > Combine [ctrl][k] to get one path for each item:


    Result is a combined path (Afterwards, you can ‘Break apart’ if you want)

    - Node Tools > Edit path by nodes [n]

    You see:

    -In tree, select all combined items to be given an offset:

    -Select all nodes (!!) with [ctrl][a]. You see blue indicators:

    Join selected nodes [shift][j]

    (An invisible change is applied to the selected items! Or???)



  3. Step 3: Apply Kerf Offset

    -For offsetting, selection of only 1 path, shape, clone or Group is permitted.

    - menu > Path > Path Effects… [ctrl][&], ‘Add live path effect”: Offset

    - Change Offset as you whish.

    (Negative for other side/direction. For lasercutten: kerf / 2 ?)


    -Change colors of the result-paths, etc.

    -Save as .dxf R14.


    -If you get this, then you didn’t select all nodes with [ctrl][a] before ‘Join selected nodes’.



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