Ponoko DXF Flow

thingiverse

Trying to design something in QCAD for Ponoko fabrication? Here's the flow I've used to generate Ponoko-compatible SVG files. Created for use with QCAD. Tested on Mac OS X Should work in Linux as-is. Probably need to install Cygwin on Windows to use "sed" May be adaptable for other 2D CAD tools. I've chosen the Public Domain license so no one has to do silly things like credit me every single time they use the DXF files because it's a "derivative work". You're welcome to do so, but it's not expected. Aside: I wrote this a while ago but forgot to publish it. Better late than never! Instructions Installation: Copy the ponoko_dxf.zip file to /path/to/qcad/library Uncompress ponoko_dxf.zip in place. Launch QCAD. Enable "View - Toolbars - Library Browser" Confirm that the three ponoko_p{1,2,3} designs appear in your Library Browser. Template Usage: Create a new design in QCAD. In the Library Browser, select .../ponoko_dxf/ponoko_p1 Click "Insert" Place 181mm x 181mm border at origin. Notice that more layers are now available in the Layer List Enable "View - Toolbars - Property Editor" Select the ponoko_p1 instance in your design. Change the "Layer" property value from "0" to "SafeOrange_P1_181mm_181mm" Start Drawing! Preparing SVG for Ponoko: Turn on/off all the layers and blocks you wish to see in your laser cut design. Select "File - SVG Export" Pick a .svg name for your file, e.g. mydesign.svg. Open a Terminal window and apply the qcad2ponoko.sed script to convert line-widths to the proper values. sed -f .../ponoko_dxf/qcad2ponoko.sed mydesign.svg > mydesign.sed.svg Launch InkScape Import "P1.svg" from the Ponoko InkScape Starter Kit. Import "mydesign.sed.svg" and reposition to sit within the P1.svg frame. Save As "mydesign.inkscape.svg" Upload "mydesign.inkscape.svg" to Ponoko to get cutting!