the DXF export did not support objects with the “transform” attribute this meant that sometimes objects were simply in the wrong position and it was hard to know when it could happen without exceptionally detailed proof-reading.

So I started to dig into the problem in the Inkscape bug database and sure enough there were two additional problems highlighted: Although figuring out these problems took quite a while because I (naively) thought all of this would simply work so I didn’t bother to research it very deeply from the start. It also doesn’t support objects other than paths (Inkscape treats rectangles and circles and such as objects other than basic paths) so my exported files were mostly blank. Oh that would have been too easy…įirst I discovered that the Inkscape DXF export doesn’t support layers. My first experiment with one simple path object was successful so I optimistically figured everything else would simply work. I’ve been using Inkscape for other projects for quite a while and I had noticed it would export to DXF so I thought I was all set: just draw my part outlines in Inkscape and export a file for SheetCam. I immediately thought of Inkscape, the free vector drawing program for Windows and Linux. Someday I’ll probably want to invest in a high-end CAD program but for now I really wanted something very simple and very cheap or even free.

So I needed something that would generate DXF and I wanted something simple. SheetCam consumes DXF files – a vector format originated by AutoCad. It probably isn’t the top-of-the-line CAM software available but its (so far) doing the job for me.

I’ve been using SheetCam to generate g-code for my CNC mill and so far I’m pretty happy with it.

Inkscape dxf exxport