DrVax yes it's certainly convenient for many users who don't want to bother with complex tools. it is a mandatory comment to support the channel on youtube :)
I was just doing this today for the first time. So this video was very timely! A free and opensource alternative to that drawing program is Inkscape. I will admit it's about as user-friendly as Illustrator, so it may not work well for some people.
Super helpful! Can’t wait till the next video. I make cookie cutters for my wife, but can only get the outer perimeter. I’d love to print inner city-outs, for example.
Irv, you and I must be synchronized. The other day I saw one of your video's on fixing the warped bed on an Ender 3. You did it the same way I did. Now today I have been wondering if I could design something on my sign making software and import it into a CAD program and here you are posting a video about just that topic. I enjoy your videos and always learn something from them.
Irv, excellent channel! I'm looking forward to your next video detailing the use of SVG files in TinkerCAD. I have not been able to successfully import an SVG file into TinkerCAD with the fill turned off and opacity set to zero. I always get a solid shape similar to your rectangle at the end of your video which limits it's usefulness. I need to be able to import only the outline, a topic you referred to be included in in your next video!!
@@MakeWithTech Can you provide a link? I can't get my files converted using tinkercad. I have SVG files but can't get beyond that to get anything printed
Inkscape is an excellent tool. Depending on the version you need to save your files as SVG Optimized and remove the extra headers for it to work with your CAD program.
Just watched , its great, the kids at school are making drawings of sites along the Oregon Trail for 4th grade dioramas and I am 3D printing wagons, oxen, campfires, bison, but was wondering how to print the drawings of Chimney Rock, and others. Now I may have a way :)
Great Irv. So I can create some text using more available fonts in Boxy SVG then import it into Tinkercad to make an STL file? Tinker Cad is limited on the style of fonts. Then bring it into LuBan and extrude the text to make a desk sign? Cool
Nice. Your cookie cutter made me think of a question I've had for a while now. If you want to 3D print a vase in vase mode, how do you define the outline in your CAD program. Normally, I do an offset to define thickness. But what would be the thickness for a vase mode print. Thanks for your work.
In vase mode most slicers only output a single wall with a nozzle size width. So a .40mm nozzle will output a .40mm wall. The slicer will automatically hollow out the model. You could have a solid cube and the slicer will still only output one wall with no fill. If you want a thicker wall you either have to change the nozzle or use an extruder multiplier to extruder more filament. The extruder multiplier approach is not very accurate. I have a Monoprice MP10 that I switched to a 1.0mm nozzle just for printing large vases. Hope this helps. Irv
I take images and turn them into svg in Inkscape trace bitmap and import in tinkercad manipulat it to my desired parameters save and then slice it and then print. Simple as sliced bread.
Brilliant, thank you I just started using Tinkercad and just got a 3D printer, I wanted to get something to do vectors but didn't want to get into Adobe Illustrator and your video just saved my problem. Purchased that software. perfect. Have a question is possible with this and Tinkercad to create an object say the top is circle bottom is square and they morph into each other to create a new object with round top and square bottom? any ideas how hat can be achieved with getting into probably Fusion 360
@@MakeWithTech Thank you for the reply now I know what Im looking for, I did wonder if I needed something Fusion360, TinkerCad is very good but its not a professional tool for sure, great for the casual user :) very helpful
Good morning. First, excellent tutorials! My question for you is...I imported an SVG and it comes into TinkerCad just fine, it exports just fine and looks good in cura as well. However, some lines don't print, like they are not part of the gcode or something. Any idea what might cause this? I would be happy to send the svg file to you if it will help.
Not in the current version. However there are many free online apps that convert from bitmap to vector formats. Here is one example: image.online-convert.com/convert-to-svg I have not reviewed all the options so I cannot recommend one over another.
I was ready to purchase Boxy but it looks like it is only available for Windows 10 and I'm still using Windows 7. I do have Inkscape on my system but whenever I try to upload and Inkscape SVG to TinkerCad, it fails. I've only tried a few times and really don't know why it happened.
The problem is that Tinkercad only supports files in SVG V1.0 format and Inkscape is outputting V1.1. You can edit the SVG file in a text editor and take out the extra headers that Inkscape adds replacing them with the headers from boxy and if your graphics are relatively simple this should have no impact. This helps explain what I like about BOXY SVG for use with CAD programs. It does just enough and not too much. I included here two examples so you can see the difference. Notice how much shorter the BOXY file is, just enough to get the job done. (Yes the Inkscape definition is more complete, but for my purposes, the added complexity is not necessary.) BOXY-SVG INKSCAPE
image/svg+xml
I hope this helps. An alternative is to use the only version of Boxy but it is expensive. Irv
@@MakeWithTech Thank you for taking the time to explain the differences between svg versions 1.0 and 1.1 as well as the differences between Boxy and Inkscape codes. I ran into a similar issue recently where an Inkscape svg could not be opened in Adobe Illustrator. Fortunately, that was just a matter of chaning the #filename.svg to #filename.ai.
I have found an easier way to prepare Inkscape files for import into Thingiverse. Save as "optimized SVG" instead of SVG. When the option window is display check the boxes that say "Remove XML Declaration", "Remove Metadata", "Remove Comments" and the files will import properly into Tinkercad. The second two removes are probably overkill, just removing the XML declaration should be sufficient.
I just want to say thank you for your Videos Mr.Shapiro.I am new in 3d printing and they helped me a lot.Greetings from Germany.
Thanks for the comment.
DrVax yes it's certainly convenient for many users who don't want to bother with complex tools. it is a mandatory comment to support the channel on youtube :)
I appreciate this video it gives me another reason to study vector art.
This was awesome help! Using Boxy now!
I was just doing this today for the first time. So this video was very timely!
A free and opensource alternative to that drawing program is Inkscape. I will admit it's about as user-friendly as Illustrator, so it may not work well for some people.
Here is a video that includes a discussion about Inkscape:
ruclips.net/video/zyytn0xSE04/видео.html
Super helpful! Can’t wait till the next video. I make cookie cutters for my wife, but can only get the outer perimeter. I’d love to print inner city-outs, for example.
Irv, you and I must be synchronized. The other day I saw one of your video's on fixing the warped bed on an Ender 3. You did it the same way I did. Now today I have been wondering if I could design something on my sign making software and import it into a CAD program and here you are posting a video about just that topic. I enjoy your videos and always learn something from them.
What do they say about great minds 😀
@@MakeWithTech "They have messy desks"?
Irv, excellent channel! I'm looking forward to your next video detailing the use of SVG files in TinkerCAD. I have not been able to successfully import an SVG file into TinkerCAD with the fill turned off and opacity set to zero. I always get a solid shape similar to your rectangle at the end of your video which limits it's usefulness. I need to be able to import only the outline, a topic you referred to be included in in your next video!!
That video is coming soon.
@@MakeWithTech Can you provide a link? I can't get my files converted using tinkercad. I have SVG files but can't get beyond that to get anything printed
It sounds interesting and similar to Inkscape. Thanks for sharing this.
I find it much easier to use then alternatives and it has most of the capabilities I need.
I use Inkscape as others have mentioned, tons of RUclips videos on it. I use it for 3D printing, CNC and vinyl cutting
Inkscape is an excellent tool. Depending on the version you need to save your files as SVG Optimized and remove the extra headers for it to work with your CAD program.
Great Working
Thanks.
Interesting program
Thanks for sharing :-)
Just watched , its great, the kids at school are making drawings of sites along the Oregon Trail for 4th grade dioramas and I am 3D printing wagons, oxen, campfires, bison, but was wondering how to print the drawings of Chimney Rock, and others. Now I may have a way :)
Excellent. Look for a more detailed description of the ins and outs of tinkercad and svg files in the next few weeks.
Great Irv. So I can create some text using more available fonts in Boxy SVG then import it into Tinkercad to make an STL file? Tinker Cad is limited on the style of fonts. Then bring it into LuBan and extrude the text to make a desk sign? Cool
Yep
Nice. Your cookie cutter made me think of a question I've had for a while now. If you want to 3D print a vase in vase mode, how do you define the outline in your CAD program. Normally, I do an offset to define thickness. But what would be the thickness for a vase mode print. Thanks for your work.
EnuffsEnuff318 I’d like to know that too.
In vase mode most slicers only output a single wall with a nozzle size width. So a .40mm nozzle will output a .40mm wall. The slicer will automatically hollow out the model. You could have a solid cube and the slicer will still only output one wall with no fill.
If you want a thicker wall you either have to change the nozzle or use an extruder multiplier to extruder more filament. The extruder multiplier approach is not very accurate.
I have a Monoprice MP10 that I switched to a 1.0mm nozzle just for printing large vases.
Hope this helps.
Irv
I take images and turn them into svg in Inkscape trace bitmap and import in tinkercad manipulat it to my desired parameters save and then slice it and then print. Simple as sliced bread.
Thx
Brilliant, thank you I just started using Tinkercad and just got a 3D printer, I wanted to get something to do vectors but didn't want to get into Adobe Illustrator and your video just saved my problem. Purchased that software. perfect. Have a question is possible with this and Tinkercad to create an object say the top is circle bottom is square and they morph into each other to create a new object with round top and square bottom? any ideas how hat can be achieved with getting into probably Fusion 360
Do do this, which in CAD is called a sweep or a loft depending on exactly what you want to do, you will need a program like FreeCad or Fusion 360.
@@MakeWithTech Thank you for the reply now I know what Im looking for, I did wonder if I needed something Fusion360, TinkerCad is very good but its not a professional tool for sure, great for the casual user :) very helpful
Can tinker and be used to create gift box templates for cricut,?
I do not see why not.
Good morning. First, excellent tutorials! My question for you is...I imported an SVG and it comes into TinkerCad just fine, it exports just fine and looks good in cura as well. However, some lines don't print, like they are not part of the gcode or something. Any idea what might cause this? I would be happy to send the svg file to you if it will help.
For those looking at alternative vector graphics programs Gravit Designer has a free version and is leagues better than Inkscape.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Inkscape?!
I have used it and prefer Boxy SVG for its simplicity.
Since many people asked about it I just completed a video that includes a discussion of Inkscape:
ruclips.net/video/zyytn0xSE04/видео.html
Thank you Dr. Vax, can it trace an image brought in to convert it from raster to vector?
Not in the current version. However there are many free online apps that convert from bitmap to vector formats. Here is one example: image.online-convert.com/convert-to-svg
I have not reviewed all the options so I cannot recommend one over another.
inkscape as explained in www.xsim.info/articles/FreeCAD/en-US/HowTo/Create-solids-from-2D-image.html
Latest version of Boxy SVG now supports image tracing: boxy-svg.com/blog/9/vectorize-pixelete-triangulate-and-primitivize-generators
Interesting, I use SVG files with my vinyl cutter program
Makes sense.
I was ready to purchase Boxy but it looks like it is only available for Windows 10 and I'm still using Windows 7. I do have Inkscape on my system but whenever I try to upload and Inkscape SVG to TinkerCad, it fails. I've only tried a few times and really don't know why it happened.
The problem is that Tinkercad only supports files in SVG V1.0 format and Inkscape is outputting V1.1. You can edit the SVG file in a text editor and take out the extra headers that Inkscape adds replacing them with the headers from boxy and if your graphics are relatively simple this should have no impact.
This helps explain what I like about BOXY SVG for use with CAD programs. It does just enough and not too much.
I included here two examples so you can see the difference. Notice how much shorter the BOXY file is, just enough to get the job done. (Yes the Inkscape definition is more complete, but for my purposes, the added complexity is not necessary.)
BOXY-SVG
INKSCAPE
image/svg+xml
I hope this helps. An alternative is to use the only version of Boxy but it is expensive.
Irv
@@MakeWithTech Thank you for taking the time to explain the differences between svg versions 1.0 and 1.1 as well as the differences between Boxy and Inkscape codes. I ran into a similar issue recently where an Inkscape svg could not be opened in Adobe Illustrator. Fortunately, that was just a matter of chaning the #filename.svg to #filename.ai.
I have found an easier way to prepare Inkscape files for import into Thingiverse. Save as "optimized SVG" instead of SVG. When the option window is display check the boxes that say "Remove XML Declaration", "Remove Metadata", "Remove Comments" and the files will import properly into Tinkercad. The second two removes are probably overkill, just removing the XML declaration should be sufficient.
@@MakeWithTech That is fantastic! You sir, are awesome.
Don’t understand what’s so cool bout this program. Seemed like paint program. Svg that I need is animal shapes to articulate.