Inkscape DXF file not liked by SmartCarve

[Brynn]

Hi Friends,
This report comes from a forum thread, where experience and investigation by the user found that Inkscape's DXF file cannot be handled properly by SmartCarve. (https://www.inkscapecuttingdesign.com/smf/index.php?topic=1371.0) I think it needs to be investigated by developers. Here's the short version.

User traces this image with Trace Bitmap http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/toy-train Because of how close some of the lines are to each other, or in other cases, because the lines are so thin, the auto-trace produces a lot of tiny closed paths (instead of smooth line). See attached dxf-sc1.png (zipped with others)

When that image is saved as DXF and imported into SmartCarve, a lot of unusual extra paths are created. See this image: https://www.inkscapecuttingdesign.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi63.tinypic.com%2F538bur.png&hash=a6001cb8ff9ea989c5fcc9b2c6a2e887.

Close inspection reveals that all these extra paths are connected to the tiny closed paths. Please see el1.png attached in the zip file

I don't know exactly whay it happens, but my best guess is that SmartCarve thinks these paths are open, and attempts to close them. Or it could be something else -- I just don't have the technical expertise (or access to SmartCarve) to investigate more. Anyway, they can be fixed from inside SmartCarve, but it's a lot of work for the user.

Even after suggestions to the user to adjust the Threshold setting in Trace Bitmap, it did not eliminate, or reduce the tiny paths enough to save the user extra work in SmartCarve.

So he apparently did some research and found a program called Cenon (http://www.cenon.info/). He imported Inkscape's auto-trace results into Cenon, and exported a DXF file. And that DXF file performs perfectly in SmartCarve. The extra paths are not created.

Also attached in the zip file are:

 -- inkscape svg train.svg (trace results - the top one uses Brightness Cutoff, don't remember which the others are)
 -- inkscape dxf train.dxf (Inkscape's DXF export)
 -- cenon dxf train.dxf (Cenon's DXF export)

This was on Windows 7, Inkscape 0.92, SmartCarve 4.3

Thank you very much.

[TylerDurden (8thrule)]

The provided dxf file "inkscape dxf train.dxf" behaves as expected in six conventional CAD/CAM programs:
Fusion 360
SheetCamTNG
Alibre Design
LibreCad
MOI3D
V-Carve Pro

I'd take up the issue with the SmartCarve providers.

Screenshot attached.

TD

[Brynn (brynn4inks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks, TD. I'll relay your comments to the user.

Meanwhile, I still have to wonder why the DXF created by the other program (Cenon) does not cause the same problem.

[Brynn (brynn4inks-deactivatedaccount)]

Will not migrate. Closing.