How to convert SVG drawings for Makelangelo
So you want to prepare SVG drawings so they can be drawn on a Makelangelo. Nice! Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG) are an great way of storing images as lines because they can be made bigger or smaller without losing detail. Since the Makelangelo “thinks” in lines, they are a natural fit together.
Inkscape: create your art
Inkscape is a free vector drawing program that loads a ton of file formats, including Adobe Illustrator. You can use it to turn a photo into line art or sketch something totally new. I used this picture of Darth Vader for this example. (Please support them to show your thanks.)
Inkscape: Ungroup
Select everything and choose Object > Ungroup. In some vector images you might have groups of groups of groups, so keep going until the Inkscape status bar says “N objects selected of type Path in root.” Fortunately this Darth Vader image is pretty simple and only needs one Ungroup command.
Inkscape: File > Save As > Desktop Cutting Plotter (AutoCAD DXF R14) (*.dxf)
This is another format well respected in the machining communities. It is used by everything from Automatic quilting machines to CNC lasers to robot arms. Makelangelo software added support for DXF files in ~2014
Makelangelo: Convert > Open File
You should now see your picture on the screen. The picture will automatically fill the paper as much as it can.
Here you may discover a catch: SVG files can be made from many overlapping shapes, with junk hidden under the top-most layers. When you ungroup and save as DXF, the DXF file will have all the lines. The Makelangelo has no idea what lines are supposed to be on top, so you might need to clean up the vector file in Inkscape before you send it to the Makelangelo.
Makelangelo: Start
And that’s it! Much easier than pre-2014 when DXF files needed a lot of massaging.
So where do I get a Makelangelo?
Final thought
I’d really appreciate your feedback about this tutorial. Please comment below with your questions and I’ll do everything I can to help.
