DFX or SVG file for noob?

[Pan (Andy photenas)]

Hello I am new to CNC carving and I am in the learning process so that when I get my machine I can get right to it! For a new person like me, what would you suggest I use as a free art program that can upload the best and easiest files for carbide create to use?

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

For making DXF files there’s LibreCAD, for making SVGs there is Inkscape and the various other free SVG editors.

If you’re willing to consider an inexpensive commercial program I’d suggest looking at Serif’s Affinity Designer.

What sort of work do you wish to do and how do you plan to approach it?

[Pan (Andy photenas)]

I’m sorry if this is a re-post, I don’t see what I replied, with on the thread. My initial projects will consist of fairly simple, lettered signs, and then as I get good with it, moving into inlay work.
Is there a difference in the way the two files work at some point between the picture and the cutting?

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

DXF files are more problematic in my experience, and may require that one learn a CAD tool (I’ve never used LibreCAD for anything beyond opening a file and re-saving it as a “MakerCAM SVG” and the one time I tried to do anything wasn’t able to find a matching point in the manual so dropped it).

SVG files are standard and widely used, and I’d argue that Inkscape is the de facto standard for editing them.

Either approach would work for the sort of work you note, but SVG files would be simpler I believe (there are more problems w/ DXFs on the tech support queue), and arguably, a 3rd party program would not be necessary since Carbide Create supports the sort of work you describe:

Creating designs from elements

If one has a design idea one wants to make, usually it can be shown / mocked up as a pixel image, and put together using some basic elements. For example: [image2] All one should need for that is a portion of a U.S. flag, and the Marine Corps seal — fortunately, both are easily sourced on Wikimedia Commons: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Seal_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg

Making a stacked-text sign using the new layer feature in Carbide Create (version 521+)

The folks at Carbide3D announced a new beta feature in Carbide Create: Layers. [PXL_20210515_155150934] This tutorial gives this new feature a spin using the beta version, to make a stacked-text sign. I’ll try to make this an entry-level tutorial (screenshots for every small step) for those who are relatively new to CNC and want to make their own stack text signs. For the example I’ll stack “your” on top of “text here”… since that’s boring in general you should replace that with the text you…

Inlay mode for Carbide Create

We just uploaded a new release of Carbide Create, Build 750, that include a new Inlay mode for Advanced V-carve. Normally, we’d do more internal testing, but there are so many edge cases for this that we want to get it out in public now. Get it at Carbide Create Beta Downloads This is available in both the Free and Pro version of CC. Please give it a shot and let us know how it works for you. [image] How to use it: Create a pocket for your inlay using the normal Advanced V-carve toolpath…

Creating inlays using the new Carbide Create feature

In this tutorial I’ll be showing how to use the inlay feature in the latest Carbide Create (in beta at the time of writing). I’ll try to make this tutorial as detailed and entry level as possible (lots of pictures and small steps), if you’re a more advanced user this might be too boring for you. [pic2-endresult] Before you begin Unlike most other types of cuts, you need to plan ahead a bit more for your inlay. First, the tools you need; you need a V bit as well as a 1/8" or smaller regular …

[Pan (Andy photenas)]

I am so excited to get rolling on this, especially because this is like the best forum I have ever seen!!! I feel like I’m on the team already