Drag knife vinyl cutting

Software
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Hey all., Looking for some ideas / help

I am working with cutting vinyl with a drag knife mounted to my 4pro .
I have been on a Google hunt for different kinds of software and methods

I have been using Inkscape and saving it as a DXF then loading it into “DXF2Gcode”. It works ok. There are some interesting quirks but it does work.

There is a lot of good software programs out there but they want to talk to the cutters directly using HPGL or like file format. mostly made for Cricut cutters and a like. Or they export to a SVG file and then you have to load it into the software that comes with the machine.
Nothing that I can find which has a good workflow

Inscape has an extension for Gcode but it well … needs some work and it is way out of date. It really does not support drag knife option like offset or overcut and it is just simply a pain :slight_smile:
You can also “save as” a HPGL file but then you have to get that to Gcode

So the question is do you have any advice for software and a good workflow.

Thanks

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I just used CC with ramping to create the overlap. It took me a while to dial in the depth of cut but I just started out light (0.004") & increased the depth until it just cut through.

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Vectric Vcarve has a “gadget” for generating dragknife toolpaths, but I have yet to use it.

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Thanks

@Tod1d Yes I have done the same. That works for cuts without tight radius. And Ramping is in the pro version. :slight_smile: I am getting into tighter details now and looking to perfect the art :slight_smile:

@Steve.Mc I will have to check out the one on Vectric, Thanks

I wonder since C3D sells drag knifes now, if they will add these functions ?

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The ramping worked well for me for the start/end overlap. And the smaller angle bits for tighter details.
I think the fancier drag knife programs will account for the cutting tip trailing the center of the spindle with a cut something like this to get sharper corners.
Nothing I’ve done so far has been that critical to get perfect corners, and with the smaller tip they are really close.

image

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Interesting, Thanks. I did watch another person’s video and he showed that on tight corners it was pulling the tips up. I am going to do small lettering. And I guess it also depends on what you are cutting.

I also found it interesting that in DXF2Gcode he always orientates the cutter to the right at the end of the cut and then he knows which way the knife is pointing, On the start of the next cut he rotates the knife with a light drag to the correct direction before going to cutting depth. This does start and stop at the same point with no over lap.
I like the ramp in and out to start and stop the cut :slight_smile: Nice
I guess there is not one perfect answer :slight_smile:

FYI One of the glitches in DXF2Gcode is if the start point changes ie via optimization then the start and end maneuver becomes out of sync with the new start point. You have to toggle your machine type from drag knife and back to force it to re-do these maneuvers to the updated points and then don’t optimize again :slight_smile:

I just might have to invest in CC Pro so I can see the ramp feature :slight_smile:
I have been undecided between CC and V. (Why put it off to tomorrow when you can procrastinate today)

BML

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Try editing a ramp into the G-code if you just want to try it out without buying PRO.

And don’t put off until tomorrow what you can put of until the next day! :wink:
Steven Wright - I was gonna procrastinate, but I never got around to it.

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