I have vcarve pro, from a previous machine, and haven’t received my Nomad yet but have been working with CC & VC in just design. I find VC to be more robust etc, but I’d really like to use CC. I’m wondering if it’s feasible and if any of you are using something like Inkscape for all your design and then CC for tool paths only? Are any of you doing this? Are there any disadvantages? Thank you all.
for sure you can use inkscape for design, cc has an import function where you can load in .svg files.
This is a quick example where I loaded in a random svg into CC
once it’s loaded in cc each individual piece is selectable, movable, editable etc.
did I answer your question or is there something more specific you’d like to know?
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I used Inkscape exclusively for my designs and MakerCAM for my g-code greation for years and I have (in the last year or so) started using Vectric V-Carve for some designs as well. I do not use the Carbide software for design or g-code creation - not because it is inadequate in any way - just that I am familiar with Inkscape and MakerCAM. When I started using Vectric V-Carve, I don’t believe there was a v-carve option with CC.
I still do 90% of my SVG design in Inkscape because I am so familiar with it and I don’t have to hunt for the commands to do things. As I get more familiar with Vectric V-Carve, I find myself using it more for designs though.
Mostly I do 2D designs with Inkscape and MakerCAM, and 2.5D designs in Vectric V-Carve.
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Very grateful for both replies. It amazes me how generous people are with their time and willingness to help. Hopefully I can be on your end of it one day. Nothing else for the moment. Thank you.
To expand on the answers above ---- yes, we have many folks who use Inkscape as the main front-end for Carbide Create — there are certain requirements for the SVG files:
- only vectors will be imported
- text must be converted to geometry (save a copy first) using Path | Object to Path
- depending on the design, it may be helpful to expand strokes
Please note that you can export SVG files from CC and open them in Inkscape, so if you get stuck in CC, you can switch gears (albeit, losing any Toolpath associations.
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Basic stuff I do in CC…but for anything more advanced or complicated, I use Lightburn - which I originally purchased for my laser - I then export the SVG and import it into CC for toolpaths. The design tools in LB are really quite rich and the devs are remarkably responsive to new ideas. The tools have a consistent interface - as in: All the the dialogs work the same way, have the same functions, buttons in the same place, right click does the same thing, etc. This just makes it more intuitive to use and therefore, more powerful. The pricing is very reasonable also.
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It will depend on what you expect of your Toolpaths. If ‘just cut it’ is your only want, CC may suffice. If you want anything more, in my experience VCarve or Fusion will suite better. YMMV
I used to use Inkscape for design and CC for toolpaths, and I found it productive and more effective than just using CC alone at that time.
I currently use Affinity Designer and VCarve in the exactly the same way.
If you are actually designing and not just cutting pre-made designs, you should use the instrument you play best to do the design, whatever that instrument is.
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Once again thank you all for your responses
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