How to combine objects in Inkscape

[Jb_engineering]

Hi guys, on inkscape once ive shosen an image i want to cut, i like to add some mounting points to my piece. I draw on the image in inkscape, group each part, add to the same layer, but when i run it in my cut program the parts arent grouped together and wants to cut them seperately, or doesnt recognise some cuts. What am i doing wrong? Any help is much appreciated. Thankyou.

[adbuch]

Post you file here and I will have a look. Are you working on that Mustang file, or something different?
David

[Jb_engineering]

Thanks for your reply, ive got around it by doing it in 2 parts, but will want to know how to do it for in the future, no it wasnt the mustang file.

[acourtjester]

if you use a different color for the separate parts they will be separate in SheetCam and you and plan the cuts for each color.

a test colors 6.jpg (8.67 KiB) Viewed 1264 times

a test colors 6.jpg (8.67 KiB) Viewed 1264 times

[TJS]

I read your original post. I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish are you trying to do a Path==> difference or Path===> Union (as in adding a bracket). Or are you trying to make sure it cuts what you have in your drawing and it is not.

* Make sure everything is a path
* select all then do a Path ==> Combine (when you do this you can move the whole part as one in inkscape)
T.J.

[adbuch]

Thanks for your reply, ive got around it by doing it in 2 parts, but will want to know how to do it for in the future, no it wasnt the mustang file.

It is not clear to me what you are specifically trying to accomplish. If you would be so kind as to post one of your example files that is giving you problems, then we can take a look and try to help you with your specific question.
David

[Jb_engineering]

I had it all combined and could move it around as one piece, but then when i opened it up with sheetcam it would either cut the main image, or the parts that i had added.

[adbuch]

I had it all combined and could move it around as one piece, but then when i opened it up with sheetcam it would either cut the main image, or the parts that i had added.

Please post the file so we can try to help you with your specific problem.
Thanks,
David

[Jb_engineering]

This is what i was doing (pic for example, as files are on laptop). I added the circle around the bulldog, and the 3 dots (they are black in the file). Combined them all, so could move it as one, but sheetcam would only see the 3 dots and the circle. I assumed it was as i added them to the original image. Hopefully this clears it up. Appreciate all the help, sorry im new to inkscape.

[adbuch]

Please post the pic.
Thanks,
David

[acourtjester]

If you draw a box with the mouse around them all and go to path and hit combine it should tie them together. If you click on the node tool and move the mouse around then should change color to indicate they are a path, (color is only when the mouse is over each part, does not stay when you move away).

a ink1.JPG (18.48 KiB) Viewed 1244 times

a ink1.JPG (18.48 KiB) Viewed 1244 times

a ink 2.JPG (24.33 KiB) Viewed 1244 times

a ink 2.JPG (24.33 KiB) Viewed 1244 times

a ink 4.JPG (24.64 KiB) Viewed 1244 times

a ink 4.JPG (24.64 KiB) Viewed 1244 times

[adbuch]

You could try this one with sheetcam to see if you have better luck. Perhaps you were confusing combine with union.
David

dog in circle.svg

(319.36 KiB) Downloaded 65 times

dog in circle.svg

(319.36 KiB) Downloaded 65 times

[adbuch]

If you care to post your actual file when you get a chance, we can take a look and perhaps give you some more input.
David

[adbuch]

You may have a better visualization of the processes if you turn off your fill. From a second look at your photo, I am now thinking that perhaps you started with the dog inside the circle, and were only trying to attach the 3 circles for mounting tabs. But in any case, the process is still the same. Perhaps the following screen shots will help you to understand the difference between combine and union.
David

[Jb_engineering]

Thankyou for all the advice, looking througg your comments i now know that i didnt use the union setting. I was only using combine, which obviously was only connecting them together but not removing the overlaps. This was only my 2nd job on inkscape, so i will be do some more learning on it. Thanks again.

[adbuch]

You are quite welcome! We are happy to try to help. Let us know if you have more questions as you progress with your Inkscape experience.
David

[acourtjester]

Inkscape like many other software packages is very powerful/useful for plasma cutting. You grow as you use it as we have, by question and answer sections here. So continue asking and you will soon be helping the knowledge base grow too.

[adbuch]

Tom- I agree! I have been learning Inkscape as I go thanks to help from you, Rokcrler, and several others here. Lots of fun to be had along the way.
David