Inkscape- can't cut squares, make signs, etc

[Maximusde34]

Newbie here, big problem. I need to make signs but can't cut squares at all. I can make text but the square doesn't come out or it covers the letters and nothing works at all. I don't particularly like Inkscape as it's way too much for plasma cutting and know next to nothing about it. How do you draw a shape, put letters in it and cut the whole damn thing out?? How do I add an image here for you to see?

[acourtjester]

to add an image click on the "Full Editor& Preview" just below, you may need to scroll the screen down to see the "Attachments" box click on that.
under that will appear a box with "add files" click on that and it opens that feature, which is for you to navagate to where the file/image is stored on you Hard Drive, Click on the file and it will attach it to your post. If you are trying to send a screenshot, windows has a program called Snipping tool on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Click on that and pull a box around the area on the screen you want to copy. Save that to you hard drive and attach it to your post. Show what your problem looks like for help.

snipping.JPG (41.67 KiB) Viewed 614 times

snipping.JPG (41.67 KiB) Viewed 614 times

[adbuch]

Newbie here, big problem. I need to make signs but can't cut squares at all. I can make text but the square doesn't come out or it covers the letters and nothing works at all. I don't particularly like Inkscape as it's way too much for plasma cutting and know next to nothing about it. How do you draw a shape, put letters in it and cut the whole damn thing out?? How do I add an image here for you to see?

Hi Jason,
I don't normally use Inkscape for creating drawings, but here is how I would create a simple sign for cutting.
David

Step 1 - Draw rectangle. You can click on the rectangle shape on tool bar or type "R".

Step 2 - Draw text. Click on the Text icon on the tool bar or just type "T".

Step 3 - Drag text to place on rectangle.

Step 4 - With the text selected use the Path, Object to Path command to vectorize the text.

Steps 5 and 6 - Save as dxf.

Step 7 - Import dxf and create cut paths.

[Maximusde34]

Thank you. I've picked this up fairly quickly since before I hadn't had much time to learn it.

[adbuch]

Glad we were able to help you. Let us know if you have more questions.
David