I am using Inkscape to design for laser cutting and I'm trying to make the tiniest dot possible so it will pulse the laser cutter and make a pinhole.

If I make small dots, the cutter will trace the perimeter, making a full circle for each dot. Cutters are made to follow paths and the path for a circle is its stroke.

I THINK (not sure here) that I want to turn on a single pixel (my pinhole), but I need it to have a large enough stroke width that I can see it for placement and design purposes.

Has anyone done this? Ideas?

Appreciatively, Susan

I haven't done pinholes in particular, but to see very fine lines/paths, one can use Menu: View>Display Mode>Outline. It will not display fills, however.

I have no experience with cutters, but I've read something recently that might help you - about Hershey fonts. I've read it on the Full Circle magazine #130, page 34:

https://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-130/

Also see https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2011/h ... ing-fonts/

I think it depends on the file format you're using - if it supports 'one node paths'.

Inkscape doesn't, as far as I know. So if you create that instruction with Inkscape, you need to use a workaround - which could be a tiny line with two nodes. It won't get as burnt as when the laser tries to go in a circle.

If you can edit the instructions for your laser cutter manually, and the export format supports it, you can add the pinholes with a text editor.

Thanks all! I've tried with hershey text before (didn't work I'm afraid - but good idea).

I'm off to research "one node paths" and Inkscape and pinholes more. Thanks for pointing me in a new direction.

I'm also going to try from the other end and post to the laser cutter forum to see if anyone has ideas there. Maybe it just can't be done.

Inkscape does support one node paths, as I recall, but that doesn't mean that the laser will be happy to use them.

Short paths should work though, particularly if they are less than the kerf of the laser in the material.

> Inkscape does support one node paths, as I recall
- Yes, it does, but only the 'loop' kind, which you get when you have a closed two-node path and remove one of the nodes. I don't think it has support for the 'dot' variety, which might not even be within the SVG spec.

Another option might be to see if the cutter has a frequency setting that can be dialed-down very low... if line segments are short enough, the laser might pulse once for each.