Recently I was trying to design some planetary gears using Inkscape. I wanted to use bamboo skewers as the axle/pivot pins. The pins measured at 3mm so I set the center hold at 3mm. In the course of the design I ungrouped the gears and center hole to find the center hole measured at 3.1mm and when cut on my laser measured that plus kerf and then some. Additionally the gear teeth (set at 3mm) do NOT measure any where close to that (less than 2mm) which makes for a sloppy assembly.
I am using Version 0.92. Resolution of my computer screen, resolution of my laser ? Not sure I understand, but am willing to try anything. So far I have made nearly 15 versions of the planetary gear system - all have sloppy fit and various sized center holes in the gears. Playing around and making adjustments wastes what little time I have and takes away from my desire to improve my design skills
Yes the 0.92 version has a different resolution from previous versions and you have to adjust the scale of things if the extension you're using doesn't convert the user units properly.
For example if you were using mm instead of cm.
The slack is there because of this error. Can you try 1.0 and see if that helps at all? Make sure to re-measure any existing graphics you have.
Also please describe your workflow and type of laser cutter.
Also keep in mind, the size displayed in Inkscape may include the stroke width, depending on your settings.
I use Inkscape 0.92.2 frequently with laser cutters and have no issues when I start with units set to px and scale set to 1. Then, I can change units to mm or inches at will.
I would love to try the 1.0 Beta version but could not get it to decompress. Tried downloading a 7z app but could not get it to open. Obviously I am not the best at technology (:
I am using a Glowforge laser.
First I design the gear system (usually in mm) with a sun gear, planetary gears, a ring gear and planetary gears outside of that to hold the ring gear in place I would show the design but cant get it to paste
After saving as I ungroup each gear so I have the canter hole and the teeth separate - I then delete all the teeth until I have a hole in the center and four holes where the exo-planet gears would be and draw and square around them so I have a base plate to hold the gear system. Save As.Part 2
Going back to original drawing I rearrange the gears for printing in the smallest area. Save as Part 3
Once base plate and gears are cut I use bamboo skewer pieces as axles for the gears and assemble. This is where I really find out how loose everything is
Gear extension line width set at .1mm. To get the gear center hole at 2.9mm for a snug fig on the axle pins I have to set the center hole at 2.8mm (kerf allowance I suppose)
It seems I don't know how the gear tooth size is measured, (apparently not from base of gear tooth to tip, which is what I expected but from tip of one tooth to the tip of the next
Beyond the Basics Gear Extension Help Wanted
Inkscape.org
Recently I was trying to design some planetary gears using Inkscape. I wanted to use bamboo skewers as the axle/pivot pins. The pins measured at 3mm so I set the center hold at 3mm. In the course of the design I ungrouped the gears and center hole to find the center hole measured at 3.1mm and when cut on my laser measured that plus kerf and then some. Additionally the gear teeth (set at 3mm) do NOT measure any where close to that (less than 2mm) which makes for a sloppy assembly.
Am I doing something wrong or ???
It sounds like a problem with the resolution. Which version or Inkscape are you using?
I am using Version 0.92. Resolution of my computer screen, resolution of my laser ? Not sure I understand, but am willing to try anything. So far I have made nearly 15 versions of the planetary gear system - all have sloppy fit and various sized center holes in the gears. Playing around and making adjustments wastes what little time I have and takes away from my desire to improve my design skills
Yes the 0.92 version has a different resolution from previous versions and you have to adjust the scale of things if the extension you're using doesn't convert the user units properly.
For example if you were using mm instead of cm.
The slack is there because of this error. Can you try 1.0 and see if that helps at all? Make sure to re-measure any existing graphics you have.
https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-master/?latest=1
@Craig Sorensen,
Please share an example file.
Also please describe your workflow and type of laser cutter.
Also keep in mind, the size displayed in Inkscape may include the stroke width, depending on your settings.
I use Inkscape 0.92.2 frequently with laser cutters and have no issues when I start with units set to px and scale set to 1. Then, I can change units to mm or inches at will.
TD
I would love to try the 1.0 Beta version but could not get it to decompress. Tried downloading a 7z app but could not get it to open. Obviously I am not the best at technology (:
I am using a Glowforge laser.
First I design the gear system (usually in mm) with a sun gear, planetary gears, a ring gear and planetary gears outside of that to hold the ring gear in place I would show the design but cant get it to paste
After saving as I ungroup each gear so I have the canter hole and the teeth separate - I then delete all the teeth until I have a hole in the center and four holes where the exo-planet gears would be and draw and square around them so I have a base plate to hold the gear system. Save As.Part 2
Going back to original drawing I rearrange the gears for printing in the smallest area. Save as Part 3
Once base plate and gears are cut I use bamboo skewer pieces as axles for the gears and assemble. This is where I really find out how loose everything is
Gear extension line width set at .1mm. To get the gear center hole at 2.9mm for a snug fig on the axle pins I have to set the center hole at 2.8mm (kerf allowance I suppose)
It seems I don't know how the gear tooth size is measured, (apparently not from base of gear tooth to tip, which is what I expected but from tip of one tooth to the tip of the next
Anyway, that's where I am. Thanx.
Attached is a revised blank template. Please download this file and try your workflow starting with this template instead of the default file.
Chime back and let us know how it goes.
TD
hope this helps. I am slowly getting better results