OpenSCAD Polygon Output for Inkscape

This is an Inkscape extension that allows you to save your Inkscape drawings as OpenSCAD (.scad) files containing modules with 2D polygons suitable for extruding into 3D shapes.

Author: Marty McGuire

Website: http://github.com/martymcguire/inkscape-openscad-poly

Credits

• This is a port of my MakerBot Unicorn G-Code Output extension.
• Inkscape is an awesome open source vector graphics app.
• OpenSCAD is an awesome open source language for creating 3D objects.
• Scribbles is the original DXF-to-Unicorn Python script.
• The Egg-Bot Driver for Inkscape provided inspiration and good examples for working with Inkscape's extensions API.

Install

Copy the contents of src/ to your Inkscape extensions/ folder.

Typical locations include:

• OS X - /Applications/Inkscape.app/Contents/Resources/extensions
• Linux - /usr/share/inkscape/extensions
• Windows - C:\Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions

Usage

• Size and locate your image appropriately:
  • Setting units to mm in Inkscape makes it easy to size your drawing.
  • The extension will automatically attempt to center everything.
• Convert all text to paths:
  • Select all text objects.
  • Choose Path | Object to Path.
• Save as OpenSCAD:
  • File | Save a Copy.
  • Select OpenSCAD Polygons (*.scad).
  • Save your file.

Use in OpenSCAD

You'll find each path from your Inkscape file appears as a module in the resulting OpenSCAD file.

For example:

// my_drawing.scad
module badge_face() {
  polygon(points=
	[[-16.704628355490897, -20.69348168358303], [-13.479257330090903, -35.207652708983034], [-2.1904573300909078, -23.918852708983053], [17.161771644509102, -71.493081683583029], [-11.866570406290904, -40.045710658183026], [-13.479257330090903, -63.429652708983014], [-36.056857330090907, -56.172565785182996], [-30.412457330090902, -2.9539396327830048], [-0.57777040629089527, -1.3412527089830064], [16.355429593709104, -20.693481683583002], [38.126687542909096, -57.785252708983023]]
	, paths=
	[[0, 1, 2, 0], [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 3]]
	);}

You can include this file in your OpenSCAD program and use OpenSCAD's 2D-to-3D extrusion methods, calling these modules to get the 2D data!

// my_object.scad
include <a_badge.scad>;

linear_extrude(height=20)
  badge_face();

TODOs

• Use square and circle where applicable for simplicity?
• Combine layer contents into single modules?
• Apply fill colors to the polygon defs.
• Parameterize smoothness for curve approximation.
• Include example files/templates.