I have previously used laser cutters and 3D printers, however, Wendy gives some very handy advice on FabLab’s digital fabrication machines. I will document the most useful for myself here:

Laser cutter

• Download the templates for all laser cutters. Efficient design practice.
• They use vector based software (illustrator).
• Rocket ship symbol , enhance thin lines.
• Rasterising is horizontal so flipping things

3D printer

• Layer height must be multiple of nozzle size as well as width???

Digital Embroidery

• Load com with ubuntu. Click Ubuntu again. Ubuntu is vector based.
• Load Inkscape.
• Fabric held in plastic embroidery hoops. Inkscape page size needs to be size of one of the embroidery hoops (written on frame of hoops).
• Set pg dimension = file – doc properties -width/height = embroidery hoop dimensions.
• Enable pg border and manual zoom.
• 2 stitch types- running stitch and zigzag.
• Fill and stroke settings. Select square w paintbrush icon above T. Choose any dashes other than straight line. Won’t affect what it looks like on machine. No fill w dashed line = running stitch.
• Blak line = zigzag. also no fill. Adjust width to what u want (mm).
• To fill= Select fill. Will outline fill if u select a stroke. Untick for normal fill.
• Export by = extentions – inkstitch -params. Assign each object some parameters. (or previous extention settings.
• Params – repeat should default to 1. Default 1.5.
• Apply will apply for the one obj. 0.4 is default for zigzag spacing.
• for fill. Expand helps the fabric not be drawn together and therefore shrink. Max fill stitch length leave 3 prob. Spacing between rows changes lots.
• Final step is to export file. Deselect all. extentions, inkstitch. eng. embroider. output file format is DST. file explorer then guest data folder. right click ur folder name then copy and paste in directory. Click live preview.