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Printable plate files

Discussion in 'CAD' started by Donald D. Parker, Feb 8, 2015.

  1. Donald D. Parker

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    Are there any files around for the Ox Plates that I can print to paper as templates to layout on aluminum stock to hand cut the plates. I don't have my 3D printer working yet and do not have access to a mill/router to do them on a machine. Any help appreciated.
     
  2. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    When I want to get a 1:1 scale paper template of a sketchup part to make by hand I use a plugin called GK Postscript Plot it was written by a gentleman in the UK by the name of Geoff Kime.

    You can download it at this link, then install as you would any other sketchup plugin..
    https://app.box.com/s/zqreq818orwm8lgcson9

    If your computer can not view Postscript files, Check out a program called Ghostview ( it needs Ghostscript to work ) It works really well for me.
    http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview/get50.htm

    This will allow you to print accurate templates from any regular paper printer. It even auto assigns indexing marks to each page, if your part is to large for just one 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
     
  3. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    Here is a quick video on how to use it. ( at lest how I do )..
     
    Cncpro and JustinTime like this.
  4. supertechster

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    Very nice tutorial on making a 1:1 for old-world style hand-werk. As a metal worker and welder, lord knows I have done a lot of that. Does this process, provided one has all the plug-ins, work for 'any' 2D or 3D filetype?
     
  5. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    Thanks, If you can open the file in sketchup and flatten it, Everything should work the same. I use it mostly for 2d flat plate work needing perfect placement of drilled holes as well as 3d scroll saw work. I have imported and used stl / dxf / dwg / skp files with no problem.
     
  6. Donald D. Parker

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    Thank you, Kyo, I spent most of last evening following Sketchup's directions for printing to scale. Although possible it is a horrendously painful way to get a one to one hard copy and I still had to export it as a pdf, then insert it into Adobe Illustrator to further adjust only to find it out about .25" on the motor mount holes.

    I will try this method. If I had all the parameters I could create the parts with Postscript, I used to operate a print business and occasionally had to program in Postscript.

    Thx again
     
  7. Taji

    Taji New
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    Hi! Great! Thanks Kyo for reports and inspiration, i'm also planning design parts of my v1 cnc machine i've a strong steel structure recycle from an air condition base and this tips and tricks comes helpfull to complete, redesign and make other parts.
    Thanks, Taji
     
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  8. William Glover

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    Thanks Kyo Much appreciated
     
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