Introduction: From 2D to 3D Using Inkscape to Shapeways / OpenSCAD)

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Skip to Steps 4 and 5 for JUST the 2D to 3D app part and the bonus online app.

The rest is possibly useful details.

Using Inkscape and TinkerCAD:
https://www.instructables.com/id/From-inkscape-Vect...

covered quite nicely.

Using Inkscape and Openscad:

On Thingiverse: (Inkscape to Openscad)

Version 6:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:25036

Updated: (Version 7)
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1065500

I'm going to cover the 2D to 3D App in Shapeways as
well as well as a bonus online method.

Super Easy.

Step 1: First You Have to Have a File in Inkscape.

Create your own:

If you're using text, it's helpful if the text touches.

AND, whatever you're converting should either be:

2d-3d (Shapeways): an image
Blender or OpenSCAD - a Path (Path menu - Object to Path)
TinkerCAD - SVG OR an image

Some will work better than others in Shapeways Or Blender.

Blender provides more tweaking options than Shapeways.

2D to 3D - Shapeways Link:
https://www.shapeways.com/creator/2dto3d

TinkerCAD (Shapeways) Link:
http://www.tinkercad.com/ (Separate Subscription / Login)

Shapeways (On Meshlab / Netfabb) - X3DB Format
(This link seems finicky. It IS there. The title is:

How to Fix and Repair Your 3D Files Using Meshlab and Netfabb
(Try searching for that if the link doesn't work.)http://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/how_to_use_mesh...

NOTE: Blender does NOT open X3DB format

What they tell you:

Meshlab
http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/ * IMPORT: PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, PTX, V3D, PTS, APTS, XYZ, GTS, TRI, ASC, X3D, X3DV, VRML, ALN

* EXPORT:PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, VRML, DXF, GTS, U3D, IDTF, X3D

What they don't tell you:

NetFabb Basic (x3db - Shapeways) - v5.2 (what I'm using)
http://www.netfabb.com/downloadcenter.php?basic=1

* IMPORT: STL, X3D, X3DB, 3DS, GTS, ZIP, PLY, AMF, WRL, NCM, OBJ, FABBLIST

* EXPORT: STL, STL (ASCII), STL (Color), GTS, AMF, X3D, X3DB, 3DS, Compressed Mesh, Wavefront OBJ, PLY, VRML, Slice

Step 2: Working With Text in 3D (Printing)

Text (see images); it will help ENORMOUSLY if it:

- Sits on a base (svg2stl can help with this)

1) Convert your text to an STL

2) Mount it on a base using the 3D modeling

software of your choice (TinkerCAD or Blender
are free alternatives that will work for this)

- is connected to text above and / or below it
- if the letters are connected|
- is embedded into an object (using path-exclusion (Inkscape) OR boolean
(3d modeling software, e.g. blender) - I've been told it can be done. Just
use Inkscape it's easier. Save yourself the frustration and aggravation.)

Path Exclusion NOTE: Problems with the P,A, and O - loose parts

Bonus: Openscad

Openscad (using Difference): Problem with the D - loose part

I've included the appropriate SVG and STL (and OpenSCAD) files (if you're interested) here for your benefit.

Attachments

Step 3: From Inkscape to Shapeways - Text

More ways to use Text using Shapeways.

Some of these MIGHT look familiar based on the previous step.

There's also a, potentially useful, tutorial here on using Blender
to create MyMo like initial cubes (embedded Video).

A quite lengthy (hopefully informative) post, started by me,
from Shapeways on Text in 3D Printing Design:

http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&got...

as well as a post at:

http://www.blenderartists.org

on using text with a spiral, useful for napkin holders, pencil
cups, etc:

http://blenderartists.org/forum/archive/index.php/...

Step 4: From Inkscape to Shapeways - 2D to 3D App

Quite a little while back I posted this:

Seed of Life - Inkscape
https://www.instructables.com/id/Seed-of-Life-Inksc...

with a promise to follow up with THIS tutorial.

So, here it is:

Once you've created the Seed of Life in Inkscape,
export it as an image and then upload that image
to Shapeways 2D to 3D app, here:

2D to 3D App
https://www.shapeways.com/creator/2dto3d#landing

(this also works for line drawings you create in other
applications (Photoshop, etc) as well as (public domain)
art pulled down from the web)

You don't need an account to use the app, but, an account
can come in handy if you want to tweak it or save it at Shapeways.
An account is Free.

You:

1) Upload your file

2) Adjust your settings

3) If you like it (want to save it)

NOTE: It saves in file format X3DB an uncommon file format. Netfabb Basic will read AND convert it. See step 1 for more info.


(If it doesn't look right, tweak it, try it again)

Pretty simple.

SUCCESS is based on knowing a little about what's most likely to work
and THAT's the reason for all the other stuff leading up to this.

Step 5: Bonus: Online App - SVG2STL

SVG2STL
http://www.svg2stl.com

Just like it says. Upload an SVG.

Adjust your object's thickness.

Download.

Pretty simple.

They also have a gallery of recent uploads
you can browse and download.

Hope it's all proved useful, maybe interesting.

Problems, questions, concerns, let me know
in the comments.