Playground export units

[ru1973]

I always assumed the units in the playground are mm. When I use the default values for the Belt script, and export SVG, the overall size of the shape is in pixels. If I export the same values to a DXF file, the size is correct in mm.

I can update the SVG code to add mm after the size values in the first line of the SVG code. Should I assume that the SVG code is supposed to be exported in pixels?

[danmarshall]

Hello @ru1973 , units are not assumed. So everything is unitless by default in Maker.js. When you export to any specific format, that format's default unit system is assumed. In SVG, I believe it is pixels. In DXF I believe it is inches (not exactly sure).
But if you set your drawing's units then it will export as that unit system.
See https://maker.js.org/docs/basic-drawing/#Units and https://maker.js.org/docs/exporting/#content

[ru1973]

Thanks Dan. I will add the mm to the SVG export.

[ru1973]

Hi Dan,

I think this is where I got confused. The screen says that the exported data is in millimeters.

[ru1973]

Hi Dan,

I only reopened it to show you what is being displayed in playground for export. Is there an easy way to add mm to code in SVG file when you do a copy and paste in playground? I can do it in a text editor before I paste it into the program I use for laser.

<svg width="95" height="60"

to be <svg width="95mm" height="60mm"

I have been using the technique to copy the SVG code from the playground and pasting it into a laser program called Lightburn. I then scale the file in Lightburn from pixels to mm. I only started doing it because it was a bit quicker than saving a DXF and importing it into Lightburn. Maker.js exports unitless to DXF, but because Maker.js is using mm, it sizes correctly in Lightburn. If it isn't easily doable, I will ask the developer of Lightburn if he can add the code to his SVG import when the units aren't identified with mm, Inch, etc.

Ralph

[danmarshall]

Hi Ralph,
Thanks for pointing this out. In the playground my intention was to have a unit chooser at the time of export. As of now, it only has the Accuracy setting:

Is this the part you are referring to - having an additional Units options here?

[ru1973]

Yes. A units option would be nice. I think it would add flexibility to the export option. Most people that are "makers" either use mm or imperial units. But, I am sure that there are other users who want to create SVG icons etc that would like the shapes to be in pixels.