In this five hour, 2 part workshop, we will show you how to go from beginner to advanced designs focusing on how to build your vector files for the laser cutter, plasma CNC, or Wood CNC. This will be 2.5 hours on MONDAY Dec 14th from 6:30pm to 9pm and 2.5 hours on WEDNESDAY Dec 16th from 6:30pm to 9pm. The cost is $60 to the general public, $50 for ChattLab members. ChattLab members should message Jeff for the discount code.

Topics will include the following skills/techniques:

Day 1 --Configuration of Inkscape for the most effective way of designing for CNC designs. --Install the Extension super pack that has all of the most useful extensions (over 50 of them) --Basic navigation and how to make shapes. --Node modification and manipulation. --Scaling and rotating objects. --Selecting grouping and working with groups and shapes. --Importing other designs from the internet and scaling them to work with your material of choice.

Day 2 --Bitmap tracing, allowing you to download a graphic and make a vector. --Advanced node manipulation allowing you to easily manipulate shapes. --Text welding, allowing you to create a path of cursive text that is unbroken (for laser cut wall art). --Box design, how to use the box extension to build finger jointed boxes of all types. --Living hinge extension, allowing you to make laser cut plywood that bends in a curve.

All information covered will be handed out in either hardcopy or a wiki link so you can refer to the material later. If there is a particular skill you are looking to have covered, let us know in the question section of the signup and we'll try to incorporate it in the lesson.

A windows machine will be provided for you, though you are welcome to bring your own laptop. If you use our hardware, you may want to bring a USB flash drive to get the extensions to take home to your PC.