{"id":1288,"date":"2020-11-10T16:45:46","date_gmt":"2020-11-10T16:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/makerspace\/?page_id=1288"},"modified":"2026-03-24T12:48:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:48:42","slug":"svgs-tinkercad","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/makerspace\/svgs-tinkercad\/","title":{"rendered":"Importing & Exporting SVGs (Tinkercad)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This unintentionally tied into the Illustrator Monogram<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>workshop, so I\u2019ll be using one of the ones I designed from that guide in here. This is also a more advanced guide and assuming you have previous understanding of Tinkercad. I would also suggest following our 3D Modeling<\/a> <\/strong>workshop on our site, or make a free account and go through their own tutorials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Importing SVGS to Tinkercad:<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

This unintentionally tied into theIllustrator Monogram<\/strong><\/a> workshop, so I\u2019ll be using one of the ones I designed from that guide in here. This is also a more advanced guide and assuming you have previous understanding of Tinkercad. I would also suggest following our 3D Modeling<\/a> <\/strong>workshop on our site, or make a free account and go through their own tutorials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you followed along the linked guide and made your own monogram, great! Otherwise, set up a simple black-only design in Illustrator. Make sure that it\u2019s the only thing in the file. (When you export the SVG it will save EVERYTHING in the file.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Sure everything is expanded by going to Object > Expand<\/strong> or Object > Expand Appearance<\/strong> and continue until you see the Expand<\/strong> option available. (We cover that in depth in the Monogram guide.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once you\u2019re good, go to File > Save As<\/strong>. Go to the dropdown menu and select SVG<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hit OK<\/em> on the following menu. No need to tweak with anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And now we have our SVG file!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting up Tinkercad:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Select Create a New Design<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Using the Box, Cylinder, and Ring shapes in Tinkercad to create a flat, 3D design. Think like a pendant, keychain, or plaque. Or simply make a shape that fits your design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When you\u2019re satisfied with your base, go to Import<\/em><\/strong> on the right of the UI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select Choose a File<\/strong> and find your file where you saved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We\u2019re not worried about the size, so you can select either Art<\/em> <\/strong>or Artboard<\/em><\/strong>. Just go to Import<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Obviously this is WAY too big! You\u2019re going need to scale the imported SVG down. And because this is a diamond, I will have to turn it on its side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If there’s any import errors, you might need to go back to the SVG and switch things up, it’s worth exploring at some point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now there are three ways to go about it, as it\u2019s already a shape, you can keep it as is and have almost a raised and embossed look, or make it a hole on the shape to make the model look engraved instead. This design isn\u2019t the best for it, but the third option is you can set the SVG as the same thickness as your shape and make holes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To make a hole or engraved look, change the shape into a hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select all your parts and group them with the Group button. Engraved holes don’t <\/strong>go fully through the main shape, holes do<\/strong> go through the main shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re done, you can export as an STL for printing. For printing in the Makerspace, we have guides for the Ulitmaker<\/strong> and Prusa<\/a><\/strong> printers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exporting from Tinkercad for Laser\/Vinyl Cutting:<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

While not the best option for making laser or vinyl cut files, but depending on your model, it might be an option. Tinkercad only reads top down, so it won\u2019t entirely be a full breakdown of the model, more like a \u201csquishing to make 2D\u201d, with some tweaking the model could be cut or etched. For this guide you\u2019ll need a Tinkercad account<\/a><\/strong> and some sort of Vector Editing software<\/a><\/strong>, like Inkscape or Illustrator. I have Illustrator, so the guide will be Illustrator focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, make your model or open a previously made model in Tinkercad. I will be using the model I made for a previous guide showing how to use SVGs in 3D models<\/a><\/strong>. (I know it is rather full circle\u2014starting in Illustrator to Tinkercad and returning back to Illustrator.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is important that it only takes models with refined holes, like the above. I have tried it with different versions I made for this model and was only successful with this model in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, go to Export<\/strong>, on the upper right hand of the user interface. Select the .SVG<\/strong> option and the file will automatically download to your default download location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Editing in Illustrator<\/strong>: Laser Cutter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Open the model in the vector editing software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As you can see it opens as red lines\u2014which is the standard color for laser cutting. Tinkercad only reads as if the model is being entirely cut. The file itself is one large compound path, so we\u2019ll need to break it part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To do that, you need to swap your stroke for a fill, make a shape of a different color to put under the shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select both shapes and go the Pathfinder<\/strong> tool (if it\u2019s not there, go Window > Pathfinder<\/strong> to reveal it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From there, select Merge<\/strong>. This will fuse them together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now you must remove unwanted parts and organize the shapes however you desire them to be. They should be mostly broken back down into separate shapes from the compound path.  So if you intended to make some etches, now is where you\u2019d go in and fix it. Check out our post here for a more in-depth guide for setting up laser cutting and etching files in the Makerspace.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(I\u2019m leaving my etch lines red despite our cutter needing them black as a visual. You may not see them, but there are lines to cut out the triangles and the Z.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re ready to bring it to the laser cutter, go to File > Save As<\/strong> and save it as an .AI<\/strong> file. If you do not have Illustrator, save as an .EPS<\/strong> file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You may want to make the artboard 12×24\u201d for the lab manager before saving, but it is not a necessary. When you are done, give the AI\/EPS file to the lab manager with your material of choice to laser cut and\/or etch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editing in Illustrator<\/strong>: Vinyl Cutter<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Open the model in the vector editing software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As you can see it opens as red lines\u2014which is the standard color for laser cutting. Tinkercad only reads as if the model is being entirely cut. The file itself is one large compound path, which is okay for vinyl cutting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may want to check out out other post for a more detailed guide on exporting files for the vinyl cutter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To do that, you need to swap your stroke for a fill in the lower left hand corner. Vinyl cutters don’t care about color for the fill or stroke, so you may keep it red if you wish. I made mine black out force of habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You will, however, need to resize your artboard to 12×12 inches. Click on the Artboard Tool<\/strong> (Shift + O<\/strong> ) to access the artboard dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Set the W:<\/strong> and H:<\/strong> boxes both with 12 in<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now go to File > Export<\/strong> and select AutoCAD Interchange File <\/em> (.DXF<\/strong>). Hit OK<\/strong> in the following dialogue box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And there you have it! You can process to the vinyl cutter of your choice to set it up in their proprietary software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Guides<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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