Reducing lines

This is probably obvious and simple, but...

I have a shape created by three hexagons and they are abutted along edges. I would like to combine them into a single object and in doing so reduce the lines so that the abutted lines become one line. the reason is that currently they are processed twice along each abutted line by my laser.

I can use combine but this still leaves them as discrete editable shapes in node editor, so clearly the double lines are still there.

If I use weld I lose the lines.

Any thoughts?

  • Steve, there's a macro for that...............if no one else chimes in, I'll find you the link

    I don't have it in front of me right now

     

    • Steve said:

      Any thoughts?

      Combine the shapes to a single object / curve
      Select the shape with the shape tool
      Break Curve (This will bread each curve at its node points)
      Now Break Curve Apart (Ctrl - K)
      Run Macro - Remove Underlying Dups (attached)

      removeUnderlyingDups.gms
      • Diane, Thanks.

        Jeff,

        Thanks for the macro and it works perfectly on the image I unloaded. Unfortunately I didn't really think about the subtleties of overlapping and duplicates.

        The hex was an example of some overlap things where there are true duplicates but more common the overlap is not a duplicate but a different length such as in the image below:

         

        • I'm not sure if it would be accurate enough, but on that second example you could try convert to bitmap and then do a centreline trace.

          • Harry,

            That is exactly the kind of effect I am looking for, A centerline trace of lines that are visible at the top layer, but I don't believe it would be accurate enough to go to bitmap first as I am often working in a 0.2mm tolerance (my laser kerf width in acrylic).

             

              1. Select both
              2. Create Boundary
              3. Delete the original
              4. Redraw the one line.

              Not a macro, but works. Wouldn't work if the inside lines have curves.

              Steve said:

              The hex was an example of some overlap things where there are true duplicates but more common the overlap is not a duplicate but a different length such as in the image below:

               

              • Steve said:

                Diane, Thanks.

                Jeff,

                Thanks for the macro and it works perfectly on the image I unloaded. Unfortunately I didn't really think about the subtleties of overlapping and duplicates.

                The hex was an example of some overlap things where there are true duplicates but more common the overlap is not a duplicate but a different length such as in the image below:

                 

                Hi Steve,

                What I am seeing is that you have a image of 2 parts as your image the bigest is the top and the bottom is the smaller one.

                what I just done was to change the outline colour of the smaller image < 2 > then  lock the smaller image.

                I then used the Bezier tool to draw the bottom and the left hand side of image 2 and when I was happy with the image I unlocked the smaller image < 2 >

                with the coloured outline and delete the number 2 image.

                then  welded or grouped the finished product .

                I hope that this will help

                Joe

                • Hi Joe,

                  Understood and for a simple shape I can see where this would work well; however, the actual shape is a little different and with a lot of repeats.

                  I was going for a concept but below is more like the actual job I would run and in this case there would be a great many duplicated passes. Each item is only 40mm high (1.57") but the work table is 18" x 12" as below (not yet optimized):

                  EDIT: I just ran the remove underlying duplicates and it remove 171 duplicates, which is obviously a huge saving but there are still many overlying Hairline lines (it is only Hairline width lines that are cut on my laser).