Printing to pdf creates a file ready for conversion with no more effort. The full version of pepakura does allow you to export to vector formats but so far I've found all of them to be incompatible with inkscape or not suitable to lasering (dotted lines made of a solid line and painted to look like a dotted one). This will allow you to print directly from pepakura to a vector based format.

I'm sure other pdf printers will also be acceptable. Pepakura, the demo program will suffice but a full version will allow you to save your work in progress.Ī vector editing package, I'm using Inkscape, Cute PDF, or a similar pdf printer and access to a laser cutter.ĭownload and install cute PDF. This instructable shows how to convert pepakura plans into a set of files that can be passed through to a laser cutter so you don't have to spend hours cutting and scoring. What if there was a way to combine the power of Pepakura with the power of a laser cutter? The only downside is that you get a large set of 2D plans that need to be cut out and scored before assembly. These can be printed out with a standard printer and assembled back into a 3D model. Pepakura is an amazing program that unwraps 3D models and turns them into flat 2D nets, with the appropriate fold signs and flaps.

Pepakura design