Inkscape Gcodetools plug-in English support forum

[Nick]

Generated Gcode in EMC2

Type	Extension of vector graphics editor Inkscape
Developer	Gcodetools develop team
Written in	Python
OS	Cross-Platform (Windows, Linux, MacOS)
Version	1.6.03
License	GNU GPL
Downloads	7800+

Gcodetools

Gcodetools is a plug-in for Inkscape. It prepares and converts paths from Inkscape to Gcode, using biarc interpolation.

This article is unfinished. You can help cnc-club expanding it.
Screenshots and photos are needed. Please post them at this thread.

Features (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Features

Preview of the generated Gcode in EMC

Gcodetools area pocketing

Gcodetools lathe

Gcodetools engraving by Rene

Bears by Durachko

Export to Gcode

• Export paths to Gcode
• Using circular (biarc approximation) or straight line interpolation
• Automatic path subdivision to reach defined tolerance
• Multiply tool processing
• Export Gcode in parametric of flat form
• Including personal headers and footers
• Choosing units
• Multi-pass processing
• Numeric suffix is added to generated files to avoid overwriting

Lathe Gcode

• Compute trajectories for lathe
• Fine cut
• Define fine cut's depth
• Define fine rounds
• Two different computation functions for fine cut
• Standard axis remapping

Path's area processing

• Building area paths
• Area paths could be modified

Engraving

• Building trajectory according to the cutter's shape
• Defining different cutter's shapes

Tool's library

• Defining different tool's parameters (diameter, feed, depth step, penetration feed, personal Gcode before/after each path, cutters shape, personal tool's changing Gcode)
• Tools can be managed by Inkscape's standard procedures (copy, delete, assigned to different layer)
• Multiply tools processing

Orientation system

• Applying scale along any axis
• Apply rotate in the ХY plane
• Apply translation along any axis
• Apply transforms according to arbitrary points

Post-processor

• You can create custom post-processor by writing down the commands or choose from the list of default post-processors
• Scale and offset Gcode
• Gcode commands remapping
• Parameterize Gcode
• Round floating point values to specified precision

Verifying tools for the scene

• Select and remove small paths (area artefacts)
• Tool's alignment check
• Cutting order check

Plotter cutting

• Export to Gcode for plotter with tangential knife. Forth axis A is knife's rotation.

License (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

License

Inkscape and Gcodetools are licensed under GNU GPL.

Install (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Install

Windows
Unpack and copy all the files to the following directory Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions\ and restart inkscape
Linux
Unpack and copy all the files to the following directory /usr/share/inkscape/extensions/ and restart inkscape

Usage (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Usage

Spanish manuals and tutorials by txapuzas (También he escrito un pequeño manual de uso en español, está disponible en)
Engraving tutorial by Dormouse
Area cutting tutorial
Making gears using Gcode tools and gear extensions
Export to Gcode from previous tutorial
Version 1.1 manual and tutorial

Screenshots (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Screenshots

Gcodetools plug-in tutorial (2600*1300 px png ~ 700Kb)

Curve to Gcode result

Preview of the generated Gcode in EMC

Get latest version (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Get latest versions

Latest stable version Gcodetools 1.7

gcodetools.tar.gz

Gcodetools 1.7

(75.25 Кб) Скачиваний: 82937

Older versions(ver 1.5)

gcodetools-1.6.tar.gz

Gcodetools 1.6

(57.1 Кб) Скачиваний: 9023

(ver 1.5)

gcodetools.tar.gz

Gcodetools 1.5

(21.17 Кб) Скачиваний: 5141

(ver 1.4)

gcodetools.tar.gz

(14.72 Кб) Скачиваний: 18825

(ver 1.2)

extensions.tar.gz

(11.25 Кб) Скачиваний: 5056

Dev-version

You can try the newest development version by getting it from github repository https://github.com/cnc-club/gcodetools via web interface or using git clone git@github.com:cnc-club/gcodetools.git .
You'll need to run python create_inx.py to create inx files. After that install procedure is the same with the stable version.

Translations

Gcodetools is included into Inkscape v 0.49 so it will have native translations as other Inkscape's extensions. Until it is released you can use some self made translation packs:

• Spanish translation: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23923366/gcodetools_es_00.zip

Credits (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Credits

Developers:

• Nick Drobchenko (Nick)
• Vladimir Kalyaev (Dormouse)
• Henry Nicolas (Alfcnc)
• Chris Lusby Taylor (ChrisInNewbury)

Translators:

• John Brooker (greybeard from cnczone.com)

Develop (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Develop

At the moment following features are being developed:

• Plasma cutter extension
• Turning lathe extension
• Plotter extension

You can help us improve Gcodetools in several ways

• Writing a report / bug report
• Improve help and manuals
• Publish G-codes / SVGs / other code
• Publish photos / videos
• Make a bug report
• Help develop new features
• Suggest a new feature

Tested on (для просмотра содержимого нажмите на ссылку)

Tested on

Linux
Ubuntu 9.10 14.04 + inkscape 0.48 (older Gcodetools versions also work with 0.46, 0.47)
Windows
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 + inkscape 0.46, inkscape 0.47
MacOS
There are some reports on successful work on MacOs.

[avex]

I have a problem. When I click 'apply' in 'Path to Ccode' a window appears with next text - 'Path to Ccode' working, please wait - and than nothing happens. So problem with Measure extension: 'Measure Path' working, please wait.
What should I do to fix it?
Win 7, Inkscape 0.92

[KubaAseph]

Hi!

I'm trying to make a file for pen plotter using gcodetools.
Most of images are pretty complicated, so let's say it's just a simple shape with a wide contour and some small details inside.
Is there any way to draw it whole (ie. "what is black will be black on print")? Cutrently I'm getting only countours of the shapes, without infill.
I tried area, but 1. It takes lots of time to convert (for some reason Inkscape uses only 1 core) and 2. It breaks some inner details (expansion needed to completely fill bigget countour will turn small details into shapeless blobs).

What I'd like to achieve is 3D-printer-like style, ie. contours of filled contour drawn first, then: a) infill at constant angle or b) concentric infill (similar to area but only between previously drawn contours).

[tcom4]

Gcodetools is a plug-in for Inkscape

[HealeyV3]

Hi All,

I'm trying to use the AREA FILL functionality of this plug-in to create G-Code.

However, when I go to use this, I don't get the back and fourth pattern like the images in the instructions have.... I don't believe it's working properly.

Is there any updated tutorial on how to do this using 1.7?

The process I used was I made a simple rectangle, added some text, did a difference. Made sure object was path -- Then I used "Fill Area" tab in GCode Extension... No matter what parameters I put in, nothing seems to happen when I click Apply.

I get the errors:
Orientation points have not been defined! A default set of orientation points has been automatically added.
Cutting tool has not been defined! A default tool has been automatically added.

Then, my image has some simple spiral or zig zag pattern that isn't one that goes back and fourth like I would need.

$100 via PayPal to anyone that can help me figure this out and get multiple layer CNC going.

please contact me at healeyv3 at gmail.com if you think you can TeamViewer in and help me get this going.

Thanks!

[al_us]

Good job, friend!

[Ohmarinus]

Hi all, I wanted to say that I think this extension is still a very popular one and should be continued! I'm noticing an increase in people trying to use pen plotters nowadays and this extension is having it's own issues.
I have fixed a lot of things myself, such as changing the str(s) to s.encode and('utf8') etc etc etc.

Besides fixes I have added support for multiple pens with tool changing scripts and other additional features (extra parameters etc). But I am running into a problem with the tool changes and I hope someone can help me with this problem.

I'm using Inkscape 92.2 on a Max OSX computer with the 1.7 gcodetools extension.

What happens:
Tool change script gets applied on every path instead of on every layer.
This causes the tool change to run a lot when you have a drawing with a lot of detailed lines.. This causes wear on the machine and makes print time unnecessarily long.

If anyone knows how to fix this? Spasiba. I would be grateful.

[Ohmarinus]

Because I can't edit my previous post, I wanted to say that I fixed the errors I've come across in the gcodetools script. The pen plotter I've built now works flawlessly with the tool changing and rounded numbers. I might post my own edit some time somewhere on the web. I'll post an update if the new edited script becomes available. I will also correct all grammar and language errors and have added support for pen plotters in the script where you can choose for example 'Pen 1', 'Pen 2' and 'Pen 3'. Also, I will include a small tutorial file or maybe a video on how to set up the layers and how to edit the extension files to include your own settings in the extension because I think that copying in your custom gcode each time into the Inkscape file is tedious to say the least.