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) 103133 скачивания

Older versions(ver 1.5)

gcodetools-1.6.tar.gz

Gcodetools 1.6

(56.6 КБ) 15526 скачиваний

(ver 1.5)

gcodetools.tar.gz

Gcodetools 1.5

(21.32 КБ) 11068 скачиваний

(ver 1.4)

gcodetools.tar.gz

(14.72 КБ) 27862 скачивания

(ver 1.2)

extensions.tar.gz

(9.01 КБ) 10876 скачиваний

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.

[markjacks]

I was wondering if anyone knows a way to move the Inkscape canvas to -Y. I do all of my milling in +X and -Y because it moves the gantry out of the way when it is at home-zero. If I could have Inkscape default to there it would eliminate a step. Now X0, Y0 is in the bottom left. I would love it if it could be in the upper left. Then when I process it in Gcode_Tools it would be in the right place. -Thanks

[narvf]

Try to move grouped orientation points above the page, will this be ok?

[ThierryM]

Hi,
I'm trying to run Gcodetools for Inkscape 0.91 under Ubuntu 14.04 but I have an error with orientation points :

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "gcodetools.py", line 6749, in <module>
gcodetools.affect()
File "/usr/share/inkscape/extensions/inkex.py", line 268, in affect
self.effect()
File "gcodetools.py", line 6685, in effect
self.orientation()
File "gcodetools.py", line 5851, in orientation
doc_height = inkex.unittouu(self.document.getroot().get('height'))
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'unittouu'

Regards,

Thierry

[mRziq]

Thanks

[mRziq]

How can I Download GcodeTools??

[Nick]

Hi,
I'm trying to run Gcodetools for Inkscape 0.91 under Ubuntu 14.04 but I have an error with orientation points :

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "gcodetools.py", line 6749, in <module>
gcodetools.affect()
File "/usr/share/inkscape/extensions/inkex.py", line 268, in affect
self.effect()
File "gcodetools.py", line 6685, in effect
self.orientation()
File "gcodetools.py", line 5851, in orientation
doc_height = inkex.unittouu(self.document.getroot().get('height'))
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'unittouu'

Regards,

Thierry

Are you using the latest version of inkscape? We have a report of the same error which had appeared in some dev versions..

How can I Download GcodeTools??

You can get it with inkscape (latest version), or you can get dev version at github: https://github.com/cnc-club/gcodetools

[ThierryM]

Hi,
I'm trying to run Gcodetools for Inkscape 0.91 under Ubuntu 14.04 but I have an error with orientation points :

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "gcodetools.py", line 6749, in <module>
gcodetools.affect()
File "/usr/share/inkscape/extensions/inkex.py", line 268, in affect
self.effect()
File "gcodetools.py", line 6685, in effect
self.orientation()
File "gcodetools.py", line 5851, in orientation
doc_height = inkex.unittouu(self.document.getroot().get('height'))
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'unittouu'

Regards,

Thierry

Are you using the latest version of inkscape? We have a report of the same error which had appeared in some dev versions..

Thanks for your reply, it was un unstable version. Now with the 0.91.0+47~ubuntu14.04.1 (stable release), no error message.
Regards,

Thierry

[rorrr]

I'd like to get better at greyscale to depth. I want to be able to mill areas at different depths and it would be even better if I could set a gradient from white to black on an area and mill that sloped. (that sounds way to hard to code to me though).

I see you can change the depth function to c*d but it looks like the area function won't pick up the color of the underlying shape so i have to select the milling paths and change their stroke color lighter or darker to get it to mill them at different depths. Am I thinking correctly? If so, can we have that feature ie the milling paths get their color from the underlying shape (or I guess you couldn't see them then so maybe a complimentary color of the same intensity)?
Thanks,
Robert

[GeorgeA]

Hello,
Is there a way to create drill holes using Inkscape .91pre4 with GCodetools? I drew circles for 5/16" holes with solid FILL and no Stroke. Using a 1/4" diameter tool in GCodetools. I ran the generated gcodes with a Pen tool to see what happen. Looks like its cutting/drawing outside the circle. The cut would have created a much larger hole than 5/16". Should I set my circles to 1/16" diameter and still cut with 1/4" bit? Does GCodetools support drilling operations?

Thanks for your help!

[Nick]

Does GCodetools support drilling operations?

Yep, use DFX-points for that, you will got a drill in each point.

[tony_4]

guys please i would be very gratefull if someone could make the G-code for me and send it to me here. It is a simple 24 teeth gear, 15.0 mm tooth size, 10.0 degrees pressure angle and a 30.0 mm diameter of a center hole. I know this is very easy for you but i really can dot it by myself. Thank you very much i hope to receive an answear from you soon.

[GeorgeA]

Hello Guys!

I have a Default tool defined setting the "passing feed" to 999. But my gcode file does not contain 999 as a feed rate anywhere.

Below is just the first several lines of the file. Z safe height = .25" so I thought between each path after "G00 Z 0.2500" would be the passing feed rate of 999. How and where does passing feed get used?

Thanks for your help!

%
(Header)
(Generated by gcodetools from Inkscape.)
(Using default header. To add your own header create file "header" in the output dir.)
M3
(Header end.)
G20 (All units in inches)

(Start cutting path id: path4156-60-89)
(Change tool to Default tool)

G00 Z 0.2500
G00 X 13.7838 Y 2.7512

G01 Z -0.1250 F 20.0000(Penetrate)
G01 X 13.7742 Y 2.7283 Z -0.1250 F 40.0000
G01 X 13.7513 Y 2.7187 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7283 Y 2.7283 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7188 Y 2.7512 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7283 Y 2.7742 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7513 Y 2.7837 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7742 Y 2.7742 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7838 Y 2.7512 Z -0.1250
G01 X 13.7838 Y 2.7512 Z -0.1250
G00 Z 0.2500

(End cutting path id: path4156-60-89)

(Start cutting path id: path4156-60-89)
(Change tool to Default tool)

G00 Z 0.2500
G00 X 13.7838 Y 2.7512

G01 Z -0.2500 F 20.0000(Penetrate)

[Nick]

guys please i would be very gratefull if someone could make the G-code for me and send it to me here. It is a simple 24 teeth gear, 15.0 mm tooth size, 10.0 degrees pressure angle and a 30.0 mm diameter

Just try to use Inkscape's Gear extension it's fairly simple.

Below is just the first several lines of the file. Z safe height = .25" so I thought between each path after "G00 Z 0.2500" would be the passing feed rate of 999. How and where does passing feed get used?

To be true, I do not know how does Passing feed works, but I know that all moves at G0 are made on the Rappid speed that is defined by your machine controlling software (Mach, LinuxCNC, etc.) And "F" do not influence at them.

[GeorgeA]

Hello Nick,

Is there a way to get all the Tool parameters added as comments to the gcode output? I know "(Change tool to Default tool)" is generated. Plus there is "tool change gcode" for entering custom function name. But it would be nice to have all the parameters used when generating gcode available as comments maybe inserted before the header.

For debugging and documentation purposes a "verbose comments mode" that dumps all parameters into comments would be great.
Not only tool information (like diameter, feed, shape,passing feed,depth step, etc) but also the original document name (.svg) too.

GCodetools is good stuff! Thanks for all your help!

[Nick]

Hmmmm im not sure about that... there's an option to generate additional log file, that will contain more information.
See last parameter in Preferences tab.

[adamguy]

Hi,

I have started using the gcode extension for inkshare, its great, thanks for sharing it!

I had a question, its really simple I am sure. I am finding it hard to see where to adjust the depth of the z axis in the extension options.

Currently it always exports with z cutting at 0, I need it to cut at -45.

Any help appreciated,

Adam

[Nick]

I am finding it hard to see where to adjust the depth of the z axis in the extension options.

it should be in the orientation points... But either you should add them every time manually (using Orientation points), or change it in the orientation points using text tool.

[adamguy]

Thanks Nick,

Found it. This is a great tool and perfect for what I am doing.

Adam

[nguyenab]

Hi

I am trying to create G-Code where it will fill in the text for me as well, and not just the outline.

I followed this youtube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxUF9T53zSA

However, after I click Apply to the 'Area' screen, I don't get the same as in the video. Instead I get this (see attached image).

What am I doing wrong???

[Nick]

Gcodetools uses Inkscape's internal offset, which sometimes sux...
You can try to limit offset ammount, and reduse offset step... And correct manually any bugs later.