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: 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.

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Sad to hear that about lumnelab

. Hope he'll recover!!!

Here are the jpegs of all six images I intend to make signs from along with an image of an actual test I did in scrap plywood just to ensure the result would be what I want.

Nice job!

Hello,

Just discovered this extension. First, I would like to tell you THANK YOU very much! It's so cool!

I have a couple of questions:

1. I want to cut letters out of a metal sheet so I need the internal paths to be cut before the external contour is cut. Usually it does so automatically, but sometimes when I edit the paths after generating first code, it starts cutting vice versa - external contour first and then internal paths. Can you please tell me how to control this?

2. I have to use Dynamic Offset to account for the tool diameter, however I have two problems with it. They are more with Inkscape itself, but thought you might have a solution. First, sometimes after I select a path and press Ctrl+J the path gets distorted. I don't know why it sometimes happens while other times it doesn't. Second, the offset only works in pixels, but I like to work in mm, because the stuff I do is very small and in pixels it gets lost on the screen. Any ideas about these?

Thanks,
Dan

1. We've got some path sorting functions... But they do not take into account which path is inside and which is outside.
I think it is a kind of wish list to make ordering depending on internallity of the subpath. If you can help specify all cases or algorithm of ordering the paths it could speed up developing this function

. Unfortunately I've got really small experience working with cnc and all other machines, my experience sum is about 24 ours of working with homemade cnc mill. And about 3 years of talking with people at this forum

As a work around you can try breaking path apart (Ctrl+Shift+K) and sorting them manually.

2. Yes we know about lacks of inkscape's offsets (by the way Dynamic offset and offset made by Alt+( are different ones). In fact offset is really complicated task. I saw bugs in offset even in Rhino 3.x, which is really powerful CAD! So there's much to do about it.
We are working on our own offset function, which is almost done, it is at the testing stage. It works with Biarc paths (Gcode is a kind of biarc path) and offset problem is much easier in that class of curves. But it still in the development version.
As a work around again, you can try another inkscapes offset, ALt+"(" or ")", you can specify it's step in Preferences (Ctrl+Shift+P) - Steps. Naother advice - try to add some nodes by Extensions - Modify Path - Add nodes (I can mistake in exact spelling of the extension but it's something like that).

PS attach your svg, probably I could make more advices

.

Hi Nick,

Thank you very much for the prompt and detailed reply!

1. I would like to help with this, but I do not know how to define the algorithm. Basically each path that has any path surrounding it would be considered an internal path and you would want to cut it first (or provide the option to chose the order). Consider the letter "O", if I want to cut it, I first want to cut the internal circle and only then the external outline. You can't do it the other way around, because once you cut the external outline the letter is no longer attached to the material and you can't mill inside. Please tell me how I can help further with this.

When you suggest breaking the path and sorting manually, do you mean producing two Gcode files? One for each group?

2. The offset function you're working on sounds great! Please let know if I can help. I will try the workaround you suggest. I didn't know that you could change the steps. Thanks for the tip. I wish it could be done in mm instead of px.

I will get that SVG which has the distortion problem. Hope I didn't delete it

Thanks,
Dan

Here, attached is a simple SVG that I just made. It's a plain rectangle. When I try to use the Ctrl+( the rectangle gets distorted. The Inset/Outset in preferences is set to 2.000px.

This is not what I was talking about in the first post, where I said that Ctrl+J caused this, but the result is the same.

Thanks,
Dan

When you suggest breaking the path and sorting manually, do you mean producing two Gcode files? One for each group?

No, just break path appart, sort them along virtual axis Z, using PageUp/PageDown and export all of them at once with Path to Gcode. And make sure to uncheck Sort paths to reduce rapid distance.

Here are my trials with your rectangle:
Top left - offset using Alt+() - pretty nice, and notice that it remains sharp angles.
Bottom left - Dynamic offset - nice to, round angles but some distortion at the arc-line connection (see enlarged piece).
Right - using Test function of current dev-version. Exact offset, but the path is too simple, this offset could be buggish on complex paths. Can you attach the paths you are working with and needed offset distance, it will be useful for me to test offset on the real paths.

Hi Nick,

I don't have any more the file that was causing me problems with the Dynamic Offset, and was not able to reproduce it. However attached is the sort of work that I do. All paths need to be offset by 0.6mm (tool is 1.2mm diameter). The internal paths offset inside and the external path outside.

Sorting the paths with PageUp/PageDown like you suggested didn't work.

Regards,
Dan

If all your paths are simple enough, it could be better to use cutter radius compensation built in your CNC software.
G41 and G42 gcodes are used for that purpose.
http://linuxcnc.org/docs/2.4/html/gcode ... c:G41,-G42

What software are you using to control your machine?

I'll check sorting tomorrow.

Can you make a screenshot of your Path-to-Gcode window? All extension's settings are not saved in the svg, but saved in Inkscape options, so they could not been seen from svg file.

I've tried to export your svg and got correct order. See attached ngc.

Hi Nick,

I am using Mach3 to control the machine. I prefer not to add manually cutter radius compensation.

Yes, that SVG outputs correct order. But sometimes it doesn't. I tried the sorting thing you suggested to change the cut order at will, but it didn't work. If you like I can try to make a file which would cut the external profile first.

Regards,
Dan

Dan13 писал(а):Yes, that SVG outputs correct order. But sometimes it doesn't. I tried the sorting thing you suggested to change the cut order at will, but it didn't work. If you like I can try to make a file which would cut the external profile first.

Yes, I'd like to take a look on it

!

Hi Nick,

I am sorry. It appears that it was me doing something wrong. Sorting works fine now. I use Home and End keys and it works well. Too bad Inkscape doesn't display the levels of objects.

By the way, I received a reply from Inkscape staff regarding Dynamic Offset. It appears that you can enter units in the XML editor and Inkscape will convert to px automatically. If I work in mm for instance then I can enter an offset in inkscape:radius this way: "1mm" and it will be in millimeters.

Waiting forward to seeing your offset edition.

Regards,
Dan

Dan13 писал(а):Too bad Inkscape doesn't display the levels of objects.

Let me open to you one hack... Just add fill to paths, and you'll see the levels

. (different colors for different paths and 50-80% opacity could work better)

Dan13 писал(а):By the way, I received a reply from Inkscape staff regarding Dynamic Offset. It appears that you can enter units in the XML editor and Inkscape will convert to px automatically. If I work in mm for instance then I can enter an offset in inkscape:radius this way: "1mm" and it will be in millimeters.

Wow I have not knew that! Thanks!
By the way, you can move the second orientation point to 100 in pixels and then work with paths using px (1mm will be equal 1px then).

PS I do not remember for sure, but we've done a function which can show the order of cutting and tools belongings of the paths... Try this: in Tools library choose the last option Just check the tools and press Apply.

Hi Nick,

Nick писал(а):
Dan13 писал(а):Too bad Inkscape doesn't display the levels of objects.
Let me open to you one hack... Just add fill to paths, and you'll see the levels . (different colors for different paths and 50-80% opacity could work better)

Yes I saw it in some video I think, but I find numbers being more convenient. Anyway, thanks.

Nick писал(а): By the way, you can move the second orientation point to 100 in pixels and then work with paths using px (1mm will be equal 1px then).

Ah... thanks. Always more than one way to do the same.

Nick писал(а): PS I do not remember for sure, but we've done a function which can show the order of cutting and tools belongings of the paths... Try this: in Tools library choose the last option Just check the tools and press Apply.

Please see attached the result of doing this.

Regards,
Dan

Dan13 писал(а):Please see attached the result of doing this.

Yes, imagine it like layers in perspective those that are above will be cut before others.

Ah... but there is one little path on top of the "L". How do I tell if it's cut first or the "L"?

Dan

It's above L -> it will be cut first. If you add fill to paths, and still can see all the paths, then they will be cut from inside to outside. Otherwise you wont see some paths, because they will be under the outside one.

Here's a finished product from my most recent project. Thanks again for the excellent tool!

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