I have been working on a new 2D program, in Visual Basic .NET 2003. The program will let you draw an image with your mouse, it tracks the cursor "X" & "Y" coordinates, the "Z" up/down is controlled with the left mouse button, while the cursor is over the picturebox.

The attached screenshot shows all the rapid moves in Red, all the drawing in light blue, and the green line sends the machine Home (with the click of the "Finish Code" button, at the bottom right side of the screen) Then will finish out the code with things like "M30"

On the right side is all the g-code produced (as you draw your image)
Don't flame me about the g-code you see in the image, I've only just started this project (and about 10 others)
You might notice "N15" that was the starting Point (Left Mouse Button Down = Z=-10.500 F50) of the drawing. By the way the text drawn is supposed to read "Switcher", the Rapid moves make it hard to read.

What I want to know is, would anyone have an interest in a program like this?

I would like to hear what everyone thinks, about this, should I finish it, or forget it?





.

Switcher,

I love the sound of this concept. In fact I had similar thoughts a couple of weeks ago when something I requiring cutting required a dxf to be generated and then G-Code from this.

My concept is exactly the same as yours except I wanted to use my Wacom A3 Graphics tablet that would 'appear' as a mouse in your program.

post : http://www.cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16115

Shows the end result of what I wanted. Another great program under development (CamBam!)

I had an old bashed up trophy - Shield. It would fit on my graphics tablet and using the pen I could simply run the pen around the shield on the tablet and hopefully create the g-code. Maybe some manual editing also.

I'm reasonably profficient in VB6 and recently purchased Studio 2005 .Net for work use although I have not had time to play with it in detail yet.

If you would like to post your .exe I'm willing to try the tablet idea out and post the results. If the code is open I'd love to take a look at it in .Net and see it progress.

Thank you.

Shaun

I have a tablet as well I coud try. An older Wacom ArtZ II 12x12. It should work MUCH better than a mouse.

Thanks santiniuk & ger21 for your input.

I agree with both of you about the drawing with the mouse, the end result is not good enough. I have been thinking about that while working on this project. I don't have a Tablet or Pen, so for now I'll have to deal with my lame old mouse for the drawing.

I have been googling for something else other than a Tablet to draw with, (a Pen only) no tablet. They do exist, though some limitations., like you can't draw on a white surface, and most are very bulky around the point. The Tablet idea is great, for items smaller than the tablet drawing area. What I want is to make a parameter in my program that the end user can adjust his own working area limitions, this would define the drawing area (Picturebox) on the monitor. I'm thinking that If the user had a very large object example: 4x8 sheet of plywood with irregular shapes, he could just trace any part of it and produce the code (maybe he only wants a certain object out of the whole 4x8 sheet) of course the pen would have to be wireless, for an object that large. :)

The program does not produce any usable code (YET) I'm still working on that. Like most folks here, I have so much going on, I try and code as often as I can, which is not as often as I would like.

I'll be out of town till Monday, so It will be next week before I can wrap this up enough for you guys to try on your tablets, again I may not have the g-code side of this finished by then, still you can try it out and let me know what you think.

santiniuk, the program isn't open source yet, I might consider that later on. If it does go open, I'll post it here on the zone.

Here is a link to something I found that is very close to what I would like to use for the drawing pen http://www.zyonshop.com/product/ipen.htm

Here is another screen shot, with the (Red) Rapid moves made transparent, so you can see what the image looks like a little better. It took about 10 seconds to sketch in the program. Look at the top right side of the screenshot (above "Checkbox1") the "901" is the number of g-code lines produced while drawing.

Again thank you both for your input, it really does help. :)

that would be really cool to be able to free hand like that , it could come in handy for a number of things , but the first thing that came to my mind is my two boys , ive been trying to explain to the cad/cam ,and they seem interested but aren t getting the concept , but if they can free hand and create code that would be cool ,they can see their creations being made ,
free hand designs for cabinetry would be nice also

when i tell my friends who are machinists that im teaching the boys cnc , they all laugh and say "don t like your kids much do you"

great idea dude i say finish it

This could could be real interesting when combined with gcode-to-dxf. There have been a number of times I have wanted to convert a graphic into something I can use to cut as an outline instead having to carve the whole image. Wintopo and other edge detectors just really don't cut it.

I also program and would be interested in helping out where I can.

Thanks,
RipperSoftware

Switcher,
Do us a favor and don't drop this project, I have many woodworking friends that have thousands of templets, I've been attempting to trace them on paper, scanning and using Inkscape to conevert to vectors. And then piecing the 8 x 11 tracings back together in cad software.
I can see where this program will be very useful, providing that it can also save to a dxf for editing and tweaking.

Keep up the good work.
Don

Just an update,
I havn't dropped this, I'm still working on the GDI+, and scaling the drawing.

Thanks for the interest, all.

I think I've decided to, hack my optical mouse for the input, (build my own pen).

Maybe go with a bluetooth wireless optical mouse (hack, into a pen) later on.

Later... :)

Back in the late 80's I used a drawing pad that had a magnetic "mouse" and it had a crosshair for spotting XY. The device also had buttons to start and stop the drawing.

Instead of hacking a mouse, why not make a crosshair and mount to the front or side of the mouse. Mill out of the clear plastic CD that is usually on top of a CD spindle stack.

With a laser mouse (ball-less mouse), you could make a mount that would be the outline of the mouse body and has a bumpout semicircle at the front for the crosshair. Mill a hole for the laser to look thru. Crazy glue the mouse to the mount.

RipperSoftware

Back in the late 80's I used a drawing pad that had a magnetic "mouse" and it had a crosshair for spotting XY. The device also had buttons to start and stop the drawing.

Instead of hacking a mouse, why not make a crosshair and mount to the front or side of the mouse. Mill out of the clear plastic CD that is usually on top of a CD spindle stack.

With a laser mouse (ball-less mouse), you could make a mount that would be the outline of the mouse body and has a bumpout semicircle at the front for the crosshair. Mill a hole for the laser to look thru. Crazy glue the mouse to the mount.

RipperSoftware

My Microsoft Mouse has 3 laser LED's and are arranged in a specific pattern in order to work. Don't think this would work on the mouse I have.

Jerry

This is just a sample of my program.

The g-code isn't correct, so you can't save as a text file yet, don't want machines crashing!

The thing I'm working on is the GDI+, I need the screen to re-paint the image faster than it is, now. When you first start the program all it will do is draw to the screen, If you check the "Add G-Code", it will add the "X" & "Y" locations to the textbox. Then you will see that the drawing isn't painting fast enough.

To clear everything out (Image, Text) click on "File|Clear All"






.

I get a runtime error (initialization error) when I try to run the file.

Jerry

Anyone else get the same error ?

.

Works fine here.

One thing that I see, is that you should figure out a way that if you moving horizontally or vertically, it will write a single line of code for the straight move, rather than a line of code for every .001 along the straight line. As long as the X or Y value isn't changing. don't write code. As soon as both axis change, then write the code.

Unable to open....."The application failed to initialize properly"......Windows XP

CJL5585, Kiwi

Thanks for the help, do both of you have administrator rights, on your PC?

Also, is this number (0x0000022) with the error your getting?



.

One thing that I see, is that you should figure out a way that if you moving horizontally or vertically, it will write a single line of code for the straight move, rather than a line of code for every .001 along the straight line. As long as the X or Y value isn't changing. don't write code. As soon as both axis change, then write the code.

ger21 ,

Thanks, I also noticed the excess g-code with straight lines. Thats on my list of things to work on.

I might just add a button to switch between freehand and straight line drawing. Then give the user an option to lift of "Z-axis" or not.

I still have a ways to go, on this program. :)

Thanks again.


.

Error code (0xc0000135)
administrator rights....Is this a setting? This is a stand alone PC and only one user.

How about holding the shift key to lock into straight line mode while it's held down?

I'm using XP Pro, btw, and didn't have any problems. Isn't it fun trying to figure out why it doesn't work on some PC's. ;)

I also am unable to run the program... tried opening in winzip and installing on desktop. The use of a "spaceball" would increase production I would think, I also like the idea of a spaceball and applying different commands like "erase" on the many buttons.

Ok, for eveyone that can't open "SketchCode", I think what you need is the ".NET Framework Version 1.1" installed on your PC. Below is the link for the download, follow the steps on the download page.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en

I'm not sure, but the "Windows Service Pack 2", might include the ".NET Framework", So you might go to the Windows Update site and just go ahead and update your computer first, restart your computer, then try my program. If that doesn't work then you might try that first step I mentioned (.NET Framework) It wouldn't hurt to update your PC either way.

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Let us know If any of this is a fix, or not.

Thanks Jerry.



.

This is great, but it needs to be integrated into something to help with editing, so you can go back and forth between the g-code and a dxf or pgm file so that points could be specified exactly where needed. Or so you could add free hand work to an existing cad geometry.

What youve got now though is awesome, even the way it is. Great stuff, please dont stop, I love it!

I bet you could work this into Mach as a wizard nicely.

Downloaded and installed ".NET Framework Version 1.1" and now can run OK.
Nice work...this program is looking very promising.
I've written a few programs with VB6 and sometimes need to install some dll files.

I also downloaded and installed the .NET Framework Ver 1.1, and it is working.
Thanks.

It is looking good.

Kiwi , CJL5585

Thats great news from both of you, I'm happy the ".NET Framework Version 1.1" download, solved the problem. Thanks for the feedback, it really does help me out. :)



I know a few members are interested with DXF support, being added to "SketchCode". For now I need to focus on getting some actual g-code out of the program. Maybe later on I can look into supporting DXF.

When I first started this project, I was trying to mimic "MS Paint" with a little twist, that is to create g-code from a simple freehand drawing. Does anyone know of a program that does what I'm trying to do, with "SketchCode"?

I think I've got the issue with the slow GDI+ drawing resolved, So now I can put some focus on getting the g-code correct, and save as a Text file. I won't post another example until I get a little more done on the g-code.


Again, Thanks to everyone...

Jerry



.

.


This is my latest version of "SketchCode".

First, I am not responsible for what you do with the g-code that "SketchCode" creates!

So, I strongly recommend that you run the code thru a simulation program before you run the code on an actual cnc machine.

Things Added:

(1) You can "Save As..."
(2) You can "Open..." (external .txt file)
(3) Adjust "Scale"

Note: I have a ways to go with Scale (of g-code) & Rotation. Some of the drop-down menus, are not enabled yet.

For anyone that has trouble running "SketchCode", Look at Post #21
Don't forget to press the "Finish Code" button at the bottom right-hand corner of the program, when your finished drawing , the button will finish out the g-code, M30 etc....


Let me know what you think, good or bad. :cheers:

Jerry






.

.


Just a couple of screenshots, the first one is "SketchCode".

The second image is a shot of the g-code produced with "SketchCode" and simulated in NCPLOT v1.1 (which is a cool program) :)

Jerry

.

Wery nice program!
If its posibel to put in a bakground image that you can draw of some patern it wod be nice! :)
The one thing i dont like is that you putt F in evry line makes it hard to edit the fed laiter.

And i did some edits to show the start and ending I nead to run on the iso machin at work
%
( SketchCode )

N 5 G90 G00 Z=0.100
N 10 G90 G00 X=0.000 Y=0.000
N 15 X=0.121 Y=0.096 F75
N 15 G01
N 15 G00 Z=-0.100 F50
N 15 G01
N 20 X=0.122 Y=0.096 F75
N 25 X=0.122 Y=0.097 F75
N 30 X=0.123 Y=0.097 F75
N 35 X=0.123 Y=0.098 F75
N 40 X=0.124 Y=0.098 F75
N 45 G00
N 45 Z=0.100 F55
N 50 G00
N 50 X=0.000 Y=0.000 F150
N 50 M30
N 50 %


%
( SketchCode )

N1 G90
N2 G00 X=0.000 Y=0.000 S6000 M3
N3 Z=0.100
N4 G01 X=0.121 Y=0.096 F75
N 5 Z=-0.100
N 6 G01 F50
N 10 X=0.122 Y=0.096
N 15 X=0.122 Y=0.097
N 20 X=0.123 Y=0.097
N 25 X=0.123 Y=0.098
N 30 X=0.124 Y=0.098
N 35 G00 Z=0.100
N 40 X=0.000 Y=0.000
N 45 M30
%

Switcher......Looking good.
I needed to edit the code by removing all the "=" with wordpad.
Then able to backplot (Geometry from NC) onto the screen using BobCAD.

Jakrro,

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll change the Feed like you suggested (that would make edits faster).

I was planning on adding an option, so you could have more than one background open at a time (kinda like a tabbed browser) with the drawing surface transparent.

Lots of ideas :)

Jerry




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Kiwi,

Thanks, looks like I need to make everything that goes into the g-code as an option for each item (Feed , = etc...) the program is still very rough.

Keep up the good suggestions, I'm listening. :)

Jerry



.

From the other post where you linked me this program.

I have a suggestion. Make it possible to import dfx, or converted gifs. With the cordinates already created.

Now where your software comes in. You draw above the graphic and the codes highlight as you pass over them and create the order of events tool path.

I hope that makes sense.

importing jpeg images to trace would be a great thing

.

dertsap, & Deviant

I already have a version of "SketchCode" that will allow you to open any "Bmp, Jpeg, Gif" file as a backgrond image that you can trace. It basically is 2 layers, you draw on the top layer, which is transparent. Thats how I did the "Flower" in your Post (Deviant):

Link:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23652&page=2

As far as DXF files, I'm looking in to that.

I'll post the updated version of "SketchCode" here, as soon as I get things cleaned up a bit. :)


Jerry



.

This is an updated version "Sketch2Code v1.30".

Added:

(1) You can now select to have a "Z-axis" or not.

(2) You can open a background image ( BMP - JPEG - GIF )




If you don't need the "Z-axis" uncheck "Add Z-axis" in the lower left corner of the screen. It is checked by defualt.

If you would like to open a background image "Image|Open Background Image" After you are finished tracing the background image, you can close the image out by "Image|Close Background Image" so that you can see your image path. You can open or close any supported image as often as needed.

I'm changing the name of this program to "Sketch2Code", The reason is I did a Google search, and found a Java application with the same name (SketchCode).

Enjoy,

Jerry






Update:

If you have a problem running this program, take a look at post #21.




.

*shakes pompoms*

You can do it switcher!! *grins*

This should help me alot with the quilt project. I do have one question.

Last night I was toying around with your program and drew out the pattern then saved the gcode to a text file and tried to import to ncplot.

It gave me some error message like it didn't like the code that was generated.

Do I need to do something else to the code?

*Sorry I don't have the exact message, I'm at work atm*

Hmmm.

I've been working with the latest version of "NcPlot" with no problems at all. The code generated by my program is a plain old text file (.txt). It should work.

Make sure you are not trying to open it with the "DXF" button under "File"

In "NcPlot" make sure to open your ( .txt) file by "File"|Open File"

If this doesn't help let me know.

Jerry


.

I'll check it out when I get home.

Pretty sure I was importing it correctly. But maybe I didn't.

Deviant,

I'll check back in the morning, to see how things go. Gotta go to work. :eek:

Anyone else, feel free to check out my program.

Later...

Jerry


.

thats pretty good
now i just need to work on my mouse to eye coordination :D

New version works great..... except it's upside down. = P~

I was doing it right, I guess the previous one that I downloaded didn't work.

*shrugs*

Need to be able to specify a canvas size now. When I import pictures, the canvas size changes, but I can't adjust or reset it. I.e. Tracing different elements from multiple pictures.

Either way, cool program.

Thanks

Switcher
Your new version is looking really good.
I found when drawing I couldn't afford to let the left mouse go else it would generate a G00, Z and Feed change. If this could be disabled somehow on occassions when the user wished. I personally would be quite happy to add these onto the code after doing the drawing but that may not suit everybody.
Just my 2 cents worth. Thank you for the good work.
Kiwi.

New version works great..... except it's upside down. = P~

Deviant, I'll check into that. I plan on doing a overhaul on the scale of the drawing.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Switcher
Your new version is looking really good.
I found when drawing I couldn't afford to let the left mouse go else it would generate a G00, Z and Feed change. If this could be disabled somehow on occassions when the user wished. I personally would be quite happy to add these onto the code after doing the drawing but that may not suit everybody.
Just my 2 cents worth. Thank you for the good work.
Kiwi.

Kiwi, I can work that in, maybe a MessageBox, or a CheckBox asking you to add that specific "Z" lift off.


It will be a few days before I can get to this stuff. :)

Later...

Jerry


.

A suggestion for this would be to make something that could import an EPS file. I've done this a few times and it's a pain but it's doable. EPS files are just vector coordinates but tons of good programs write these (Illistrator, Corel Draw, Flash). The format is pretty easy to figure out just opening them with notepad. The hardest part is dealing with Bezier curves. Instead of circles or arcs, all non-straight lines are made with Bezier curves. So you will likely need to calculate them into a bunch of small lines. The only thing I haven't found a good way of handling is an easy efficient way to set the tool height. You could edit it point by point, but that would be a pain.

If you're interested I can post the code to do most of the work (meaning the EPS import).

If you're interested I can post the code to do most of the work (meaning the EPS import).

Sounds interesting, post the code, I'm curious. :)


Jerry

Sounds interesting, post the code, I'm curious. :)


Jerry

OK, here's what I could dig up quickly. It's in VB6 but shouldn't be hard to port to .NET.


Sub import_Click()
CommonDialog1.Filter = "EPS (Lines Only)|*.EPS"
CommonDialog1.ShowOpen
FileName = CommonDialog1.FileName
If FileName = "" Then Exit Sub
Open CommonDialog1.FileName For Input As #1
temp = ""
startsave = 0
While Not EOF(1)
Line Input #1, lot
lot = Trim(lot)
If lot = "%%EOF" Then startsave = 3
If startsave = 2 Then
linetype = Right(lot, 1)
If Len(lot) > 2 Then lot = Left(lot, Len(lot) - 2)
'******* move
If LCase(linetype) = "m" Then
epstype(x) = "m"
cutcur(numcuts, 0) = x
If x > 0 Then cutcur(numcuts - 1, 1) = x - 1
epsname(numcuts) = "Task #" + Str(numcuts)
numcuts = numcuts + 1
eps(x, 0) = Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1)
eps(x, 1) = Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " "))
mainx = eps(x, 0)
mainy = eps(x, 1)
x = x + 1
End If
'******* line
If LCase(linetype) = "l" Then
epstype(x) = "l"
eps(x, 0) = mainx + Val(Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1))
eps(x, 1) = mainy + Val(Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " ")))
mainx = eps(x, 0)
mainy = eps(x, 1)
x = x + 1
End If
'******* Curve
If LCase(linetype) = "c" Then
x1 = mainx
y1 = mainy
x2 = mainx + Val(Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1))
lot = Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " "))
y2 = mainy + Val(Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1))
lot = Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " "))
x3 = mainx + Val(Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1))
lot = Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " "))
y3 = mainy + Val(Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1))
lot = Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " "))
x4 = mainx + Val(Left(lot, InStr(lot, " ") - 1))
lot = Right(lot, Len(lot) - InStr(lot, " "))
y4 = mainy + Val(lot)
For per = 0.2 To 1 Step 0.2:'This will break the curve down into steps of .2 - or 5 segments. This was done for speed and should probably be more like .02 for a smoother curve.
epstype(x) = "l"
eps(x, 0) = xsp(xsp(xsp(x1, x2, per), xsp(x2, x3, per), per), xsp(xsp(x2, x3, per), xsp(x3, x4, per), per), per)
eps(x, 1) = ysp(ysp(ysp(y1, y2, per), ysp(y2, y3, per), per), ysp(ysp(y2, y3, per), ysp(y3, y4, per), per), per)
mainx = eps(x, 0)
mainy = eps(x, 1)
x = x + 1
Next
epstype(x) = "l"
eps(x, 0) = x4
eps(x, 1) = y4
mainx = eps(x, 0)
mainy = eps(x, 1)
x = x + 1
End If

End If
If lot = "%%EndSetup" Then startsave = 1
If lot = "IP" And startsave = 1 Then startsave = 2
Wend
If x > 0 Then cutcur(numcuts - 1, 1) = x - 1
x = x - 1
Close #1
End Sub



And you need at least these two functions to ease up the Bezier conversion:


Function xsp(x1, x2, p) As Integer
xsp = ((x2 - x1) * p) + x1
End Function

Function ysp(y1, y2, p) As Integer
ysp = ((y2 - y1) * p) + y1
End Function

This is an updated version "Sketch2Code v1.35".


".NET Framework"

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en


.

Dear Sr - Maddam.

My name is Klaus Karner , and im trying to make program that allow me to draw a CNC file.

i just did somesthing with Vb 2005 , i can draw almost every line , and some arcs.

do you know where i can obtain information about it.

thanks

Klaus+

Klaus,

Sorry, I didn't see your post sooner.

This link might help you with VB.net GDI+ code.

http://www.java2s.com/Code/VB/2D/Catalog2D.htm



.

Hey Switcher ur program is very well written i dint have any thing to simulate yet but it looks really kool

Frank

Thanks,

I have a lot more work to do, before the program is finished.

Maybe I'll finish it some day soon? :)




.

Just to let everyone know, I hope to have an updated version of "Sketch2Code" sometime today.

The (freehand) g-code should be more efficient. :)

I traced a small image (outline), before it produced over 4000 lines of g-code, Now I've got that same image down to less than 450 lines of g-code. :)

This version will still be the "Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1", after that future versions will be "Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0" (I'm trying to stay caught up with MS).


.

This is version 1.37 of "Sketch2Code", it should produce more efficient g-code than all versions before.



Note:
You will need the "Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1" (or later) before you can run this program.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=262D25E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en
.