Newbie- DXF to GCode software for laser cutting?

[scriptster]

Hi everyone!
Not a complete newbie but new to the particular task at hand.

I've been doing some very light duty laser cutting (craft foam with 200mW laser diode - http://elabz.com/laser-cutting-diy/ ) and the development process goes something like this:

1. Draw it in Inkscape
2. Save the final shape in DXF R12 format
3. Convert it to GCode using DXF2GCODE
4. Cut it using EMC2

note: everything's done in Linux,

it's the Convert it to GCode using DXF2GCODE part I'm having a problem with. DXF2GCODE is a wonderful program but it does not really care about the sequence of cutting the shapes. Since you cannot cut the outer shape before the inner ones, I have to manually re-shuffle the shapes and move the outer ones towards the end of the file. Very tedious process.

I have written a simple PHP script that moves shapes around in the GCODE file and puts the largest ones at the very end of the file. Will be happy to share the script it if anyone needs it. But it has limitations - the "largest" means more lines of code - just as simple as that - and this approach can backfire spectacularly if your outer shape is a large but simple square.

Anyways, rant aside, can someone recommend a Linux software that would do DXF (or SVG) conversion to GCODE while keeping track of the nestled shapes so when I run the code it always cuts the inner shapes first?

Thanks!

[marcelg]

I also use linux but have never used DXF2GCODE.

That being said, you could use camexpert (www.qcad.org/camexpert_downloads.html) to convert your DXF file to GCODE. It has the ability to optimize the path.

One small note: camexpert is not open source but it is cheap. I think I paid $150.00 for it. You can download the trial version which times out after a few minutes.

[dewme5]

Look into sheetcam as well. There is a linux version, and the trial will output 180 lines of code.

[kritzler]

Try SimplyCam
(MR Soft software tools) a windows program, runs under linux (about 75.--$), free trial version available.
kritzler

[kritzler]

Try SimplyCam
(MR Soft software tools) a windows program, runs under linux (about 75.--$), free trial version available.
kritzler

[scriptster]

Originally Posted by kritzler Try SimplyCam ... runs under linux...

Do you mean, Win version runs under Wine? I couldn't see any Linux-related info anywhere on the site.

By the way, it's been a while since I posted this but I've yet to settle on a good way to treat the sequential cutting of nestled shapes. Does anyone know if the feature I'm looking for has a standard or customary name?

In other words, when I'm looking for a description of another CAM software that looks promising, what feature name am I looking for? No one seems to call this "sequential cutting of nestled shapes" which, I admit, is a mouthful. What else do they call this? It seems such a common issue in plasma and laser cutting ...

[kritzler]

Hello Scripster
Yes, Simplycam runs under wine. I tried another program, works in the same way: Cut2D (Vectric). You can set little bridges by mouseclick, good preview, good customizing.
>"so when I run the code it always cuts the inner shapes first?"
In both of these programs you can fix the order of the cuts: inner cuts first.
Have a nice day!
kritzler