BMP to G-code

[jlagran he]

Hi..
I plan to cut some balsa..

Oke, example:
I got plan (paper not digital).
Lets build airfoil first.

so I scan the airfoil, then I get BMP file (bitmap) Monocrome, its black and white only.

now I need G-Code to order the CNC to cut balsa,
its 1 layer only,
move Z axis to -2 to cut and to 0 to no cut.

The question is:

1. how to convert BMP to G-Code?
not to cut it by engraving, but cut it by follow the line?

or I must draw again the airfoil to DXF? then use AXE converter to create
G-Code?
I'm not familiar with Autocad.

Please help.

Thanks

[Ken_Shea]

jlagran he,
If you are in a position to purchase software you can use Meshcam. http://www.grzsoftware.com/ it is down-loadable.

DeskArt has a down-loadable demo:
http://www.deskam.com

I do not know of any free software, that is not to say there isn't any.

[dcarr]

VS3D can also import bmp images, automatically trace shapes, and output G-Code.
It is not free (but it is currently on sale).
http://www.DesignsComputed.com/vs3d

[MrBean]

I think the free version of wintopo will do what you require.

Regards Terry.....
http://www.terry-is.f2s.com/

[birdmun]

the convoluted path I have is bmp to eps to dxf to nc
bmp-eps using potrace command line based http://potrace.sourceforge.net/
eps-dxf using pstoedit command line based http://www.pstoedit.net/pstoedit
dxf-nc using aceconverter gui based http://www.dakeng.com/man/ace.html

[ToyMaker]

All the versions of CorelDraw from about 8 up have raster-to-vector converters built in. Draw can be had *very* cheap from some auction sites.

robotic regards,

Tom
= = = = =
“In the blue grass region A paradox was born: The corn was full of kernals And the colonels full of corn.”
-- John Marshall, Supreme Court Justice, describing Kentucky

[John Tribe]

I have come across a couple of relatively cheap (compared to Corel Draw) programs to convert jpg to a CNC usable format has anyone tried these?

SimplyCam V1.5
Bmp2Cnc
R2V

They all claim to make CNC usable code and all are slightly different. The prices range from 35 to 49 euros. The programmer is in Italy

http://www.mr-soft.net/en/index.html

[kunte]

I tested a program bmp2cnc. Besides the demo program are also pictures of the test as attached. From these images are much realistic to obtain relief in artcam. I wonder what this picture and how to create a base image so?

[sinha_nsit]

I guess you all are referring to BMP of a 2D pattern, not a 3D object such as an areofoil.