New export to Gcode plug-in for Inkscape

[cyclestart]

I am using Ubuntu 10.04 + Inkscape 0.47 (from official distro) then 0.48 (from ferramroberto's .deb)

Did you remove 0.47 or are both versions on your computer ? I wouldn't have mentioned the ferramroberto deb if I had been aware of the repository Var provided.

[Tesla_Cubed]

You mean there's no Gcodetools menu at all?
Try to run inkscape from the terminal. If there no error everything should work.
Are you sure that you've copied all the files into "/usr/share/inkscape/extensions"? ( for devel version path should be ""/usr/share/inkscape-devel/extensions"")

Running UBUNTU 10.04 clean install and inkscape 0.47 from the default repositories. I had the same problem menu but no tools. So tried running from command line no errors, and still no menus. Here is how I fixed hope this helps out in all the *.inx files change the line that says
dependency type="executable" location="extensions">gcodetools-dev.py
to

dependency type="executable" location="extensions">gcodetools.py
*Note: I there are leading < and a / and a closing > but they make the code not show if I type it in exactly as in the file. The important part is taking off the -dev so it can find gcodetools.py

then the menus are there and seem to be working .

Thanks for a good extension. Looking forward to using it.
TC^3

[Var]

Ups... that's my fault...
I have both gcodetools and gcodetools-dev versions, so I have not noticed this bug.

Thanks for the report !

[Lanthan]

Running UBUNTU 10.04 clean install and inkscape 0.47 from the default repositories. I had the same problem menu but no tools. So tried running from command line no errors, and still no menus. Here is how I fixed hope this helps out in all the *.inx files change the line that says
dependency type="executable" location="extensions">gcodetools-dev.py
to

dependency type="executable" location="extensions">gcodetools.py
*Note: I there are leading < and a / and a closing > but they make the code not show if I type it in exactly as in the file. The important part is taking off the -dev so it can find gcodetools.py

Thanks! That's exactly the symptoms (the same I had with stock Inkscape 0.47 first) and the cure looks right. Going to test it soon (but the week and its cortege of distractions has just kicked in) ;-) .

Other Gcode extensions for Inkscape appear to be working, but I am still mostly using a qcad --> dxf2gcode --> gedit --> emc toolchain for now... far from perfect but it satisfies some old CAD bias.
Cheers, L.

[cyclestart]

Path to gcode for a square

%
(Header)
(Generated by gcodetools from Inkscape.)
(Using default header. To add your own header create file "header" in the output dir.)
M3
(Header end.)
G21 (All units in mm)
G00 Z5.000000
G00 X0.000000 Y60.000000
G01 Z-1.000000 F100.0
G01 X50.000000 Y60.000000 Z-1.000000 F400.000000
G01 X50.000000 Y10.000000 Z-1.000000
G01 X0.000000 Y10.000000 Z-1.000000
G01 X0.000000 Y60.000000 Z-1.000000
G01 X0.000000 Y60.000000 Z-1.000000
G00 Z5.000000
%

path offset for 6mm cutter

%
(Header)
(Generated by gcodetools from Inkscape.)
(Using default header. To add your own header create file "header" in the output dir.)
M3
(Header end.)
G21 (All units in mm)
G00 Z5.000000
G00 X-0.312500 Y62.987200
G01 Z-1.000000 F100.0
G03 X-2.234472 Y62.005191 Z-1.000000 I0.312757 J-2.983954 F400.000000
G03 X-3.000000 Y59.987200 Z-1.000000 I2.234729 J-2.001945
G01 X-3.000000 Y9.987200 Z-1.000000
G03 X-2.121232 Y7.865968 Z-1.000000 I3.000300 J0.000300
G03 X-0.000000 Y6.987200 Z-1.000000 I2.121532 J2.121532
G01 X50.000000 Y6.987200 Z-1.000000
G03 X52.121233 Y7.865968 Z-1.000000 I-0.000300 J3.000300
G03 X53.000000 Y9.987200 Z-1.000000 I-2.121532 J2.121532
G01 X53.000000 Y59.987200 Z-1.000000
G03 X52.121233 Y62.108433 Z-1.000000 I-3.000300 J-0.000300
G03 X50.000000 Y62.987200 Z-1.000000 I-2.121532 J-2.121532
G01 X-0.000000 Y62.987200 Z-1.000000
G03 X-0.156250 Y62.991272 Z-1.000000 I-0.156250 J-2.996229
G03 X-0.312500 Y62.987200 Z-1.000000 I-0.000000 J-3.000300
G01 X-0.312500 Y62.987200 Z-1.000000
G00 Z5.000000
%

Is the .0125mm difference caused by rounding in inkscape ?

If the variance is no greater than this example it's no problem. My machine is not that accurate. Mostly curious.

[Var]

Yes. Inkscape do it's offset on bzier path which is very difficult to offset. Thus ofset of bezier curve is not a bezier curve.
It really depends on what kind of paths you are working at. If they are simple like squares you can try use offset that was created by gcodetools developers...

...Offset is kind of difficult stuff ...

[yohudi]

Hi There,

I've been using inkscape to generate vector heightmaps for relief generation and toolpathing.. Mesh surfaces like those in my downlad area at cnc4free.org homepage.. and the toolpaths to cut them.. as per the ebook at the same site..

I can displace an inkscape generated vector.. with an inkscape generated gradient to create intaglio or v-carving toolpaths... but.. the actual displacement and translation to gcode is performed outside of inkscape in gmax.. using CNC_Toolkit... for the coding...

It seems to me that the data is already there IN inkscape..... and that it could go straight to GCode..

I think this could work in a similar way to the method gcodetools uses to make area paths.. with just the 'lookup' of Z height.. based on a maximum Z value (entered by the user).. and the path boundary + fill and stroke in the .SVG file... does this sound right to you ?

If it does can you let me know.. ? Would you be interested in investigating this further ? I think this has some very interesting possibilities. I don't know much about XML or how it's manipulation as data is applied to .SVG files.. and then to GCode.... but I am prepared to learn... which is why I'm asking this here...

Any help / info would be much appreciated

Regards

Danny

[Var]

I'm not sure to ger you right... Are you explaining a kind of image2gcode (bitmap to gcode) or not?

[yohudi]

Hi There,

Thanks for your quick response.

It could be used for relief toolpathing.. but I'm thinking more of toolpaths for V-carving or intaglio...

If you take a look at the images below you can see the 'manual' version of this process.. I developed it in GIMP.. and have recently moved it to Inkscape..

Essentially a centerline style vector has the node or vertex Z values adjusted based on the colours in the bitmap. This causes the Centerline vector to deform... into the right shape to carve the path as a V-Carving toolpath..

It's like the inverse of relief toolpathing... targeted on a user-specified shaped path.. like the centerline vector... if you look at the top right section of the second image, showing the green shape, you can see several centerline vectors each deformed a little more in Z. Where the spline is sat inside the text outline (in the 'T') only a single spline or pass is shown.. for clarity. This process and images are in my free ebook.. I'm always chasing improvements.. and checking out FREE tools to see if they can assist etc.. so I thought with the transfer of this method to Inkscape.. gcodetools might be able to do something with it... to code it directly. I think all the required data is there in the inkscape file... I'd be happy to send you an example for testing etc...

It would not be necessary to adjust the the node Z values in Inkscape... The vector just 'holds' the X and Y coordinates to enter into gcode.. all you would need to do is extract the Z value from the shading where nodes overlap it.. and then write that into the code.

I think this does have some interesting possibilities .. if it would actually work..

Regards

Danny

[Var]

We've got a function like this called engraving.
It engraves path's interior with a shaped mill. Basically it goes through the middle line of the path and calculates needed z-depth.

[yohudi]

We've got a function like this called engraving.
It engraves path's interior with a shaped mill. Basically it goes through the middle line of the path and calculates needed z-depth.

Hi There,

Thanks again...

This sound's just the job... I'll have to check it out... Does your 'engraving' process adjust the Z height as the shape thins.. or is it a 'fixed height' process.. I will check myself.. but you will know this straightaway...

Regards

Danny

[Var]

Does your 'engraving' process adjust the Z height as the shape thins..

Exactly, more over it can create sharp angles!

Here's an small example http://cnc-club.ru/forum/download/fi...=631&mode=view . We are still lack of photos... need more feedback...