Windows
Unpack and copy all the files to the following directory Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions\ and restart inkscape Linux
Unpack and copy all the files to the following directory /usr/share/inkscape/extensions/ and restart inkscape
You can try the newest development version by getting it from github repository https://github.com/cnc-club/gcodetools via web interface or using git clone git@github.com:cnc-club/gcodetools.git .
You'll need to run python create_inx.py to create inx files. After that install procedure is the same with the stable version.
Translations
Gcodetools is included into Inkscape v 0.49 so it will have native translations as other Inkscape's extensions. Until it is released you can use some self made translation packs:
Linux
Ubuntu 9.10 14.04 + inkscape 0.48 (older Gcodetools versions also work with 0.46, 0.47) Windows
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 + inkscape 0.46, inkscape 0.47 MacOS
There are some reports on successful work on MacOs.
Hi there,
When I set the Z depth in orientation points to 2mm or more the simulation in Openscam looks OK like this:
But when I change Z depth to below 2mm it looks like this and is upside down
Why is that?
Here is a few first lines of gcode when Z depth is 1.9mm:
Probably it's because you have two situations: Z from 0 to 2 and Z from 0 to -2 which are mirrored along the 0. That's why you get mirrored cut.
Define both upper limit and bottom limit of machining in orientation points.
By the way it's a good practice to assume 0 to be top point of your material - i.e. everything below 0 is material. And make all machining from 0 to -depth. After having the Gcode you adjust offsets in your Control software (using G92 or other Gcodes).
I've been playing with it for hrs and can't make it work right.
The Openscam simulation shows opposite of what it should be. When tool position shows 10.0000, the tool is inside the material and cuts its own path instead of objects.
When tool position shows -1.00000 then it is above material and just follows the object path in the air.
See attached pictures.
Can you convert my svg file to gcode and run openscam simulation to see whats happening please.
I have used the following settings: orientation points: 2 point mode, Z surface 0.00000, Z depth -1.00000 gcode tools->path to gcode: options: scale along Z 1.00000, offset along Z 0.00000, minimum arc radius 1.00000
preferences: Z safe height 10.00000 ( all in mm)
It's caused by openscam configuration.
By default Z axis points to the top. So Z blow 0 should be material, Z above 0 is air. Check your configuration.
I've been having a hard time getting gcodetools to generate an efficient rectangular pocket operation. I create a rectangle, convert it to a path, then do a zigzag fill area. Select the zigzag, ungroup, break apart, combine, simplify, then run path to gcode. The resulting gcode does this for each segment:
Note the unnecessary Z movements, this is at each corner of the path. Without break apart/combine/simplify steps, it's even worse, it does multiple back-and-forth Z-axis movements on each corner.
When I edit the generated zigzag path, each corner shows "3 nodes" when I select it. If I join those into one, the Z-axis back-and-forth goes away, and the generated gcode follows an efficient horizontal path.
Is this behavior by design? Am I doing something wrong? Other methods of filling the area have similar problems.
Hello everyone.
I used to be able to use gcodetools just fine, but after a hiatus, tried again and can't get it working. Every time I try to convert a path to gcode, the generated file is empty. In fact, it doesn't even have the declaration headers with G and M lines.
Things I tried:
- Convert text to path
- Convert shapes to path
- Import a bitmap and vectorise
- SVG file submitted by other users here, including orientation and tool config.
Every time, whatever I have is successfully converted to path (clicking it indicates "Path" in Inkscape status bar).
I also tried:
- 3 different machines
- Some run XP, others Win7
- I tried both portable and standard installation packages.
As I explained earlier, no matter what combination of all these things I try, gcodetools creates an empty file.
Any help please? Did I miss something obvious?
Thanks!
Thanks for the reply Nick.
It doesn't really matter what path I try, but I just attached an example including a rectangle and a letter converted to path.
I do not get any errors, although the "Please wait" message remains a very long time before I get an empty gcode file.
Also, I should have stated that I used Inkscape v0.91 with Gcodetools v1.7.
However, I also tried gcodetools versions all the way down to 1.4, and still can't get it to generate some gcode.
It makes me wonder if the Python script is running at all! I didn't install any other Python interpreter apart from the one bundled with Inkscape.
thanks again Nick.
I didn't try before any other extension as all I wanted was your gcodetools extension!
But you are right: the other extensions bundled in Inkscape 0.91 do NOT work either!
I try to install .Net 4.0 runtime and C++ 2010 runtime, but they do not seem to help.
I try to find which other runtime I might need, but couldn't find additional info. C++ 2008 won't even install on this XP machine, not sure why.
Alright, so I installed the following Visual C++ runtime:
- 2005 SP1
- 2008 SP1
- 2010 SP1
... and now it seems to work fine! Thanks again Nick!
However, I don't know which one of the 3 is really needed, does anyone know?
Thanks!