So Close to laser etching!

[Ben Smith]

Hello all,

i'm super close to getting my laser etcher working!

I'm using Inkscape, with J Tech laser plug in and then sending the .gcode to the GPX Ui to get my .x3g file.

Unfortunately, its not working 100% for me!

I get a lot of line errors both G2 & G3 that is stopping my etch from looking what it should do!

I have a CTC Dual, running the default firmware!

Please see screen shot! I'm sure its something really simple i'm not doing?

Many thanks!

[Ben Smith]

This is an example of the etch I get from the above settings!

[Daniel Newman]

On 08/04/2017 12:26 AM, Ben Smith wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> i'm super close to getting my laser etcher working!
>
> I'm using Inkscape, with J Tech laser plug in and then sending the .gcode to the GPX Ui to get my .x3g file.
>
> Unfortunately, its not working 100% for me!
>
> I get a lot of line errors both G2 & G3 that is stopping my etch from looking what it should do!

Don't use arcs (or any other unsupported gcode commands).

Dan

[Ben Smith]

Hi Dan,

How do I not use arcs or unsupported commands, in Inkscape?

[Daniel Newman]

On 08/04/2017 9:19 AM, Ben Smith wrote:
> Hi Dan,
>
> How do I not use arcs or unsupported commands, in Inkscape?

Your issue is not Inkscape. Your issue is whatever program you are using to convert
Inkscape's SVG to gcode. You will need to take this up with whomever maintains that
code -- the code converting SVG to gcode. And it's not insurmountable. I myself
wrote one of the commonly used code sets to plug in to Inkscape and then generate
individual line segment-based output for use with CNC equipment (e.g., pen plotters
and a variety of draw bots). I cannot help you for your usage. Again you will need
to take it up with whomever wrote the code you're using. I'm just letting you know
that it has been a solved problem as regards Inkscape for at least 7 years.

Dan

[Ben Smith]

Dan,

With you now with arcs, I guess splitting G2/G3 down to single G1 commands for arcs is totally pointless and/or impossible.

Would be nice if my 3d printer just used gcode rather than a binary x3g files.

Looks like I will just have to find software that uses G1 commands and M126/M127 to fire the laser during that pass!

The joys of trying to get a machine to do what you want when it wasent designed to do it eh?

Thanks again!

[Daniel Newman]

On 08/04/2017 2:27 PM, Ben Smith wrote:
> Dan,
>
> With you now with arcs, I guess splitting G2/G3 down to single G1 commands for arcs is totally pointless and/or impossible.
>
> Would be nice if my 3d printer just used gcode rather than a binary x3g files.

Wouldn't make any difference: none of the 8bit 16MHz AVR firmwares support G2/G3. Marlin
tried to once upon a time but it didn't work out well. Sailfish would actually stand the
best chance of doing so since the arc conversion could be done whilst generating the X3G.
But what's the point? None of the slicers commonly used with DIY 3D printers generate G2/G3
commands anyway. So, it would be a bunch of code work for a very niche usage.

Dan

[darcs...@fwmr.net]

Inkscape has an option to convert arcs to lines. Select your curve (path) with the Node Tool (2nd icon from the toolbox at the left side of the screen)
In the Node Tool - Tool control bar that appears at the top of the screen, you'll find "Make selected segments lines" (11th icon from the left side, looks like 2 nodes connected by a straight line).

You will likely want to add nodes to the arc prior to converting it. For example, a simple circle only has four nodes, when you convert the arcs to lines you get a square. If you select all 4 of the nodes and click the add node button you will get a new node mid way between each of the selected nodes. Do this 3 or 4 times till you get enough nodes that when converted to straight lines the results look like an arc.

On Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 11:19:48 AM UTC-5, Ben Smith wrote: