Using an Epilog in a Mac Environment

[Joe Donahue]

Hi Everyone,

I've read through most of the posts here on laser cutters and on software to interface with them. We're looking at purchasing an Epilog Helix. But, we're a Mac school. I've read about the possible software suggestions, Inkscape, Corel for Mac, Illustrator, etc. but I've been unable to figure out what's the most simplest, straightforward way to get from a drawing on a Mac, to the cutter. Without having others repeat what's already been posted here, what's your best practice for teachers and middle school students to get from a Mac drawing to the laser cutter? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Joe

[Andrew]

We now consistently use VisiCut on the Mac for our Epilog Helix. Save file as SVG, open is Visicut, make cut/engrave settings as necessary. April was the first time we tried that solution with a large group of HS students. We mailed out a link to VisiCut with the config file for our cutter attached. Macs plug into the Ethernet cable (even works with the USB-Ethernet adapter!) when they come into the lab and just cut.

Visicut - https://hci.rwth-aachen.de/visicut

Considering that our previous plan was Corel in a VirtualilBox copy of Windows, this seems much cleaner.

--andrew

--
For a compilation of resources/links/etc mentioned on this forum, visit: https://sites.google.com/site/k12makers/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to k-12-fablabs...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to k-12-f...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/1e6a1a7f-ab76-4602-aba3-4765e6cb8b71%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Cameron Moredock]

Looks like Epilog has released a driver for mac on Fusion line. Hope other units will follow:

https://www.epiloglaser.com/home/epilog-mac-driver.htm

[Andrew]

The Fusion Mac driver has been out for a few years, and Epilog has shown no signs of bringing it to the Helix.

I mention this every time the topic comes up, but we have had great success using VisiCut with macs and our Epilog Helix. Visicut is a solid layout & cutting program, allows you to define different vector/raster strengths and speeds by layer, stroke color, etc. I can send students the Visicut application (make sure the security Control Panel is set to "Allow from Anywhere") and our preconfigured Visicut settings, and then they're ready to cut.

We use Illustrator for design, then Save As SVG, open in Visicut, cut. VisiCut has recently added print-window support for Inkscape and Illustrator, but I still just open the file manually.

If anyone would like help getting VisiCut set up with their Helix, please contact me directly.

--andrew

--

For a compilation of resources/links/etc mentioned on this forum, visit: https://sites.google.com/site/k12makers/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to k-12-fablabs...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to k-12-f...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/c776ba0a-9bc6-4b88-917b-924fa32c5d2e%40googlegroups.com.

[Joe Donahue]

Thanks Andrew, but I don't see a driver for the Fusion, which is what we have we didn't go with the Helix.

On Friday, April 29, 2016 at 12:05:38 PM UTC-7, Joe Donahue wrote:

[Cameron Moredock]

Hi Joe,

I have been using the Fusion Mac driver for about two weeks now. If you follow the directions to the letter, you should be up and running. Don't try to manually add the driver. That just confuses things. Once it is set up, the print driver hands the print job off to the Epilog App.

https://www.epiloglaser.com/tech-support/fusion-drivers.htm

Good luck!

-Cameron

--

For a compilation of resources/links/etc mentioned on this forum, visit: https://sites.google.com/site/k12makers/
---

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/k-12-fablabs/Pc9XkOe5Abs/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to k-12-fablabs+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to k-12-f...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/a730af44-2b41-4048-b035-316142397f60%40googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

Cameron Moredock

Director of Innovation and Design

Redwood Day l rdschool.org

3245 Sheffield Ave. l Oakland, CA 94602

510.534.0804 x248

[Joe Donahue]

Hi Cameron,

What version of OSX are you running. We didn't have the problem until our Mac updated the operating system. We're using v. 10.11.6

On Friday, April 29, 2016 at 12:05:38 PM UTC-7, Joe Donahue wrote:

[Cameron Moredock]

Yikes! I will avoid update! 10.10

Sent from my iPhone

--

For a compilation of resources/links/etc mentioned on this forum, visit: https://sites.google.com/site/k12makers/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "K-12 Fab Labs and Makerspaces" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/k-12-fablabs/Pc9XkOe5Abs/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to k-12-fablabs...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to k-12-f...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/k-12-fablabs/4954707e-801c-4451-8517-c1c42e85a37a%40googlegroups.com.

[Chris Klesmith]

Hey Andrew - I'm new to the group and don't have permissions to reach out to you directly. My organization operates a low-barrier community coworking & makerspace, and I would appreciate a little help getting VisiCut set up properly for our Epilog Helix and start fabricating other maker tools (such as a printing press and dies). If you or anyone else would be free to help get the software set up appropriately, I would be very thankful!

Cheers,

Chris