Using Inkscape to Generate Gcode

Gcode Plot

1. Video 1 - [1]
2. GcodePlot extension for inkscape. Inkscape post - [2]. Github - [3]. Instructable - [4]
3. Pen holder 3D design - [5]. Simplest way - is a flat piece of plastic. Support should be 2-point for parallelogramming (goes straight down) or 4 point for straight up-down - though 2-point parallelogramming should likewise produce straight up-down. See D3D Universal#Plotter pen holder design.

Instructions

From Instructable, in pertinent part, after installing extension:

1. Restart or start Inkscape.
2. Load the SVG file you want to draw or cut into Inskcape. The lower-left corner of the page in Inkscape corresponds to the minimum X and Y coordinates you measured in the previous step. Make sure your images fit into the print area.
3. Convert the drawing to a path: ctrl-A to select everything, then Path | Object to Path.
4. Save to gcode:
   1. File | Save As...
   2. Select: "3-axis gcode plotter" in the "Save as type" dropdown (if it doesn't show up, gcodeplot hasn't been installed properly)
   3. After pressing "Save", you will have a complicated window with many settings.
   4. General tab:
   5. Tool mode: choose "drawing" or "cutting" to start off
   6. Left x-coordinate, lower y-coordinate: the minimum X and Y coordinates from previous step
   7. Right x-coordinate, upper y-coordinate: the maximum X and Y coordinates from previous step
   8. Work z-coordinate, from previous step
   9. Lift z-height: distance to lift tool relative to work for movement, from previous step
   10. Parking z-height: a good safe lift distance relative to work, to miss all clips, etc. (20mm default should be fine)
   11. Serial port: leave blank
   12. Fitting and Extracting tab:I recommend the defaults
   13. Drawing Settings tab (if drawing): Shading threshold: 0 if you don't want to shade colored areas; 1 if you want to shade all colored areas
   14. Cutting Settings tab (if cutting): Tool Offset: set as measured in previous step
   15. Overcut: probably set to the same value as the Tool Offset
   16. Press OK.

Exercise

1. Get your hands on SVG files. Since there are more PNG than SVG available in the wild - convert PNG to SVG first with Inkscape - [6]
2. Take a file such at

MJ Notes

1. Installed GcodePlot for Inkscape
2. Drew in inkscape. Set coordinates the same in Save As Gcode and in Document/Settings for the document
3. Viewed the file in https://ncviewer.com/. Line I drew showed up, but not the text.