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" ... And a massive popup comes out. Should be self-explanatory, outside of:
   3. Make the area SAME in document size as the X and Y in the output settings. Straightforward.

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 as . But would need to convert it to vectors. Power user material.
3. So start with a vector file - File:Axis Idler LAI SVGs.zip
4. Yes! Convert Object to Path in Path menu in inskscape
5. Export gcode.
6. How do you know g-code is valid? Use OpenSCAM - see [7]. To install a deb package, use a tool called gdebi. OpenSCAM installs under the name CAMotics

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.