Step 5: Don't mill another thing [FuddyMuckers]

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====== Step 5: Don't mill another thing ======

**Or: Getting an actual shape from a drawing to the mill**

OK so we've had the mill [[3-mill_something|write something]] using the default LinuxCNC example code, but LinuxCNC is not for //designing// anything, it only runs G-code //generated// by a CAM or CAD package.

So, we've [[4-more_software|got more software]] and can now try and generate something "original" - in this case we're going to trace a picture in Inkscape, save it as SVG and use PyCAM to turn it into G-Code as described [[http://pycam.sourceforge.net/modeling-inkscape-svg/|here]].

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**Wrinkle**\\
Inkscape translates a bitmap image by outlining //both sides of the lines//, which gives an unexpected double-edged result in the same way PyCAM does with regular fonts. There's ways around this which we'll no doubt get to later.
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===== Step 5a: Find a shape =====

We went on the internet, and we found this!

{{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/cnc/moose.png}}

===== Step 5b: Load it into Inkscape =====

Load into Inkscape, right-click, something something... trace bitmap!

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/800/cnc/inkscape_trace.png }}

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/800/cnc/inkscape_trace_menu.png }}

Save as SVG.

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**Yes I forgot what I did here, will update later if I remember!**
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===== Step 5c: Load into PyCam =====

{{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/cnc/pycam_moose.png}}

The wrinkle here is Inkscape has dutifully traced the inside & outside of the shape as two separate lines, so we're getting two separate tool paths:

{{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/cnc/pycam_moose_path.png}}

Also note the shape is wherever it was on the A4 page in Inkscape - miles away from the machine's "home". If only there was an easy button to fix that...

{{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/cnc/pycam_moose_origin.png}}

That's better - the shape now sits at X0,Y0,Z0.

===== Step 5d: Stop writing, it's bedtime! =====

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Back later - stay tuned!

{{http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/cnc/redguy1.png}}
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