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 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 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 here.
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.
Step 5a: Find a shape
We went on the internet, and we found this!
Step 5b: Load it into Inkscape
Load into Inkscape, right-click, something something… trace bitmap!
Save as SVG.
Yes I forgot what I did here, will update later if I remember!
Step 5c: Load into PyCam
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:
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…
That's better - the shape now sits at X0,Y0,Z0.
Step 5d: Stop writing, it's bedtime!
Back later - stay tuned!
