Hi all, I just want to preface this post by saying that i have searched the interwebs far and wide in search of an easy way take an image file and generate gcode for plotting on my printer. Most of what i have found is not geared towards the typical printing toolchain, and is more geared towards EMC2 controlled machines. I have seen videos on youtube of people plotting with reprap, and i have asked for info in the comments and have not received much love. most of the info in the wiki is quite outdated and searching the forums for "pen", "plotter" etc, yield very few (if any) results. Ideally my end goal is to export an image(jpg or png) from a PCB editing software and plot it with an extra fine tip sharpie onto copper-clad. I have tried png out of gEDA to SVG out of inkscape to an attempt to extrude it in the Z axis and save it with Blender into an STL and slice that STL. No dice. I have tried several 2d to STL converters and have had mixed results. I was able to get an STL but it did not plot at all. So what i am asking from you all is a little guidance on a tool chain you recommend for what i am trying to do. If someone out there has done this before, please gimme a hand. Im pulling my hair out here!! A million thanks, Cheers, -Erik https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307863#msg-307863 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:45:39 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,340877#msg-340877 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,340877#msg-340877 beverageexpert General Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:14:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,340876#msg-340876 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,340876#msg-340876 I am going to be using one of the ramps accessory pins and m42 to turn on my laser. This would be my on M42 P4 S255 and this would be my off M42 P4 S0
I have tried changing this in your post processor but the gcode does not change. Where would I change this to generate gcode on cambam? I was using inkscape and the unicorn plugin for some gcode generation but it seems it has some issues. I would really like to use cambam with my ramps flashed with marlin

thanks
bryan]]> beverageexpert General Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:11:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308234#msg-308234 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308234#msg-308234 You just open the file in a text editor and remove all unnecessary codes with search & replace.
I bet someone could easily write a post processor to do this job.
As for arc interpolation (G2/G3), at least the repetier firmware supports it.

Theres a picture i plotted a few months ago when i had no hotend.
[www.youtube.com]]]> loco General Sat, 08 Feb 2014 16:10:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308222#msg-308222 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308222#msg-308222
I export a PNG or JPG from PCB editor and open that in shapeways 2D-3D converter. Found on their website.
Then save that file. The filetype is x3db.
open this file in Netfab Basic and export as STL.
Open this in slicer of choice and set up the proper settings.

I still have to get the proper slicer settings (KISSslicer in this case) but the results are promising.
See the attached image.

Thanks for your guys' help. I stumbled upon Shapeways converter by searching and learning about the CAM software you introduced me to above.

-Erik]]> Erik G General Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:46:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308162#msg-308162 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308162#msg-308162
CNC machines can handle certain G## movements for circles where as i believe most Reprap firmwares can only handle straight lines so a circle turns into a bunch of short lines.
I was doing some thinking and i would not be surprised if there was a firmware i could load up to my reprap instead of marlin that could handle the different Gcode.

What hardware are you all on? RAMPS controller or are you using a different controller?

Again thanks, ill spend some time today looking at the options you have laid out.
-Erik]]> Erik G General Sat, 08 Feb 2014 12:39:54 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308083#msg-308083 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,308083#msg-308083 Ubermeisters General Sat, 08 Feb 2014 09:24:28 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307890#msg-307890 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307890#msg-307890 AndreyR General Fri, 07 Feb 2014 22:29:48 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307877#msg-307877 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307877#msg-307877
www.makercam.com]]> iquizzle General Fri, 07 Feb 2014 21:14:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307872#msg-307872 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307872#msg-307872 thejollygrimreaper General Fri, 07 Feb 2014 20:44:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307871#msg-307871 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307871#msg-307871 [www.cnc-club.ru]]]> AndreyR General Fri, 07 Feb 2014 20:41:19 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307863#msg-307863 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,307863,307863#msg-307863
I just want to preface this post by saying that i have searched the interwebs far and wide in search of an easy way take an image file and generate gcode for plotting on my printer.
Most of what i have found is not geared towards the typical printing toolchain, and is more geared towards EMC2 controlled machines.
I have seen videos on youtube of people plotting with reprap, and i have asked for info in the comments and have not received much love.
most of the info in the wiki is quite outdated and searching the forums for "pen", "plotter" etc, yield very few (if any) results.

Ideally my end goal is to export an image(jpg or png) from a PCB editing software and plot it with an extra fine tip sharpie onto copper-clad.

I have tried png out of gEDA to SVG out of inkscape to an attempt to extrude it in the Z axis and save it with Blender into an STL and slice that STL. No dice.
I have tried several 2d to STL converters and have had mixed results. I was able to get an STL but it did not plot at all.

So what i am asking from you all is a little guidance on a tool chain you recommend for what i am trying to do.
If someone out there has done this before, please gimme a hand. Im pulling my hair out here!!

A million thanks, Cheers,
-Erik]]> Erik G General Fri, 07 Feb 2014 20:16:24 -0500