This project was intended to build and all in one exporting plugin for laser cutters and Inkscape 0.91. It has not been tested on lower versions of Inkscape but may work..
The plugin builds gcode that is compatible with a fork of Marlin designed to run on laser cutters found at https://github.com/TurnkeyTyranny/buildlog-lasercutter-marlin .
You can contact me via email at : 394ad2f@gmail.com, I check my email daily usually.
The plugin builds gcode that is compatible with a fork of MarlinKimbra designed to run on laser cutters found at https://git.nexlab.net/machinery/MarlinKimbra and
compatible with the original TurkneyTyranny patches to Marlin.
Donations
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Find this software useful? Donations are gratefully appreciated.
[DONATIONS id:1269]
Find this software useful? Donations are gratefully appreciated at https://www.nexlab.net/donations/k40-laser/
* Paypal to 394ad2f@gmail.com
* Bitcoins to 16TFmnFyvDA8Q6TTakvvhargy8c89Rb3cj
Installation
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Copy the files turnkeylaser.py and turnkeylaser.inx into your Inkscape extensions folder -> C:\Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions
Copy the files turnkeylaser.py and turnkeylaser.inx into your Inkscape extensions folder -> /usr/share/inkscape/extensions or C:\Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions
Fire up inkscape and you will find the plugin under Extensions -> Export -> Turnkey Laser Exporter.
This script relies on a more advanced version of the PIL library than Inkscape for windows ships with. As such you need to follow these steps for windows installs of Inkscape 0.91
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@@ -36,27 +34,9 @@ You have two options to follow, choose the one you prefer.
* "easy_install lxml"
* You are done, launch inkscape and run the plugin!
2) If you are using 32 bit inkscape you can potentially use my precompiled version of 32 bit python 2.7.9 with all the needed libraries follow these steps, however this works for some people and not for others. Unsure why :
* Download my updated windows version of python from : https://github.com/TurnkeyTyranny/laser-gcode-exporter-inkscape-plugin/blob/master/files/Python27.rar
* Navigate to C:\Program Files\Inkscape and rename the folder "python" to "python-old"
* Extract the folder 'Python27' from the archive you downloaded to C:\Program Files\Inkscape and rename it to 'python' (Note the lower case p)
* You are done, launch inkscape and run the plugin!
* If you run the export plugin and you don't get a popup diagnostic log telling you which items were exported successfully then unfortunately you need to install Python manually as described below in option #2
Linux Installation
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More fleshed out instructions to come at a later date. Essentially just install the PIL library through yum or apt-get and place the 2 script files (.py and .inx) into your extensions directory.
Usage and Setup
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I recommend starting with this cutting surface and doing your designs in it. Its setup to match the size of the K40 Laser cutter bed : https://github.com/TurnkeyTyranny/laser-gcode-exporter-inkscape-plugin/blob/master/designs/cutting_surface.svg
Alternatively if you're setting up your own new inkscape job first press CTRL+Shift+d, choose the tab called 'page' and set your project units in the 'custom size' area to be 'px'. You can set the 'Default Units' option to be mm, inch or px. The 'Default Units' are the ones displayed on your rulers.
Name your layer in Inkscape like: 10 [feed=600,ppm=40]
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@@ -66,7 +46,6 @@ If you do not name your layer in this way then the script will use the default s
When you're ready to export your objects, images or paths just select the items you would like to be exported by dragging over them or holding shift to select multiple and then run the plugin under under Extensions Menu -> Export -> Turnkey Laser Exporter.
You can send the file to your laser by serial (USB cable) or SD memory card.
1) Via USB cable
* Download repetier host and install it on your PC - http://www.repetier.com/download/
* Open the software and set the port of your laser in the options. It will typically be COM7 - otherwise it's the same as what your programmed your Arduino on originally. The port speed should be set to 115200
* Press the connect button, it will turn green.
* Open your gcode file you created earlier and press the print button. Your laser will now burn your instruction set.
Alternatively you can use pronterface http://www.pronterface.com/index.html#download . You must ensure you check the box for Pronterface under 'Advanced' tab in the exporter plugin. It is checked by default.
Download pronterface https://git.nexlab.net/machinery/Printrun . You must ensure you check the box for Pronterface under 'Advanced' tab in the exporter plugin. It is checked by default.
2) Via SD Memory card
* Place the file onto your SD card
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@@ -119,6 +92,8 @@ This script is released under the license GPL v2.
Change log
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23-May-2016 - many new options for MarlinKimbra added features
26-Feb-2015 - 2 hours : Forked from user ajfoul to extend functionality of smoothie laser power levels 0.0 to 1.0, generic Marlin power levels being 0 to 100.
07-March-2015 - 10 hours : Cleaned up the exporters code a lot. Added ppm and feedrate detection from the layer name. Updated the gcode that is exported to be neater and work better with pulsed mode using G01, G02 and G03 commands.
