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Step 26Vector graphics drawing
With the new software (controller v1+ and server_a1), came vector drawing capabilities that make this machine even more useful.
Using Inkscape
All the paths need to be separate in the SVG file. Text needs to be converted into paths. You can do this by selecting everything and going to Path->Object To Path (this will convert any shapes like letters into outlines), and then select them all again and do Path->Break Apart (this breaks up any letters that have more than one outline in them). You might find it useful after that to change the fill colour to empty (click on the empty swatch at the bottom), and set the outline to be black (shift-click on the black swatch at the bottom). Save it.
Click load vector from the input control panel, and choose your SVG file. If you can't see your vector, click "move vector" and you should see it floating under your mouse as you move it. Click again to place the SVG. You can resize by dragging the "resize vector" number spinner. Here 100 represents full size, that is 1px in inkscape equals 1mm on the machine.
Only lines that are entirely within the page area will be processed by the controller.
Now click render vector to convert the line art into polargraph commands and load them all into the command queue. For vector work, the move direct command is used to tell the machine where to move, and it will always draw in a straight line on the board. The down side is that it's a lot slower because it basically chops the line into dozens of smaller lines, and has to do a lot more calculations continuously.
If you hide the vector lines (show vector) you can see the actual lines that are stored up in the command queue previewed (show queue preview).
Using Inkscape
All the paths need to be separate in the SVG file. Text needs to be converted into paths. You can do this by selecting everything and going to Path->Object To Path (this will convert any shapes like letters into outlines), and then select them all again and do Path->Break Apart (this breaks up any letters that have more than one outline in them). You might find it useful after that to change the fill colour to empty (click on the empty swatch at the bottom), and set the outline to be black (shift-click on the black swatch at the bottom). Save it.
Click load vector from the input control panel, and choose your SVG file. If you can't see your vector, click "move vector" and you should see it floating under your mouse as you move it. Click again to place the SVG. You can resize by dragging the "resize vector" number spinner. Here 100 represents full size, that is 1px in inkscape equals 1mm on the machine.
Only lines that are entirely within the page area will be processed by the controller.
Now click render vector to convert the line art into polargraph commands and load them all into the command queue. For vector work, the move direct command is used to tell the machine where to move, and it will always draw in a straight line on the board. The down side is that it's a lot slower because it basically chops the line into dozens of smaller lines, and has to do a lot more calculations continuously.
If you hide the vector lines (show vector) you can see the actual lines that are stored up in the command queue previewed (show queue preview).
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