Marty McGuire

Posts Tagged plotter

2011
Mon Feb 14

Sticky Note Tweet

Files

tweet.svg
85069 bytes. Updated

This work is licensed Creative Commons - Attribution.

Description

Experimenting with laying out tweets on a sticky note. Thinking about some fun automated Unicorn plots.

Unfortunately, once again, I am not home to plot this. I will try to put up pictures later, but feel free to give this a shot in the meantime.

Feedback welcome!

Instructions

To Plot

Using the Unicorn Inkscape extension: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5986

  1. Load tweet.svg in Inkscape
  2. Save as G-Code
  3. Plot

To Edit

  1. Edit the user_card, text, and timestamp layers. You’ll want to break up the groups.
  2. Use the Hershey Text extension for nice single-stroke text: http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/hershey
  3. Plot.

To Change the Icon

  1. Grab your Twitter icon as a .JPG
  2. Import it into Inkscape.
  3. Select it and use the Path | Trace Bitmap option.
  4. Choose “Brightness Steps” under “Multiple Scans” and set it to 8.
  5. Select the result, remove the fill, and set the stroke to black. Tweak to your satisfaction.
#experiment #plotter #thingiverse #twitter #unicorn
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Tue Feb 1

Unicorn G-Code Extension for Inkscape

Files

martymcguire-inkscape-unicorn-43629f0.zip
10222 bytes. Updated
inkscape-unicorn.svg
37763 bytes. Updated
inkscape-unicorn.gcode
30111 bytes. Updated

This work is licensed GNU - GPL.

Description

One problem that has often plagued users of the MakerBot Unicorn[1] is the long and confusing chain of tools required to go from a nice vector drawing to a G-Code file that can be plotted from ReplicatorG.

mifga did an awesome tutorial[2] that made it possible to understand the steps needed to work all of these tools, but it was obvious that something better was needed.

So, I made a mashup of scribbles.py[3] and the Egg-Bot Driver for Inkscape[4] to bring you the inkscape-unicorn extension for Inkscape!

Once installed, this extension allows you to save files in “MakerBot Unicorn G-Code (*.gcode)” format!

Learn more, download, and contribute at the GitHub page for this project:

https://github.com/martymcguire/inkscape-unicorn

If you’re desperate, you can also download the zip file attached to this thing, but it is guaranteed to be out of date. Please get the latest version from GitHub. :)

Thanks to langfordw for the original Unicorn Logo[5] used as an example on this Thing.

UPDATES!

I’m updating and adding features to this script as my first days for the February Thing-A-Day. Updates below:

[1] Unicorn - http://store.makerbot.com/makerbot-unicorn-pen-plotter-kit.html
[2] mifga’s Unicorn Tutorial - http://wiki.makerbot.com/unicorn-tutorial-01
[3] scribbles.py - https://github.com/makerbot/Makerbot/tree/master/Unicorn/Scribbles%20Scripts
[4] Egg-Bot Driver for Inkscape - http://code.google.com/p/eggbotcode/
[5] Unicorn Logo by langfordw http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4197

Instructions

From the README:

Install

Copy the contents of src/ to your Inkscape extensions/ folder.

Typical locations include:

  • OS X - /Applications/Inkscape.app/Contents/Resources/extensions
  • Linux - /usr/share/inkscape/extensions
  • Windows - C:\Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions

Usage

  • Size and locate your image appropriately:
    • The CupCake CNC build platform size is 100mm x 100mm.
    • Setting units to mm in Inkscape makes it easy to size your drawing.
    • The extension will automatically attempt to center everything.
  • Convert all text to paths:
    • Select all text objects.
    • Choose Path | Object to Path.
  • Save as G-Code:
    • File | Save a Copy.
    • Select MakerBot Unicorn G-Code (*.gcode).
    • Save your file.
  • Preview
    • For OS X, Pleasant3D is great for this.
    • For other operating systems… I don’t know!
  • Print!
    • Open your .gcode file in ReplicatorG
    • Set up your Unicorn and pen.
    • Center your build platform.
    • Click the Build button!
#inkscape #plotter #software #python #unicorn #thingiverse
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