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Author Topic: GCode Drawing Issues
stefanH
Newbie
Posts: 2
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Post GCode Drawing Issues
on: September 25, 2015, 15:45
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Hi guys,

Recently I downloaded dullbit's gcode program "death to sharpie". The preview of my converted pictures looks great, so i tried to print them (with my polargraph built after the Instructable-guidance with the latest update from Sandy's software).
But there is my problem, i don't know how to implement the .txt-file with the gcode the program spitted out into the polargraph-software. Probably it's just the wrong file format (like .g or .gco), but i don't know how to convert it correctly (i had already lots of tryouts). Has anybody tried this before or has a proper way to convert the files?

P.S. Thank you Sandy for your fantastic work!
sandy
Administrator
Posts: 1317
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sandy
Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: September 25, 2015, 20:59
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Hi Stefan, death to sharpie is amazing. I love it. http://www.polargraph.co.uk/2015/05/g-code-importing-and-a-bit-of-calibration-help-controller-v1-2/

The gcode file needs to have .g or .gco file extension, and you don't need to convert it - just change the file extension. Load it up as a vector file, just like you would load an SVG....

I've just had a look and realised that loading gcode is acually missing from the version of the code that is in the download bundle! Oops! That's a bit embarrassing.

IF you want to use it right now, you can try the older version (https://github.com/euphy/polargraphcontroller/releases/tag/2015-07-18-10-05), or wait around a bit and I'll update it!

sn
stefanH
Newbie
Posts: 2
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Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: September 26, 2015, 10:26
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Thank you Sandy, i'll try it with the older Version 🙂
reconlap
Newbie
Posts: 7
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Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: October 8, 2015, 17:51
Quote

Wanted to try loading g-code as well, loaded up processing 2.2.1 , Polargraph 2015-09-13 and got it working, but would not upload g-code files. Found this thread and loaded Polargraph 2015-07-18 , tried to run it in processing 1.5, got this error
The function name() does not exist.
on line
if (controlEvent.tab().name() == getCurrentTab())

seems you can't go back.

Regards
sandy
Administrator
Posts: 1317
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sandy
Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: October 9, 2015, 21:49
Quote

Aha, new version of the controller uses the new version of ControlP5 library, and that's removed a load of accessors. So I think all name() calls gets changed to getName(), amongst a few other little changes.
reconlap
Newbie
Posts: 7
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Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: October 18, 2015, 14:31
Quote

Hi,
I got the g-code import working by just moving the code from the earlier version up to the current release. Been having fun with Death to Sharpy g-code files and playing with the settings. Still difficult getting nice results and a lot really depends on the source image. anyway, thought I show some pictures, same image done with polargraph controller and death to sharpy.

http://imagebin.ca/v/2JTNtYU1B1jf

http://imagebin.ca/v/2JTN2ALbUlw1

Regards
Visualbyte
Beginner
Posts: 33
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Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: October 19, 2015, 11:04
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One has to wonder if using the Raspberry PI would be ok.
sandy
Administrator
Posts: 1317
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sandy
Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: October 19, 2015, 13:17
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Running anything processing-based in RPI is not so very rewarding, so if there was anything to be snipped out of the loop, I'd suggest it was the Polargraph controller. To use g-code directly, you'd already have to reimplement the communications protocol, so there's not much you'd be keeping.

Gocupi already does all the things you describe.

sn
hashampers-
and
Beginner
Posts: 28
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Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: March 28, 2016, 09:37
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I've set up a gocupi machine, and whilst the drawing is really accurate, the code documentation is poor and really hard to find. I like the implementation on the command line, but it feels all sorts of clunky when sat next to an UNO based polargraph, let alone an SD.

It's really picky about gcode, (The author said it only recognizes a subset of gcode, but never says which commands) and the error messages are really unhelpful, so getting it to plot gcode output from Death to Sharpe, or the amazing Pen Plotter program seems to be an exercise in frustration for me. (I'm probably missing something simple).

It falls over a lot with random error messages, and I've just got it to draw it's first svg file after trying about 15 different svgs. The only difference seems to be that all of the svg info is in a single line, unlike normal svgs with a new line for a new instruction.

Just saying, I've had more trouble than joy with it so far, the documentation and community around the Polargraph seems far better and far less frustrating.

Re:Visualbyte
I tried the polargraph controller in processing on a RPI 3, and it was slow, and could load a queue and drive the setup, but the lightweight controller was by far the best way to go. In which case, you might as well use something like an A or an A+ with a wi-fi dongle for minimum fuss.
hashampers-
and
Beginner
Posts: 28
Permalink
Post Re: GCode Drawing Issues
on: March 30, 2016, 21:29
Quote

In case anyone might be interested, the gocupi 'gcode' command only accepts G01 and G00 commands, and Z has to be set to 50 in order for a pen lift. I think that the Pen Plotter script outputted a CNC code using G0 and G1, which was causing it to fall over at the first command: I used the 'sed' stream editor command and did it through the command line on my pi.

I'm happier with my gocupi, but not as happy as I am with my Pi-connected Polargraph.

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