Free CAM for Inkscape

Hi! I'm one of the developers of Gcodetools and I want to introduce it to you :).

Gcodetools is a CAM extension for Inkscape - open source vector graphics editor with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X.
Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.) and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more.

So Gcodetools is a CAM extension which allows to export curves from Inkscape to G-code.

Both Inkscape and Gcode are free (they are licensed under GNU GPL) and cross-platform (they work on Windows, Linux and probably MacOS).

Here is the feature list of Gcodetools 1.6:
(New features from previous version are marked with green)
Export to Gcode

• Export paths to Gcode
• Using circular (biarc approximation) or straight line interpolation
• Automatic path subdivision to reach defined tolerance
• Multiply tool processing
• Export Gcode in parametric of flat form
• Including personal headers and footers
• Choosing units
• Multi-pass processing
• Numeric suffix is added to generated files to avoid overwriting

Lathe Gcode

• Compute trajectories for lathe
• Fine cut
• Define fine cut's depth
• Define fine rounds
• Two different computation functions for fine cut
• Standard axis remapping

Path's area processing

• Building area paths
• Area paths could be modified

Engraving

• Building trajectory according to the cutter's shape
• Defining different cutter's shapes

Tool's library

• Defining different tool's parameters (diameter, feed, depth step, penetration feed, personal Gcode before/after each path, cutters shape, personal tool's changing Gcode)
• Tools can be managed by Inkscape's standard procedures (copy, delete, assigned to different layer)
• Multiply tools processing

Orientation system

• Applying scale along any axis
• Apply rotate in the ХY plane
• Apply translation along any axis
• Apply transforms according to arbitrary points

Post-processor

• You can create custom post-processor by writing down the commands or choose from the list of default post-processors
• Scale and offset Gcode
• Gcode commands remapping
• Parameterize Gcode
• Round floating point values to specified precision

Verifying tools for the scene

• Select and remove small paths (area artefacts)
• Tool's alignment check
• Cutting order check

Plotter cutting

• Export to Gcode for plotter with tangential knife. Forth axis A is knife's rotation.

PS We need more photos of work made using Gcodetools if you can do it I'll be glad to publish it. Unfortunately I can not do it myself because my hobby cnc is not finished yet.

Here are some screenshots and made things...
Attachment 2840Attachment 2841Attachment 2842Attachment 2843

You can freely download Gcodetools from here: http://www.cnc-club.ru/gcodetools

More info can be found at http://www.inkscape.org

Nick,

Thanks for posting this, I hope to try it out soon and I'm sure others will... Its a pity Inkscape isnt really a CAD tool... I've not looked at it in anger but does it import DXFs? Alternately do you plan a generic DXF->GCode solution?

Yes it can import DXF.
Inkscape not a cad, but it has a lot of functions that make prototyping real ease.
Starting from v.047 it has very nice snapping, transform, align and distribute tools which allows to create precise models (0.47 brings better snapping).
The only things that I've not found are snap to perpendicular and create line into direction having defined length. But all of these functions can be done using other way.

Gcodetools can be used as standalone application, but you'll have to run it like this "python gcodetools.py --parameter1=... ... --parameter40=..." and there should be a lot of parameters so it's not used by me and anyone else :).

Hey Zar, post your link in the Links Directory if you like.

I wonder where should I put my link to CAD/CAM Software or Utilites & Programs?
What's your opinion?

By the way I've tried to post answer to my thread in New Members but it have not showed. About your offer helping me with English. Could you check Gcodetools description that is situated here: http://www.cnc-club.ru/gcodetools for the mistakes. It's almost the same with that I've posted here but have some additional note about installing and etc... Thanks in advance :).