I'm with Michael here. If you want to generate toolpath data for your router such as G-code, then all you need is a CAM program.

My main workhorse and what I recommend is CamBam, both for its ease of use and general capability for 2d and 3d work - cost is £93 or $149. Other free CAM programs are available too, if that is what you want.

I can send you some sample G-code if you tell me what you're after.


Martin.

You can also export your polyline for Sketchup and then use some plugins for save your points on an excel's file for example or STL for CAM... :)

Hi Michael,

>If you want to generate a bunch of equally spaced points along a curve, you can get that by drawing in one point object at the start of the curve and then using Transform > Array > Curve to replicate that point along the curve.

thank you, that's great and does exactly what I need. Getting point object coordinates by script is even easier to do . I'll also take a look at the reconstruct command.


@all
Thanks for the help with CAM software but I'm somewhat peculiar using my own very simple CNC controller based on an Arduino UNO. So no G-Code spoken here just up(); down() and go(x,y); :-) I don't need more to cut simple shapes with the router. Currently I'm using Illustrator and a script to get "tool path" data it works well but I like MoI better and it looks like I'm able to use it now for that.

Update: Just tried reconstructCurve with it's polyline option. It does exactly what I need!

Grbl is free G-code interpreter software to use with an Arduino,
for CNC milling control.
A low cost "shield" is also available, which is a stepper driver...

http://makezine.com/2010/06/14/grbl-an-arduino-based-g-code-interp/

http://dank.bengler.no/-/page/show/5470_grbl?ref=checkpoint

http://makezine.com/arduino/grbl/

(I've never used it. I use Mach3)


- Brian

Thanks Brian,

I came across Grbl previously but still decided to "reinvent the wheel" to have a lean and easy to understand solution.

-Martin

I've found solution of this problem several months ago.
This method is stupid, but it's works. :)

function GetCurveControlPoints(curve)
{
	var gd = moi.geometryDatabase;
	var obj = gd.getObjects();
	obj.setProperty( 'showPoints', false); 
	curve.showPoints = true; 
	gd.selectAll();
	obj.setProperty( 'selected', false);
	
	var objectpicker = moi.ui.createObjectPicker();
	objectpicker.allowEditPoints();
	objectpicker.done();
	gd.copyToClipboardCommand( objectpicker.objects );
	gd.pasteFromClipboard();	
	var points = gd.getSelectedObjects();

	gd.removeObjects(points);	
	curve.showPoints = false; 
	return points;
}

/* example */
var curves = moi.geometryDatabase.getSelectedObjects().getCurves();	
if (curves.length === 1)
{
	pts = GetCurveControlPoints(curves.item(0));
	/* let's build polyline through control points */
	var factory = moi.command.createFactory( 'curve' );
	for ( var p = 0; p < pts.length; ++p)
	{
		factory.createInput('point');	
		factory.setInput(factory.numInputs - 1, pts.item(p).pt); // point
		factory.createInput('bool');	
		factory.setInput(factory.numInputs - 1, true);  // corner
	}
	if  (curves.item(0).isClosed)
	{
		factory.createInput('point');	
		factory.setInput(factory.numInputs - 1, pts.item(0).pt);
		factory.createInput('bool');	
		factory.setInput(factory.numInputs - 1, true);
	}
	factory.commit();
}

Hi Max,

although it doesn't do what I need (I don't care about control points and need in between points ON the curve. The next Beta will allow this.) your script is very interesting. Thanks.

Hey Martin,
After you get your points by array on curve or whatever method, you can get the xyz coords for your router in a file by using "savePointFile".

You can then use a spreadsheet program like excel to add any particular command values to the xyz coords listed.

Thanks BurrMan.

Martin, this is exactly what you want :))

function GetCurveControlPoints(curve)
{
	var gd = moi.geometryDatabase;
	var obj = gd.getObjects();
	obj.setProperty( 'showPoints', false); 
	curve.showPoints = true; 
	gd.selectAll();
	obj.setProperty( 'selected', false);
	
	var objectpicker = moi.ui.createObjectPicker();
	objectpicker.allowEditPoints();
	objectpicker.done();
	gd.copyToClipboardCommand( objectpicker.objects );
	gd.pasteFromClipboard();	
	var points = gd.getSelectedObjects();
	gd.removeObjects(points);			
	
	curve.showPoints = false; 
	return points;
}

var curves = moi.geometryDatabase.getObjects().getCurves();	
for ( var f = 0; f < curves.length; ++f)
{
	pts = GetCurveControlPoints(curves.item(f));
	for ( var p = 0; p < pts.length; ++p)
	{
		var factory = moi.command.createFactory( 'text' );
		factory.setInput(0, moi.VectorMath.createFrame ( pts.item(p).pt) );
		factory.setInput(1, ' xyz('+ Math.round(pts.item(p).pt.x*10)/10 + ', ' + Math.round(pts.item(p).pt.y*10)/10 + ', ' + Math.round(pts.item(p).pt.z*10)/10+ ')');
		factory.setInput(2, 'Arial');
		factory.setInput(5, 'curves' );
		factory.setInput(6, 0.5);
		factory.setInput(7, 1);
		factory.commit();
	}
}

Max,
He wants the points "on the curve", not the weighted control points. Thats a great script.

Ops, sorry.. Now I see.
Anyway, no problem :) I know how to get it. ;)

""""""" I know how to get it.""""""""

I would be happy to get that. It would be a very cool script.

Maybe a way to set the tolerance of the "samples" would be very cool too, so it's adjustable. May need a gui for that.

Excellent!

Those are the points Max.

Do you think you could make a checkbox to add/leave the point data labels(Like in the previous script)? That would make it ultimate for me....

Thanks again for sharing your scripts.

Waht is the correct shortcut for this script?!;)

thanks

You can put that script in a text file with an extension of .js and give it any name you want, like "anyname.js", then place that in the commands folder, then in the shortcut editor, you add your shortcut with a command of anyname. (leave the js part out of the command)

I sure would love to have the labels option version of the last one posted..............