dxf2gcode only creates ngc files

#1

I´m glad I got my plotter to work (on win7 pro x64) - really awsome that the provided cnc demos work immediately! Now I try to find a workflow to create my own plots. To create a dxf file I use Adobe Illustrator.

In your instruction and also in troubleshooting Q&A #4 you suggest to use dxf2gcode to create the right type of g-code for the plotter.
Well, my dxf2gcode installation (version PyQt4 beta) can import dxf easily and the path it constructs looks great, too. But the only format it offers for exporting is .ngc.
I read that this is linux cnc and very similar to .cnc. But if I send it by GRemote to the plotter I get the following error:

java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException

Same thing when I change the .ngc extension by hand to .cnc.

If I search for the meaning of this message this leads me to programmers´ conversations I havn´t got the least clue of.

Am I doing something wrong? How do you folks work with dxf2gcode? Does it feed your plotter properly?
hints & help greatly appreciated!

#2

Hi @acronymous,

dxf2gcode is OK. But the troubleshooting here is for XY version 1.0. I’m very sorry for the confusion.

As for the XY 2.0, you need refer to http://learn.makeblock.cc/xy2/.

#3

Thank you for your feedback, this software is only integrated analytic G-code file .cnc format.
There are many online open-source software will .dxf format to format G-code .cnc

You can use business software to generate G-code file, like MastCAM, Artcam; or you can use open source softwares as below.

  1. InkScape+gcodetools.tar.gz Open Source vector graphics creation software+gcodetools plug-in
  2. dxf2gcode: useful for engravings
  3. FreeCAD: 3D CAD design program; G-Code generation partly integrated (2011)
  4. HeeksCNC: add-on for HeeksCAD; requires STEP files instead of STL; activity partly abandonedby its main author (2011)
  5. cam-occ: based on solid models instead of trimeshs (no recent releases, but development seems to be active (2010))
  6. monocam: no official releases, yet; no recent development activities (2010)
  7. camvox: no official releases, yet; no recent development activities (2010)
  8. gcnccam: uses DXF as input; quite active
  9. CNC Code Generator: java-based, recently not very active (2010)
  10. GCAM: DXF or GERBER input; sparse documentation
    External software lists
    1.EMC-Wiki: exhausting list of CAD/CAM/conversion software

I hope these help you.
Best Regards！

#4