Is there a file that CAM prefers to use that will result in the cleanest lines? I imported a PNG file as well as BMP and CAM outputs g-code where the curves of the file are cut painfully slow. I assume this is because it's treating curves as a series of straight lines instead of an arch. I can export the file into any format that would be easiest for CAM to use if that helps. I've attached the file I used as well as the GCODE it exported. Any help is appreciated! Thank you guys!
Have you got any software to trace the bitmap (convert it to vectors). I used Vectric V-carve to produce a much more cnc friendly file. If you haven't got any suitable software I could create the G-code for you if you tell what the dimensions are supposed to be. Alex.
I created the image in Corel Draw and can export it into any vector format, however CAM doesn't seem to let me import any vector formats like PDF or AI or EPS
I just tried an SVG file and the number of lines of g-code increased from 224,000 to nearly 900,000, yeesh.
I think I might have gotten it by exporting the image into DXF. I'm going to go make a test run and see how it goes. Thank you for your help Alex!
It's a long time since I used Corel Draw (version 4!). If you have the option you need to use the R14 version of dxf - there are several "flavours" of dxf's many of which do not work well with cam. Alex.
Inkscape is free and can trace bitmaps to make svg files. It also lets you scale them to the size you want it to be cut. I use it all the time for laser engraving and v-carving. This took about 5 minutes to do by first making the image black and white in Gimp (another free software that is very powerful).
