Mach1 Filter.exe. Mach1 Filter is a little known and often overlooked, free, stand-alone, Windows based application which can be used to create the necessary GCode tool-path for producing Lithophanes, 3D Relief’s and also laser, raster scan images etc. It was written a few years ago and is pretty basic (without all the bells and whistles often found in more up-to-date software) but it still does a good job, and can accept HPGL, JPG & BMP format images. As with most software, to obtain the best results, a little practice is required to judge the correct brightness / contrast / sharpness for the original image but it is quickly mastered and for those wishing to try, it can be downloaded from here Mach1Filter This is just an example of a 3D relief reproduction working from a JPG depth-map image. Tweakie.
Hi Justin Time, It’s probably best suited for router use. However, it can create the GCode for raster scan reproduction of DXF’s with a laser simply by using the machine’s Z axis direction pin as the laser trigger (small change to ports & pins configuration if using Mach3). I am not sure if it can produce anything useful for use with an impact magnet tool – perhaps one day I will give it a try. Tweakie.
I tried in on my Windows 7 desktop and while the program loads and starts to process an image. It always seems to stop. Is there limits as to the size of an image being used or am I missing something?
While costing a few dollars as opposed to Free. Bmp2CNC is another 3D Relief creation software that I've worked with for years. I don't have any examples to show as other than creating GCode the actual files are saved in the .STL Format and therefore I can't share them here as they're to large.
Compared to the $4200.00 for a year that Artcam costs and because it will work without issues, unlike Mach1 Filter. $45.00 and the fact that it works with all versions of Windows without any issues. Seems to be a very good compromise in my book. If Free is a prerequisite, than might I suggest that you look in the various Open Source Registries as I am quite sure that there are plenty more options available. But you can forget about any idiot proof point and click remedies.
The creation of 3d reliefs begs the questions "How to create depth-maps in the first place?" and alternatively "Where are the depositories for maps already created?"
I tried this on a windows 10 PC and it just manages to process a long time and use 30% of the processor and create a huge file (2gb+) before freezing... >> 8gig memory with I7 processor What are the image specs?? i.e. size and resolution? You may want to check out: "HalfToner" by Jason Dorie ; Many adjustments to fine tune and runs very fast... & "Extrudy" lets you set profile of cuts (a bit of a learning curve)
I know this is a very old thread...and I don't really need the program mentioned. But like Davidoe, I'd like to know if there are programs that generate images like the one shown.
@nportelli @crispin I have been using this dmap2gcode to create lithophanes but I am sure it will do reliefs, just fiddle with the settings till it works. a warning though, such cuts can take a long time (-:
Haven't seen them for ages. I remember watching a few videos on Youtube quite some time ago. Thanks for the memory jog.
Depth Map Cutting is what many robocarvers want to do on their table builds and dmap2gcode has many settings to fiddle for sure but it's still easier for photoshop users to master than learning another new 3D vector application. "Image-to-gcode" is deep! so.many.settings. set them all to match the imagematerialcutter resolution for the job and I suspect it can carve with quickness. "When LaceBounding is not None, slopes greater than Contact angle are considered to be "strong" slopes, and slopes less than that angle are considered to be weak slopes." is what now? remember: "just fiddle with the settings till it works" Image-to-gcode
it affect how fast and accurately the slopes are cut. (-: I suggest you get some insulation foam and experiement. the foam can be cut very fast and is relatively cheap (or you can use discarded molded polystyrene packing). one thing to watch is the size of the input image. this affects the 'pixels per stepover' and is easy to change by scaling the image in GIMP or Irfanview or similar.
