Hello everyone,

Here's another newbie! I purchased my 6040 CNC a few months ago and just got around yesterday to setting it up and trying it all out. I've installed my licence, no issues there. When it comes to creating Gcode, Inkscape seems to be a program that a lot of people use. I'm having issues getting it to work with Mach3 however.  No matter what the image or font size, it keeps pulling an error code "COMMAND TOO LONG".

I make custom tombstones and to ease the burden of using a Dremel, I invested in this wonderful machine! So, what I need it to do is engrave font and basic images that are clipart. I'd be learning to do the 3D images in the future, but right now I've gotta nail down the basic engraving.

So if you guys feel Inkscape isnt a great place to do fonts to Gcode, what program do you recommend? Or, if Inkscape IS a good program, why is it not complying with Mach3?
I'd search the forum database but that is having issues as well.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

If you want to see what I make, you can check out my stuff on Instagram @Cemeteryhaunts This way you can see what I'll be using my router for

Hi,
I'm not familiar with Inkscape and whether it can be coaxed into producing Mach compliant Gcode.

May I suggest that you try some of the Wizards that come with Mach. They tend to be more for engineering purposes,
milling a rectangular pocket, drill a bolt hole circle etc but they do generate good Gcode. You will then see the sort of
code that is required.

Craig

You're likely using a 3rd party plugin or extension to create the g-code? It sounds like the format of the g-code is incorrect for Mach3. Different machines use different variations of g-code.
You might want to look at Vectric's V Carve Pro.

I'm using the following project development path: Inkscape -> CamBam -> Mach 3.

I discovered Inkscape a few years ago and I love it because it's SVG at it core, meaning it's infinitely scalable. Inkscape can output a DXF file, which I then import into CamBam to generate the G-code for Mach3. Inkscape itself does not produce G-code (as far as I know). I looked at a few G-code generators and after, admittedly, a room-wide search I picked CamBam, but I am quite happy with my choice - it works with zero hiccups (so far) and the CamBam folks have always quickly responded to my emails.

My development 'path' has many options. I still use MS Paint for simple stuff and then move images and clips back and forth (cut & paste or import) between Paint and Inkscape depending on what I'm doing. Other drawing packages could also be used since Inkscape can work with many image file types. I can also draw simple stuff directly in CamBam and output G-code, or I can export a CamBam file in DXF format back upstream into Inkscape (I've actually never had to do that for real but it works just fine if you need it).

Compared to the majority on this forum I'm a newbie. I use my homemade mill to engrave glass (in a water bath) and engrave or carve wood. (My core hobby is fused and stained glass. The mill gives me many more options with that material.) The end result of this development path is that I can cut anything I can draw or import, within the limitations of the mill or material.

I hope this helps.  

Let mot your heart be trouble since  when I order my marker it only needs the letters  to say " I WAS HERE" and nothing else.
Ok, Ok, maybe a smiley afterwards!

RICH