Assembly & User Guide: By: Henry Arnold Jonathan K
Assembly & User Guide: By: Henry Arnold Jonathan K
Version 3.0
(1) Threaded Rod M8 x 480mm ( 3/16” x 20” threaded rod is fine for non-metric countries like USA)
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• G-Code is a special format of drawing file that includes the actual motions need to guide
the DrawBot into drawing your picture. Most of the format contains move instructions for
the X and Y axis and Z axis commands to raise and lower the pen.
• Once you have a G-Code file, you need a way to get the DrawBot ready and to then send
the G-Code file through the USB port to the DrawBot. The Universal G-Code Sender
program takes care of that. It also allows you to manually move the different axis of the
robot. Remember that the UGS needs a Java Run time environment in order to run
Installing Inkscape
Install Inkscape version 0.92. Other versions may work but
we know that the G-Code extension works with this
version.
• Download the latest
version of Inkscape for your
computer here:
https://inkscape.org/en/
• You may also use the copy
of Inkscape found on the
flash drive that was
provided to you.
• Follow the directions after
executing the installation
script.
Install the Inkscape MI GRBL Extension
Install the Inkscape MI GRBL Extension. You must copy the MI Extension directory contents
to the
c:\\Program Files\Inkscape\share\extensions directory.
Servo Up M3
Servo Down M5
X axis Speed 3000
Y axis Speed 3000
Angle for Servo 30
Delay 0.1
Directory
<your choice>
Filename
<your choice>
Filename Box checked
Select “Close”
After the Cancel
Box disappears
Using Inkscape – Step 7
Now load your file using the Universal G-Code Sender (UGS).
• From the “File Mode” Tab select “Browse”. A pop up will allow you to navigate to your file. Our
example filename was “squiggles” and Inkscape added a _0001.gcode to the name. The file is
squiggles_0001.gcode. It will appear in the directory you selected.
• Make sure you have your DrawBot set at the zero location and that the pen is ready.
• Select “Send” and your DrawBot should start drawing the file.
• If anything goes wrong, select “Cancel”.
• Otherwise you should get a plot that looks like what you drew.
IMPORTING A
DRAWING
INTO INKSCAPE AND
DRAWING IT
Using Inkscape with Imported Graphics –
Step 1 you may want to plot something that already exists as a JPG or
Sometimes
GIF graphic. The following slides explain how to import a graphic into
Inkscape and prepare it to be drawn by your DrawBot.
• Open Inkscape.
• Select “File” and
then “Import”
• Select the
graphic you
would like to
import.
• Size and move
the graphic to
the size and
location you
want.
Using Inkscape with Imported Graphics – Step 2
The current drawing is a bitmap. We need Inkscape to be able to find the edges of
the graphic to create lines to draw
• To see the
result as you
work, either
press “Update”
or click the
“Live Preview”
box
• Once you are
satisfied, click
OK and then
the upper right
X to close the
window.
Using Inkscape with Imported Graphics – Step 4
Inkscape now knows where the edges are in your graphic. We
now want Inkscape to select line paths for drawing our graphic.
• Select the pull
down “Path” and
then select
“Object to Path”
• There is no pop
up on this
feature. The
action happens
behind the
scenes.
Using Inkscape with Imported Graphics – Step 5
We now have a drawing where defined edges were turned into line paths
we want to draw. We now need to turn the line paths into G-Code which
the DrawBot can use to draw the graphic.
• Select “Extensions”
and then “MI
GRBL…” and “MI
GRBL Z Axis Servo
Controller”
Using Inkscape with Imported Graphics – Step 6
The MI extension pop up will appear. It is very important that
the fields are as shown.
Servo Up M3
Servo Down M5
X axis Speed 3000
Y axis Speed 3000
Angle for Servo 30
Delay 0.1
Directory
<you choose>
File name checked
Drawing Robot
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