svg2gcode

Convert vector graphics to g-code for pen plotters, laser engravers, and other CNC machines

Usage

Web interface

Check it out at https://sameer.github.io/svg2gcode. Just select an SVG and click generate!

Command line interface (CLI)

Install

cargo install svg2gcode-cli

Usage

Arguments:
  [FILE]
          A file path to an SVG, else reads from stdin

Options:
      --tolerance <TOLERANCE>
          Curve interpolation tolerance (mm)

      --feedrate <FEEDRATE>
          Machine feed rate (mm/min)

      --dpi <DPI>
          Dots per Inch (DPI) Used for scaling visual units (pixels, points, picas, etc.)

      --on <TOOL_ON_SEQUENCE>
          G-Code for turning on the tool

      --off <TOOL_OFF_SEQUENCE>
          G-Code for turning off the tool

      --begin <BEGIN_SEQUENCE>
          G-Code for initializing the machine at the beginning of the program

      --end <END_SEQUENCE>
          G-Code for stopping/idling the machine at the end of the program

  -o, --out <OUT>
          Output file path (overwrites old files), else writes to stdout

      --settings <SETTINGS>
          Provide settings from a JSON file. Overrides command-line arguments

      --export <EXPORT>
          Export current settings to a JSON file instead of converting.
          
          Use `-` to export to standard out.

      --origin <ORIGIN>
          Coordinates for the bottom left corner of the machine

      --dimensions <DIMENSIONS>
          Override the width and height of the SVG (i.e. 210mm,297mm)
          
          Useful when the SVG does not specify these (see https://github.com/sameer/svg2gcode/pull/16)
          
          Passing "210mm," or ",297mm" calculates the missing dimension to conform to the viewBox aspect ratio.

      --circular-interpolation <CIRCULAR_INTERPOLATION>
          Whether to use circular arcs when generating g-code
          
          Please check if your machine supports G2/G3 commands before enabling this.
          
          [possible values: true, false]

      --line-numbers <LINE_NUMBERS>
          Include line numbers at the beginning of each line
          
          Useful for debugging/streaming g-code
          
          [possible values: true, false]

      --checksums <CHECKSUMS>
          Include checksums at the end of each line
          
          Useful for streaming g-code
          
          [possible values: true, false]

      --newline-before-comment <NEWLINE_BEFORE_COMMENT>
          Add a newline character before each comment
          
          Workaround for parsers that don't accept comments on the same line
          
          [possible values: true, false]

  -h, --help
          Print help (see a summary with '-h')

  -V, --version
          Print version

Example

svg2gcode-cli examples/Vanderbilt_Commodores_logo.svg --off 'M4' --on 'M5' -o out.gcode

To convert curves to G02/G03 Gcode commands, use flag --circular-interpolation true.

Output, rendered at https://ncviewer.com

cat out.gcode

Library

The core functionality of this tool is available as the svg2gcode crate.

Blog Posts

These go into greater detail on the tool's origins, implementation details, and planned features.

• https://purisa.me/blog/pen-plotter/
• https://purisa.me/blog/svg2gcode-progress/

FAQ / Interesting details

• Use a 3D printer for plotting: (thanks @jeevank for sharing this) https://medium.com/@urish/how-to-turn-your-3d-printer-into-a-plotter-in-one-hour-d6fe14559f1a

• Convert a PDF to GCode: follow this guide using Inkscape to convert a PDF to an SVG, then use it with svg2gcode

• Are shapes, fill patterns supported? No, but you can convert them to paths in Inkscape with Object to Path. See #15 for more discussion.

• Are stroke patterns supported? No, but you can convert them into paths in Inkscape with Stroke to Path.

Reference Documents

• W3 SVG2 Specification
• CSS absolute lengths
• CSS font-relative lengths
• CSS compatible units
• RepRap G-code
• G-Code and M-Code Reference List for Milling