Author Topic: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"  (Read 34541 times)

Offline Bubba

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #30 on: November 10, 2017, 17:41:10 pm »
Hmm,
Eddy, I have tried to replicate your settings and my result is totally different..Any suggestions? Thanks.
My 2¢

Win11, CB(1.0)rc 1(64 bit) Mach3, ESS, G540, 4th Axis, Endurance Laser.

Offline EddyCurrent

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #31 on: November 10, 2017, 19:06:55 pm »
Yes, my settings were metric, so your Resolution value should be more like 0.015

You have it on the Picasso setting  :D
« Last Edit: November 10, 2017, 20:41:49 pm by EddyCurrent »
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Offline Dragonfly

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #32 on: November 10, 2017, 20:26:49 pm »
Quote
Added lines option.
I rather like this one because it looks like a sketch.
That's what I was talking about :)
Will definitely try it.
Cheers!

Offline EddyCurrent

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #33 on: November 10, 2017, 20:48:20 pm »
No waves yet though, I think I'm going to have a break from it and get some work done  ::)
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Offline Bubba

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #34 on: November 11, 2017, 11:45:26 am »
Thanks Eddy. ;D

My 2¢

Win11, CB(1.0)rc 1(64 bit) Mach3, ESS, G540, 4th Axis, Endurance Laser.

Offline dh42

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #35 on: January 03, 2018, 03:26:59 am »
Hello Eddy

I just played with the new version for adding to the website.

Nice, I like the Lines pattern ;)

found some little problems:

1) the plugin window can be opened more than one time.

2) all the texts in the new "Pattern style" section can't be translated (tabs titles and objects contained in the tabs)

3) the "Image info" text above the file name container can't be translated.

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David

Offline dh42

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #36 on: September 23, 2018, 22:22:03 pm »
Hello

A friend use this plugin with Mach3 and he found that there is always a little pause between each hole.

I don't know if this problem is specific to Mach3, but this pause seems "embedded" in the G81 command.

a job with G81 (the built-in script  in the plugin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=WzrHOf3cREM

and the same without the G81

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epfS_S6ygww

the drill script used for this second video is

Code: [Select]
G0 Z$c
G0 X$x Y$y
G1 Z$h F$f

the difference is visible, and that really speed up the job !

I also have the same pause between holes with Mach3, but because I never cut thousand of holes, I never searched where was the problem with the G81 .... someone has any idea ?

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David

Offline dave benson

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #37 on: September 24, 2018, 12:44:47 pm »
HI David
Is this of any help https://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?topic=30239.0
I don't see any delays using the PP.
Dave

Offline dh42

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #38 on: September 24, 2018, 17:33:29 pm »
Hello Dave

Thanks for searching ;)

I retrieve the post on Warp9 forum, but unfortunately no solution has been proposed ...

https://warp9td.com/index.php/kunena/7-general-discussion/5305-can-i-speed-up-this-g73-peck-drilling-routine?limitstart=0

The only info is that it seems that it's the smoothstepper itself that cause this problem (I've one, and the guy that make the video too ..)

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David

Offline EddyCurrent

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #39 on: September 24, 2018, 19:57:19 pm »
David,

Do you want me to change the custom script code the plugin makes to this ?

G0 Z$c
G0 X$x Y$y
G1 Z$h F$f
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Offline dh42

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #40 on: September 24, 2018, 21:11:23 pm »
Hello

If the problem if only for ESS users and not with Mach3 itself, maybe it's not necessary ... it can be easily changed after the mop has been created ;) .... The problem of my script is that I don't found a way to simulate the Fast plunge height with the script so maybe for most user a regular G81 is better ...

How do you drive your machine ? are you using an ESS too ?

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David
« Last Edit: September 24, 2018, 21:13:09 pm by dh42 »

Offline EddyCurrent

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #41 on: September 24, 2018, 21:26:00 pm »
Yes, I use the ESS Smooth Stepper but I didn't try to drill many holes.
I will give it a try tomorrow and see what happens.
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Offline dh42

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #42 on: September 24, 2018, 21:32:27 pm »
Quote
Yes, I use the ESS Smooth Stepper but I didn't try to drill many holes.

Lol, as me, you don't use your own plugins  ;D (never tried the unroll in real .. still trying to speed up calculation)

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David

Offline dh42

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #43 on: September 27, 2018, 21:10:36 pm »
Hello

I just do some tests.

As my friend, I also have a delay (~1s) between each hole with the ESS ; tried with the last plugin for the ESS.

I also tried with // port and ... there is also a small delay, but shorter than with the ESS. (~ the half)

So it seems that not using the G81 is better for this kind of job  ... at least with Mach3

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David

Offline GeoffreyGRoy

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Re: Halftone image generator plugin - "Semitone"
« Reply #44 on: December 02, 2020, 09:11:43 am »
Dear Eddy

I have been trying out your Semitone plugin to create laser-engraved images.  Basically the plugin works quite well but I am suggesting that it might be useful to add some additional capabilities.

Your plugin creates a PointList for the sampled points in the image with the Z value being the depth of cut for the Drill MOP.  For laser engraving we need to think about "circular pockets" where the diameter of the circle can be computed from the image in much the same way. What I have tried is to take your PointList and with the aid of a small script (attached in the ZIP file) I can create a set of circles of the required diameter at the same locations.  Using these circles I can create a Pocket MOP with appropriate"tool diam" (Laser width), step over, etc at a nominal depth of cut (say -0.1mm) (Note: also using a Laser Post Processor script that turns on the laser on at each -ve Z value.)

I have attached an image of the result (not too bad), as well as a closeup image of the circular-pockets (scale is mm).  The material  used is AlumaMark that is specifically for laser engraving.

What would be very convenient is to provide these capabilities in your plugin- my script tends to be rather slow as there can be lots of circles (24,000 or so in the test image) to create.

This might require:
(1) Adding a Tool Diameter field for the selected tool (a notional one set up to mimic the laser)
(2) Adding the options: "Drill Mode" and "Laser Mode"  (Laser mode is not likely to apply to your "Lines" mode option)
(3) The Create MOP button would then:
     (a) Create the PointList and Drill MOP (as current), or
     (b) Create the set of circles and a Pocket MOP. 

There could be some default values inserted in the Pocket MOP (like Clearance Plane = 0.1, Depth increment = 0, Depth of cut= -0.1.  These, and other, settings can be updated by the user to suit local needs., as well as setting the required Laser PostProcessor, before creating the GCode file.

If you are able to consider this request that would be excellent. Otherwise,  I would be prepared to do it - if you could make your sources available.
regards
Geoff