Problem exporting HPGL in version beta 8.994

[Eduardo]

Hello,

I was using version 8.993 for some time and decide to pdate to version 8.994 because of the problem of adding manual bridge gaps that weren’t not working. (issue #435). That problem is solved !

But now I have another problem. Seems that the HPGL post-processor that I use, has now an error in version 8.994. A erroneous cutting line is always generated (by what I understand at the end of the job) that connects to the first point. This happens for the cutout but also for the isolation. I’m not sure but I think that one time the cutout went OK in the dozens of test I had made trying to find a workaround… I attached a file were you can see the problem.

Another minor problem is that when in the cutout tool I try to generata a geometry with more than 3mm margin, the automatically gaps option do not work. I have tried several values of margin and gap size and for 8mm, to obtain same gaps I have to put a gap dimension of about 15mm…. It’s not a linear relation!

I know that the HPGL is not vastly use, but I have a Bungard machine and the control software Routepro3000 only accept hpgl format, so if you could check I will be very grateful!

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[Marius Stanciu]

Hi Eduardo,
Regarding:

Another minor problem is that when in the cutout tool I try to generate a geometry with more than 3mm margin, the automatically gaps option do not work. I have tried several values of margin and gap size and for 8mm, to obtain same gaps I have to put a gap dimension of about 15mm…. It’s not a linear relation!

That was fixed a while ago in my working copy for the next version.

I will check if this hpgl issue can be seen in my working copy and attempt to make a fix for it.

Best regards,
Marius

[Marius Stanciu]

I just made a test by isolating a Gerber file with a simple circle trace inside.
I will add the used Gerber file in your first post so you can check if you get the same result, Let me know the result (I can no longer run v 8.994 without remaking my Python toolchain around PyQt5 which is too much hassle). Does the hpgl code look to be correct?

The resulting code is this:

CO "HPGL CODE GENERATED BY FLATCAM vUnstable - www.flatcam.org - Version Date:    2022/4/31";
CO "Name: circle.GTL_iso_combined_cnc";
CO "Type: HPGL code from Geometry";
CO "Units: MM";
CO "Created on Monday, 21 March 2022 at 23:36";

IN;
PU;

PU;

PA1178,800;

PD;

PA1171,874;
PA1149,945;
PA1114,1010;
PA1067,1067;
PA1010,1114;
PA945,1149;
PA874,1171;
PA800,1178;
PA726,1171;
PA655,1149;
PA590,1114;
PA533,1067;
PA486,1010;
PA451,945;
PA429,874;
PA422,800;
PA429,726;
PA451,655;
PA486,590;
PA533,533;
PA590,486;
PA655,451;
PA726,429;
PA800,422;
PA874,429;
PA945,451;
PA1010,486;
PA1067,533;
PA1114,590;
PA1149,655;
PA1171,726;
PA1178,800;
PU;

PA1222,798;

PD;


PA1222,802;
PA1214,882;
PA1190,961;
PA1151,1034;
PA1098,1098;
PA1034,1151;
PA961,1190;
PA882,1214;
PA800,1222;
PA718,1214;
PA639,1190;
PA566,1151;
PA502,1098;
PA449,1034;
PA410,961;
PA386,882;
PA378,800;
PA386,718;
PA410,639;
PA449,566;
PA502,502;
PA566,449;
PA639,410;
PA718,386;
PA800,378;
PA882,386;
PA961,410;
PA1034,449;
PA1098,502;
PA1151,566;
PA1190,639;
PA1214,718;
PA1222,798;
PU;


PU;

PA0,0;

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[Marius Stanciu]

Hi Eduardo,
I just identified the issue and can confirm that indeed what you report is valid.
The blue line you see is actually the first move (now that I look carefully I see that the blue line ends with the number 1 next to it which signal that it is the first move, from node 0 to node 1) and although it is marked wrongly as a cut line (in blue) actually if you check the code, that line is a travel line (with PU - pen up).

This happens only if you check the Toolchange checkbox but I think in the 8.994 I have put a mandatory toolchange at the start of the job regardless of the choice in the GUI. In any case, it is just a plotting misrepresentation in the software and should not impact the actual job.

Yet, I have fixed this plotting issue in my working copy and the fix will be available in the next release.

Best regards,
Marius

[Eduardo]

Thank you very much for your great work!