Is a plug-in possible to allow direct cutting to cutting plotters?

Yes, this is possible.
This is a lot of work though.
I'm sure that more info about what signals
have to been to the cutter are need.

I believe that some working is begin done,
but i'm not sure the current progress of it.

If there way you could help it would be appreciated by many I'm sure.

How can I help? I have a plug-in that enables me to cut directly from Illustrator, I can provided you with saved files. Just ask and I will do my best.

Howdy,

The situations is as follows

1. There is a DXF exporter for CraftRobo bundled with Inkscape
2. There is a half-standalone project called graphtecprint: http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/
3. There is a testing version of an HPGL exporter written by Aaron Spike

If you want (3), I can send it to you. We really need to get a well designed vision of how we want to support it. Any ideas are welcome. I thinks it's time to register a blueprint :)

I looked at the above link, but assume this is not for people running windows XP??

My CraftRobo is a CC100-20.

Exporting files as DXF is not ideal, if I don't resave immediately as GSD they cause the RoboMaster software to crash. When cutting converted DXF files the machine stutters and cutting is very very slow.

There is also a GSD exporter in works: http://code.google.com/p/cuft/source/browse (then trunk/inkscape)

But Aaron says it's not quite functional.

If you have specification for GSD file format, please share it with us ;-)

I can give you a blank GSD file or one with a design in it. Would that be any good?

I can also give you a copy of the Illustrator plug-in if you want that as well.

I think in order to support GSD you will have to find a developer interested in it. I for one will probably never go back as GSD, I think, only exist withing a few special windows applications. SVG is much more widely used and understood by important applications such as inkscape, gimp and autotrace. Actually, now that there are ways to print from inkscape to cutters, we don't even need to bother with DXF files/formats.

> I looked at the above link, but assume this is not for people running windows XP??

Assuming you are talking about Vidar's python script - Only if python and glade are not available for your windows XP box. Python is an interpretive language like BASIC was of days past. Glade is a library of graphic "things" that python programs can use. Use care in picking the correct version of glade to install.

You say

>> now that there are ways to print from inkscape to cutters, we don't even need to bother with DXF files/formats.<<

how do it? I have tried selecting CR as my printer, but CR just clicks the blade moves a fraction and then nothing.

Hi Lucille...

It sounds like you are sending the output of inkscape to the Craft ROBO. These cutters don't understand postscript (if you have inkscape set up to print in post script). And, I believe, no plotter and / or cutter will understand raster (if that's the way you have inkscape set). Raster, I think, is for regular printers.

What you need is Vidar's program "in between" inkscape and your Craft ROBO.

---------------------------

I believe if you follow Vidar's instructions you can cut to a Craft ROBO.

I have a Blue Wishblade and had to modify Vidar's code before it would work. (I have made many other changes to Vidar's code for my personal use. But I haven't heard back from Vidar for months and don't know where to post the changes.)

Vidar's instructions and programs were written for a Linux computer. I do not think his programs will work on a windows or mac computer without changing the code.

If they are not already there, you will need to install python and glade into your Linux box to run Vidar's code.

Inkscape does not literally print directly to these cutters. I am sorry if I confused you. You must use the inkscape "Print Destination" pop up (after you click on print in inkscape) to send the output to Vidar's program which, in turn, sends it to the cutter.

Do this: 1) click on print in inkscape 2) when the "Print Destination" pop up is displayed click on "Print using PostScript operators" and 3) type "| <path_to_your_copy_of_vidars_graphtecprint_program>" into the print destination window at the bottom of the screen.

From now on when you print from inkscape, if everything is working, Vidar's program will pop up a window with cutting options. You can do things like pick you paper stock then send the file to the cutter.

...note, all the above is in the README.txt file found in Vidar's download.

I would start with something simple. Draw a circle in inkscape and see if you can get the Craft ROBO to cut that before trying files that are complex or of unknown format.

---------------------------

Hum, Lucille - looking at your past posts, I'm thinking you only have a XP box?? Then Vidar's solution "as is" is probably not for you. I think it would have to be modified to access an USB printer in the "XP paradigm" and you would have to figure out if it's worth your time to install python and glade on your XP box (if that is possible - which I think it is - it's just not what the everyday XP user would be doing). No doubt a simpler solution can be written. It boils down to if someone capable of programming has similar needs. Right now I'm happy with modifying Vidar's code and running it on a Linux box.

I know this can be frustrating. After spending hundreds of dollars on a cutter and not having the support you would like. But you have a Craft ROBO who's program can still import DXF files. People with Blue Wishblades (practically the same machine) can not even do that. And the support is dwindling (I don't think there is a Vista version of the Blue Wishblade software). I have heard most people with these cutters are spending even more money for 3rd party software.

Yes I am using Windows XP, so Vidar's solution won't work for me. I wouldn't even know where to start installing python and glade, I would need a dummies guide.

The problem with importing DXF files into RoboMaster is it takes forever to cut intricate designs. Plus I am sick and tired of all the software popping up every day with weird and wonderful file formats that no one else can use, because we do freely share our files.

I have always used Illustrator because I can cut directly to CR with the plug-in, fast and fairly quiet but recently had to learn Inkscape and I have fallen in love with it all I need now is to be able to cut direct to CR and I and many other crafters would be in heaven.

I googled and found this page:
http://danmarner.blogspot.com/2008/05/pygtk-and-glade-on-windows.html
...it looks promising. But, again, the concepts involved are not for the run of the mill XP user. They are more in line of what a member of the IT department would do. And, again, I think accessing printers on an XP box would be very different then what Vidar's program is doing on a Linux box.

From the sounds of it, your DXF files are not formed well for cutting. My bet is that you are describing angled lines as if there were a set of points forming the edges of a stair case. What you need is a file that describes the angled line using the starting and ending points only. If that's not clear, think of it this way: Instead of telling your cutter to cut one angled line, you are probably telling it to go a little over (the run), then a little down (the fall) then repeat this about 1000s times until it has cut the line. Hence it's slow and noisy behavior.

Here I think GSD is the odd ball format (I don't think anything other then these small cutters use it). SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is much more wide spread. And HPGL (Hewlett Packard Graphics Language) is how most plotters talk (I think). That's one of the reasons why you are having so many problems finding support. There are a lot of formats. People re-invent the wheel mostly because they want to make money or are trying to avoid paying someone else money. Welcome to the world of windows.

(It would be a lot of work - and, because of the technical nature of administrating your own Linux machine, may not be for everyone. But considering the amount of money spent on the cutter and software... well, wal-mart sold (still sells?) a low powered Linux computer for ~$200. At that point you would be done spending money. That is if you use your own monitor and keyboard. You could then download inkscape, python, glade and Vidar's script for free. Even if you paid some college kid $50 to set it up it would be cheaper then a new cutter.)

Is the RoboMaster software able to read .eps files?
The reason I am asking is because this is the method recommended by the developers of Summa Winplot software, see https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/192923/comments/36 .

> Is the RoboMaster software able to read .eps files?

I haven't found any evidence of this on the web. I believe you can only "read" GSD and "import" DXF files w/the Craft ROBO software (the poor Wishblade people can only work w/GSD file using the OEM software). And I've imported plenty of DXF file to know angled lines from a DXF file from inkscape sessions cut just fine.

> From the sounds of it, your DXF files are not formed well for cutting.

To be clear Lucille, I didn't mean you had slipped up somewhere or downloaded a bad file. It is more likely something happened like Alvin is implying. That some software package between what you want and your cutter isn't doing the right thing. Try this: In inkscape, zoom up really close to one of seemingly straight lines that is giving you problems. Choose one that is not parallel to the vertical or horizontal sides of your screen. If you see a "stair case" or "saw" pattern you have spotted your problem. You should see smooth lines no matter how much you zoom in. That's *is* the difference between a raster image (photo shop/gimp/paint/ect...) and a vector graphic image (inkscape). Now what you need to do is back up. Something along the way didn't do the right thing. For me it was autotrace. When I converted a raster image (PPM) to a vector image (DXF) I specified the wrong parameters resulting in a "stair case" pattern and slow noisy cuts.

If you found your "stair case" or "saw" pattern and re-creating the image isn't possible (i.e. you downloaded it that way) a painful solution would be to remove the "stair case" or "saw" pattern. I can't imagine this would work for anything but blocky stuff - like slanted block letters. Just be careful not to remove the corner points.

The last two images I download and traced are fine. I know what you are saying about the saw effect, when this happens I find it is quicker and easier if I trace it myself with the tools.

The reason I asked in another question about a plug-in for cutting direct to CR is that when I trace and Export DXF files that have been created in Illustrator they cut badly as well. But, the same image cut directly to CR with the Illustrator plug-in cuts really smooth and quick, so I was hoping if Inkscape could write a plug-in to cut directly it would work the same.

Re my original question though, what are the chances of getting a plug-in to allow direct cutting using Windows to the CR?

This isn't just for me I always have Illustrator and it's plug-in, it is all the other CR users who would love to be able to cut directly to their CR/WBs.

could you attach a sample .dxf file that was produced by Illustrator using an export dxf, and that you know will cut badly?
it is still not clear to me whether the problem lies in the .dxf file or whether the problem lies elsewhere, in the subsequent processing of the file.

you probably can't attach a file here, but you could attach it to an existing bug report, for example Bug 192923 or Bug 168411 , both of which I will check for replies.

okay, forget the request for a .dxf file. I think I have a rough idea of what the problem is. The problem is that there is more than one format available for splines in .dxf files, some of which are compatible with ROBO Master and some aren't. Unfortunately, we are probably using a format that is "not", and the same may also be true of Illustrator as well, based on the previous observations.
    so there are two ways of dealing with this, either write a different file conversion routine, or write an output device driver. I'm going to investigate the file conversion routine method and see what happens.

Regarding the possibility of a plug-in for Inkscape to allow direct communication with cutting plotters like the CraftROBO -

I've been in conversation with Glenn Liebner, manager for new markets at Graphtec (which produces the CraftROBO) and they would like to assist if possible.

Would anyone in the Inkscape community be interested?

Sorry to be so thick, are you asking if someone will take this project on and write the programming/code (not sure what the right word is) or are you looking for people to test something?

Lucille

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Glen Bull
  To: <email address hidden>
  Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:51 AM
  Subject: Re: [Question #35004]: Is a plug-in possible to allow direct cuttingto cutting plotters?

  Your question #35004 on Inkscape changed:
  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/35004

  Glen Bull proposed the following answer:
  Regarding the possibility of a plug-in for Inkscape to allow direct
  communication with cutting plotters like the CraftROBO -

  I've been in conversation with Glenn Liebner, manager for new markets at
  Graphtec (which produces the CraftROBO) and they would like to assist if
  possible.

  Would anyone in the Inkscape community be interested?

  --
  If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
  know that it is solved:
  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/35004/+confirm?answer_id=17

  If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
  following page to enter your feedback:
  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/35004

  You received this question notification because you are a direct
  subscriber of the question.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
  Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1967 - Release Date: 02/23/09 07:17:00

Glenn,
I've always said that if Graphtec was willing to talk I would be willing to work with them. I'm probably not a skilled enough developer to handle all the math necessary but at this point I think I may be the person who knows the most about the GSD format. If Alan was willing to collaborate I'm quite sure we could get the job done.

Aaron Spike

Glen,
Sorry I added an extra "n" on your name there. I was looking at the wrong name in your message when I typed.
Aaron

Glen...

Thanks for posting about Graphtec's interest.

1st rule about open source development: You need someone to do it.

I might be interested but, admittedly, 1) I'm swamped and am already shorting another open source project and 2) I'm only interested if the Graphtec hardware I have is included in the support.

The reason I bring up item 2 above is that I own a Blue Wishblade which is marketed in NA by Xyron (about the most un-technical company in the world that OEMs tech toys). This cutter is not support past Windoze XP. If Graphtec freely releases information about all the cutters it OEMs including the old blue Wishblades (WB100-20) then I would be interested.

---

Humm, you know, even if we add support for these cutters into inkscape, we are only going to universally help people running Linux. That is, in Linux, the USB driver identifies Graphtec plotters and assigns them a generic serial port USB driver. This is good enough for most everything except reading back the optical registration (something I have never needed to do (this is used when cutting out something that has been printed by Graphtec software)).

Under windoze, there is no USB support unless it comes from Graphtec or Xyron. Simply put, I assume, MicroSoft wants to make money and will charge Graphtec and / or Xyron should they want to create or update a USB driver. That is probably why, after only several years, the Blue Wishblade (which usually costs end users hundereds of dollars) has lost support under Vista.

---

So, keep in mind, if Graphtec/Craftrobo and Xyron/Wishblade support is added into inkscape, it is most likely that only the old & new Graphtec/Craftrobo and the new Xyron/Wishblade will be supported under windoze vista. This, as stated above, is because Xyron is not, as far as I know, supporting the old blue wishblade past windoze xp. However, the same release of inkscape software should be able to support all Graphtec / Xyron cutters under linux.

---

FYI: For anyone who's in need of cutting from inkscape to a Graphtec plotter on a Linux platform. You can do it today using inkscape, glade, python and graphtecprint. You might have to change the python script if you are cutting to a wishblade as I do not remember the state of the graphtecprint project. This should also work under windoze, but most windoze people I talk to haven't the slightest idea how to install glade and /or python (BTW, these are free for the asking) let alone know what they are.

Perhaps the reason Xyron aren't supporting the old blue Wishblade is because it was sold and marketed by Graphtec. It seems to me the support for these machines really stopped after Xyron took them onboard and Graphtec US stopped selling them. Here in the UK and France our plugins have always been free, but I remember Xyron charged for their first plugin and the Wishblade users were not impressed when they found out we got it for nothing.

We already have plugins for Illustrator and Corel, but these programs are way out of the price range for crafters unless you were cutting as a business.

Lucille

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: st2000
  To: <email address hidden>
  Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:32 PM
  Subject: Re: [Question #35004]: Is a plug-in possible to allow directcuttingto cutting plotters?

  Your question #35004 on Inkscape changed:
  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/35004

      Status: Needs information => Answered

  st2000 proposed the following answer:

  Glen...

  Thanks for posting about Graphtec's interest.

  1st rule about open source development: You need someone to do it.

  I might be interested but, admittedly, 1) I'm swamped and am already
  shorting another open source project and 2) I'm only interested if the
  Graphtec hardware I have is included in the support.

  The reason I bring up item 2 above is that I own a Blue Wishblade which
  is marketed in NA by Xyron (about the most un-technical company in the
  world that OEMs tech toys). This cutter is not support past Windoze XP.
  If Graphtec freely releases information about all the cutters it OEMs
  including the old blue Wishblades (WB100-20) then I would be interested.

  ---

  Humm, you know, even if we add support for these cutters into inkscape,
  we are only going to universally help people running Linux. That is, in
  Linux, the USB driver identifies Graphtec plotters and assigns them a
  generic serial port USB driver. This is good enough for most everything
  except reading back the optical registration (something I have never
  needed to do (this is used when cutting out something that has been
  printed by Graphtec software)).

  Under windoze, there is no USB support unless it comes from Graphtec or
  Xyron. Simply put, I assume, MicroSoft wants to make money and will
  charge Graphtec and / or Xyron should they want to create or update a
  USB driver. That is probably why, after only several years, the Blue
  Wishblade (which usually costs end users hundereds of dollars) has lost
  support under Vista.

  ---

  So, keep in mind, if Graphtec/Craftrobo and Xyron/Wishblade support is
  added into inkscape, it is most likely that only the old & new
  Graphtec/Craftrobo and the new Xyron/Wishblade will be supported under
  windoze vista. This, as stated above, is because Xyron is not, as far
  as I know, supporting the old blue wishblade past windoze xp. However,
  the same release of inkscape software should be able to support all
  Graphtec / Xyron cutters under linux.

  ---

  FYI: For anyone who's in need of cutting from inkscape to a Graphtec
  plotter on a Linux platform. You can do it today using inkscape, glade,
  python and graphtecprint. You might have to change the python script if
  you are cutting to a wishblade as I do not remember the state of the
  graphtecprint project. This should also work under windoze, but most
  windoze people I talk to haven't the slightest idea how to install glade
  and /or python (BTW, these are free for the asking) let alone know what
  they are.

  --
  If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
  know that it is solved:
  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/35004/+confirm?answer_id=21

  If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
  following page to enter your feedback:
  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/35004

  You received this question notification because you are a direct
  subscriber of the question.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
  Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1967 - Release Date: 02/23/09 07:17:00

Glen,

If you could, email Joshua and myself with some details and/or pass our addresses on to the contact you have there. We can definitely get things moving if we have an interested vendor. It is always good to get nice give-and-take with commercial companies. At the least I can help get some technical details nailed down and a wiki page setup including which cutters might be supported and where. Joshua has been great tracking this so far, so between the two of us we should be able to get at least something happening.

<email address hidden>

@Jon

Before you start duplicating someone else's work... :-)

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/BlueprintCutterControl

Jon,

I'll send you a note to follow up. Given the common interest on both sides, perhaps we can at least get a good definition of the problem shared between Graphtec and the Inkscape community.

Thanks,
  - Glen

Just adding a bit to the conversation, not really answering the original question...sorry.

I can quickly and easily cut vinyl using Ubuntu and Inkscape. Actaully easier than some proprietary software I've used in the past.

I copy the selection I want cut, open a new window, paste to that, then 'fit page to selection' - that makes sure the knife starts in the correct place.

I then save the file as "newplot.ps", then double click an icon ( 'cut-newplot.sh' shell script ) a viewer pops up and if it looks OK, once I close that window the plotter starts up.

It takes longer to load the vinyl than to do all that.

The shell script calls another script found at http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller ( I modified mine a little bit.)

I would love a "Plot" button in Inkscape, but this is working very well for me. I am glad to share whatever I have with whoever would like it!

Hi Lucille. Maybe you are right. But I thought Wishblade was on it's own in NA re marketing the Japanese Graphtec until Xyron absorbed Wishblade into it's fold. I wasn't very happy about that. I've talked to some vinyl sign shops that have given up on Xyron saying they seldom hit their promised product introduction dates. Add to that my own experience of blank SD pattern cards. When one finally showed up to replace it, it was shipped loose with no precautions against possible static damage.

Regardless, unless someone else knows better, I believe there are 4 small format (i.e. about 8 x 12 inch cutting capacity) Graphtec "craft" cutters. There is the old and new CraftRobos and old and new Wishblades. (Lucille started this thread based on, I think, the older CraftRobo.) I believe the old and new CraftRobo still have support under vista (http://www.graphteccorp.com/craftrobo/vista.html). However, you will probably get a popup if you install the usb driver for the old CraftRobo. That pop up might as well say: "Graphtec didn't pay us (Microsoft) any money so we are going to make you press this "OK" button before installing this old CraftRobo USB driver.". Unfortunately, I believe, people with older Wishblades have no such support after WindowsXP. I believe the older CraftRobo and older Wishblade to be identical except in the way the identify them selves. When asked, the CraftRobo will respond w/"Graphtec" and the Wishblade w/"Wishblade Inc.". My point is that Xyron could support the older Wishblades - easy! Just change the Graphtec driver to accept "Wishblade Inc." instead of "Graphtec". Do you see what I'm getting at? I don't think it is Graphtec that is not supporting the older cutters. I think it is Xyron that is not supporting the older Wishblades.

Going on, Glen I think we are all excited about you bringing inkscape and Graphtec together. However, I must agree with Alexandre and Bruce. There are already (complex) solutions to cut from inkscape to (some/all?) graphtec equipment. In fact, I'd say there is enough information on the web now to develop an inkscape feature to cut directly to Graphtec equipment. So why hasn't it been done? I would guess mostly because the people that might be able to add to inkscape are fine with their (complex) solutions. On top of that the commands to talk to Graphtec equipment might be proprietary. On this last point, if you actually get Graphtec to say they are fine with inkscape cutting directly to their equipment - that would be great - well I think it would. It means that a commercial equipment manufacture is supporting the open source community.

Lastly, keep in mind inkscape is not a USB driver. Inkscape prints to files and drivers. If the equipment you want to use does not have an USB driver for the intended operating system you are out of luck. Such is the case, AFAIK, for the old blue Xyron Wishblade beyond WindowsXP. (Writing a new Vista Windows USB driver is a non-trivial task. Software houses get paid thousands for doing it. However Linux, after detecting a Graphtec USB device, installs a generic serial port USB driver that can handle almost all aspects of the cutter.)

Just wondering if this is going ahead and if there is any way to keep up with the progress?

Lucille,

We just finished up a conference call with Glen Bull (Graphtec Rep), Jon Cruz, Glenn L., myself and a few others.
So Far it looks like things are good, we are waiting resolution of a few issue before we can proceed. The current largest one is the legalese about the SDK. Once that is sorted, the is rest is mostly just doing it.

Thank you, could you keep us informed re "the legalese about the SDK" not knowing what this is, I assume it is crucial to this progressing any further.

Hi Lucille,

Just to clarify one aspect of John's post (above), I'm a faculty member in the school of education at the University of Virginia (not a Graphtec rep), so I'm definitely not a legal expert of any kind. However, based on prior collaboration with Red Hat Linux, the issue appears to be this: what dimensions fall within the public domain? ( ... i.e., just the object code for the driver created with the Software Development Kit (SDK) or the SDK itself)

In other words, if I create an open source program with C++, does the C++ development system used to create the program then fall within the public domain, or just the program created with C++?

Both the Inkscape development community and Graphtec benefit if this question can be worked out, so it seems likely that it will be possible to resolve it. Glenn Liebner, the Graphtec U.S.A. manager for new and developing is in the process of contacting Graphtec Japan to secure their perspective regarding this issue.

 - Glen

Glen Bull, sorry I confused you and Glenn Liebner.

Hi

Just dropping in to see if things have progressed at all on this topic or what stage it is now at.

Lucille

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

No reply to my request for an update, so I'm going to assume that Graphtec are still awaiting a reply from GJapan.

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

FYI
The `Robocut' program plots or cuts SVG (the same SVG you save in Inkscape) files on a Craft Robo or Silhouette SD or most likely any other customer grade Graphtec cutting plotter.
https://launchpad.net/robocut
ppa:robocut/robocut

Hum, are there any details regarding Robocut? Like instructions, screen shots and the like?

The problem some here have is that they have been abandoned by Xyron with no hopes of support directly from Graphtec for their Wishblade CNC machines.

On top of that, many here are only Windows users. For instance asking them to install a free instance of PERL software is paramount to asking them to swap out their hard drive.

For these people, the only real answer is a new USB/Wishblade driver for their Windows 7 or Windows Vista machines. Unlike Linux, Microsoft has made sure any company who does this pays Microsoft (lawyers) lots of money! If in fact you have managed this, please let up know. But even if you haven't, expound on what we might expect from your software.

I'm not sure how your software stacks up to this one. I am not even sure this package still works with the current release of the well known inkscape program. But as this software offers a simple graphical interface - I do recommend it to RoboCraft and Wishblade users. However, it does need to run on a Linux platform, it does require installing languages like Python (if I recall correctly) and it does rely on inkscape to "start it up".

http://vidar.botfu.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/graphtecprint-1.0.1.tar.gz

-thanks

Here are some details I have:
I made this video the demonstrate the registration mark feature, this mainly shows my work flow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWnSxDSRL9I

It uses only QT and libusb and it is written in C++; this should port very well to Mac OS and Windows. But I only need it on GNU/Linux so I will not do the porting, but I can offer my help via IRC or email. There are no other dependencies like perl etc...

There are command line options to try other vendor and product Ids - right now the program has only Craft Robo CC200 (UK) and Silhouette SD (US) IDs hard coded. (thats the only hardware we the developers have)
If you have other hardware (like Wishblade) with different IDs you can try the program with the command line options (man robocut (you need to convert the hex number to a decimal number)), if it works send me an email and I will also hard code your IDs and add the hardware to the readme file.
To find your IDs you can use this command: usb-devices

Here are some features Robocut offers right now on Linux:
* open SVG files from Inkscape and cut only the visible layers.
* animation of the cut on the screen first (if you wish).
* registration mark support
* dashed stocks are cut as dashes (there is no need to convert the path in Inkscape anymore)
* there is a (command line switch) sort option to cut smaller areas inside larger ares first.

This was uploaded to Debian, so it should be in Ubuntu at some point (right now there is still a freeze in Debian, because this is a new upload it needs to be cleared by FTP admin first). For now there is a Ubuntu PPA.

Please let me know if there are still questions.

Regards,
Markus Schulz

Hi Markus...

I looked over some past email and found this output I got from a Python script running with a Wishblade attached:

MANUFACTURER:Wishblade Inc.;MODEL:WB100-20;CLASS:PRINTER;DESCRIPTION:Wishblade Inc. WB100-20;

So, if I remember correctly, in your code, where it is expecting "Graphtec" I think all you need to do is change that to "Wishblade Inc.".

So you got the registration to work? Excellent! My Debian systems are for media only, so I'm going to try and installing your software on a Fedora laptop system (or, maybe it's time to switch to Ubuntu). Any suggestions would be appreciated.

---

Unless there is something about Windows I don't understand - I don't see this working even if you or someone else ports your code. That is, the Wishblade USB driver is incompatible with any currently offered Windows Operating System (Xyron has abandoned Wishblade uses). And the CraftRobo driver doesn't work for Wishblades as far as I know.

-thanks

Here is an example output from my system (Silhouette SD / CC330L):

$ usb-devices
...
T: Bus=04 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=01 Cnt=02 Dev#= 7 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=0b4d ProdID=111d Rev=01.00
S: SerialNumber=123
C: #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=c0 MxPwr=32mA
I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=07(print) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=usblp
...

If you can not find it just unplug it and run the command again to see what device is missing.

This is the information you need.
Vendor=0b4d
ProdID=111d

Use your calculator to convert those numbers from hex to dec:

Vendor=2893
ProdID=4381

Now you can start robocut like this:
robocut --usb-vendor-id 2893 --usb-product-id 4381

With Fedora just download the tar.gz file and make sure you have lib usb and all the qt4 development rpms installed.

To compile just type:
$ qmake
$ make

If you need to compile anyway you could hard code your IDs, open up Plotter.cpp and look at line 27 and 28 (I highly suggest doing this right now because it looks like the command line option may don't work). Or just send me the numbers and I will help you...

Regarding the Windows support you would NOT use the driver from Graphtec or Xyron, libusb has its own driver on windows. I would guess you would need to uninstall the Graphtec driver first and than install the libusb driver for windows and than somehow tell this driver to take over this hardware...
I'm not a windows developer, but this should work the same like the AVRDUDE project.
See this for lib usb on windows: http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/libusb-win32/wiki

Regards,
Markus Schulz

PS: yes, why not switch to Ubuntu :-) Robocut works in a VM (I tested it with VirtualBox and Debian Sid), so for you test you could run Ubuntu/Debian inside Fedora.

Here's an excerpt from some email we were passing around several months ago:
----
I swapped out the Wishblade for a USB HDD. I saw a change in the device file and believe I have found the Wishblade USB entry:
---------------------
T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 5 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 1.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=0b4d ProdID=110a Rev= 1.00
S: SerialNumber=123
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=c0 MxPwr= 32mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=07(print) Sub=01 Prot=02 Driver=usblp
E: Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
---------------------
----
As you can see, the vendor ID is the same however the product ID is different. This is for the "blue" Wishblades. I imagine the newer "pink" Wishblades will have a different product ID. I am not sure why the other program uses "Graphtec" and "Wishblade Inc." when identifying. I assume someone backwards engineered the USB traffic and found this transaction and duplicated it.

Thanks for you help w/the Fedora platform - I'll see what can be done at this end to verify Wishblade operability.

This is what we have in the code right now for the Craft Robo CC200-20:
const int VENDOR_ID_GRAPHTEC = 0x0b4d;
const int PRODUCT_ID_CC200_20 = 0x110a;
This is all we check before sending the stream to the device via libusb.
I'm not sure why this would be the same numbers, however if this is true than is should work without changes.

Anyway, please use the master from git for all your test (download the tarball for example):
http://gitorious.org/robocut/alpharesearchs-robocut/archive-tarball/master

PS: I know that graphtecprint talks to the device like a printer via /dev/usb/lp I guess this is a little different and may in this case it uses Wishblade name???

Wow, my Blue WishBlade works again!

(Tested in a newly created Ubuntu 10.10 Linux box.)

Sorry for the delay. I took the loooong way around (My lap top has been long neglected. So I took this opportunity to re-partition and upgrade from Fedora 9 to Ubuntu 10.10.). I kept installing missing parts here and there and finally make ran cleanly. Using the SVG-registration-template I added a few inkscape-stars and sent that off to a laser printer. Next I stuck that into the (old abandoned by Xyron Blue) Wishblade (OEM Graphtec) plotter (paper cutter) and it cut along the printed star lines exactly.

Nicely done!

-thank you for your efforts.

Follow up:

Yes, I used the copy of the source code I found in the master branch of your GIT archive. You might have been doing some work on it on 2010.12.29 because it was temporarily unavailable for a few minutes.

No, I didn't use any command line switches. Like you said, it worked with out them. Let me know if you want me to try anything special / test something.

Good news!
Thanks for testing this. I will add this to the documentation and web page.

Regards,
Markus