HalftonePro is a graphic design tool that makes creating these patterns an easy and enjoyable process. Our halftone app generates a large variety of vector patterns that goes beyond the standard halftone technique and saves them in formats that can be imported into any graphic software, like Photoshop, Illustrator, GIMP or Inkscape. Below is an example of an image that was engraved with the Halftone (Dither) option turned on in K40 Whisperer. The truck photo came from Wikimedia Commons: Madrid-FargoPower-Wagon In order to generate the halftone image in K40 Whisperer the Halftone setting in the Raster settings needs to be selected. This sample walks you through the following steps to implement halftone descreening, using a halftone screen sample that you’ve created programmatically or taken from source material: Convert the image data to a split complex vector. Prepare the FFT setup. Perform forward 2D FFT on image data. Zero the peaks in the halftone sample magnitude.
I write software for a living, so it should come as no surprise that I've written some tools for use with my new CNC hobby. These are free for personal use. If you have any issues with the software, feel free to contact me at mail(AT)jasondorie.com.
These programs are Windows executables, and require the Microsoft .NET framework, V3.5. If you have difficulty running them, try installing the framework from here: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21
Halftoner was inspired by a post I saw on Hack-a-day. A Finnish guy who goes by 'MetalFusion' created a program to convert images into halftone dots for cutting on his CNC machine. (His page is here: http://www.students.tut.fi/~syvajar3/)
I took the idea from him, but the code is entirely my own.
The program has options to set the size of the work piece, the dot spacing and size, black-on-white or white-on-black, angled dots, and so on. It will output a DXF of the generated dot pattern, or produce GCode. The program can also generate varying width lines.
Version 1.7 adds the ability to disable line numbers in generated GCode output, has a mode to generate GCode compatible with GRBL (primarily for use with Easel), and includes code to optimize the generated GCode in Lines / Circles modes to be smaller if possible.
Version 1.6 adds a few new features. First, when using 'offset odd lines', the spacing of dots is adjusted slightly to make the distance between circles consistent, even with the offset. I've added a new circle style, and added controls to move the center of the pattern for squares and circles modes. I've also added image adjustment for brightness and contrast - check out the 'Adjust' tab.
Version 1.5 corrects the issue of commas in the GCode output for non-North American users.
Version 1.4 corrects a problem in the GCode output for metric users, and adds the ability to use images with non-square aspect ratios.
Version 1.3 uses 2 instead of 4 decimals of precision in the GCode output in mm mode, as some machines didn't like 4. It also adds two-pass cuts as an option for lines mode, and adds the ability to export a DXF for lines mode. The generated DXF will need to have the segments joined to cut it properly, but the output is very precise and will produce optimal V-Carve paths.
Version 1.2 adds the ability to choose between inches and mm for all measurements, and all settings are remembered when the app is closed. I have also added small help popups above most of the controls, and added a 'Load Image' button.
A user on the JoesCNC forums said that he'd been looking for something to produce a very specific pattern from images, but he didn't know what it was called. He linked to a gallery here : http://www.interlam-design.com/Mirage_ProductList.cfm
I recognized the pattern as the result of a reaction/diffusion system and set about writing a program to generate something similar. It turned out nicely - an example is shown below:
This program is pretty minimal - Drop an image on it, let it go until you're happy, then save the resulting picture. The images are 'grown', and as such it can take a while, especially with a large image. I suggest starting with something small, around 500 pixels square, until you get a feel for it. Small images typically run in real-time, and you can paint on them with the mouse and watch them grow.
It's also worth mentioning that the light areas on an image take the longest to fill in. Basically dark is 'food', whereas white is the absence of it. An image with large light areas will take a while to fill in (5000 to 10000 generations). You can help it along by hitting the 'Seed' button to dump 'food' on the image.
Version 1.2 allows you to negate the image (making the dots are white instead of black) and it can save a high quality up-scaled version of the result, making it easier to vector trace.
If you're interested in getting a custom physical piece like the one below contact me via mail(AT)jasondorie.com. Click the image for a larger version.
The process is shown in the video below.
Writing G codes for manufacturing components from your design can be very time-consuming and may consume a lot of resources from your workforce. CNC router software is basically designed to generate G codes based on your design. You can also expect design optimization for particular manufacturing technique from the software. Following is the list of few of the best picked CNC router software.
Related:
EnRoute
EnRoute is a CAD/CAM sign making and digital finishing software solution. The software is paid software with the basic version offering features for design, toolpathing, 3D surfacing, Nesting, and production. The long list of features include a complete set of 2D CAD and editing tools, interlocking components creator, 3D relief surface cutting, carve into the surface, true shape nesting with 3 nesting engines, nest near obstructions, and save and reuse toolpaths for fast workflow.
CNC Machine
Halftone App Mac Cnc Download
ConstruCAM 3D works with only one unitary data file- click and go. The software provides an interface for most of the standard formats, thus data can be adopted from AutoCad, coreIDRAW, and ADOBE Illustrator. The software has a long list of features including construction aids, editing, layer technique, tool administration, lines, cubic splines and complex pre-defined elements. The software has integrated “Relief” module to convert 2D or .stl file into 3D file.
Mozaik CNC
The CNC router software from Mozaik will take you from design to fully developed machine ready G-code with ease. Few of the features from the long list of this software offers are huge pre-defined parts giving you almost all the parts ready for drag-and-drop, intelligent joinery, intelligent algorithms to get optimized nesting, and the ability to control localized nesting. The software is available with a price tag.
LinuxCNC
LinuxCNC is the software designed specifically for Linux platform for controlling CNC operations. The software can be used to drive milling machines, lathes, 3d printers, and laser and plasma cutters. The software accepts G-code as input and drives CNC Machine in response. You can select your preferred GUI from a variety of GUIs. The software supports rigid tapping, cutter compensation, and many other advanced control features. This software is an open source CNC controller.
CAMotics for Mac
Camotics is the CNC router software basically designed for Mac platform users. Camotics is open source software which simulates 3 axis CNC milling or engraving. Being able to simulate is the critical part of creating CNC tool-paths, and programming without simulating is just like cutting without taking measurements. With Camotics you can preview your cutting operation before you actually start the operation. This allows you to improve your design or optimize manufacturing process before the actual manufacturing begins.
Easy CNC for Windows
Easy CNC is the CNC router software basically designed for Windows platform users. Few of the features that this software offer includes full implementation in C++, compiling and loading with Arduino IDE, Doxygen documentation, G-code interpreter, High modularity with object oriented programming, and firmware support for RAMPS 14.
Halftone Cnc software, free download
Best CNC Router Software – GRZ CNC Software
GRZ CNC Software is the most popular software in the CNC router software category. The goal of development of this software is getting direct G codes ready for machining from your designs. Meshcam supports almost all the 3D drawing formats, plus it supports reading from a .dwg format to feature designs from drawings. The software also has an automatic toolpath wizard to get you machined workpiece without implementing time and knowledge for the manufacturing process.
How to install CNC Router Software?
Many of the CNC router software listed above offer a setup file, allowing an easy installation of the software. Few of the software in this category are portable, giving you access from anywhere with just one requirement of bootable USB device. CNC router software is basically designed for getting simulation before running actual machining process to get an idea of the performance and let you optimize the process before actually starting the process.
While some software in this category offers free service for the basic need of getting simulation, the number of features gets limited for the free version. If you are looking for fully featured software with advanced features like automatic G-code generator and optimization, the paid ones are for you. Each software offering some unique feature over others, it’s the question of personal preferences for selecting one of the best software listed here.