Hi. I am looking at using a vynl cutting knive on my 5x10 foot cnc router. I have the set up to do pen plotting and cutting of vynl and card stock. I dont plan on getting a vynl cutter . The program that I use to do most of my cutting is aspire. but I need the offsets for getting good corners and the overcut for weeding it is .025 mm. the offset and overcut is because the cutter follows at this distance.  the program that I am trying is signgo  it is found at signgo.com out of england I think. Is there  a way to get a post processor to convert there file into gcode for mach3. that is the program that I have been using sence it came out and I dont want to go to another driver. I just need a vynl cutting program that will go with mach. If we cant convert this program to the right code does anyone know of a program to cut vynl that will work. I dont want to reinvent the wheel just cut some vynl with my machine. it is step and direction.steppers.run by mach..They do there output with HPGL . most  hpgo to g code converters dont accept signgo hpglfiles or any that I could find.  There is a universal plotter driver that a man from hollad got g code set up to work  but he had trouble with the offsets not working. Could someone out there please help me I know ther are some real smart people on the mach forum. and am hoping. also if this is the wrong spot on the forum moe it where it will get the most veiws . Thank you.

Hi all I was hoping somone would be able to give me some help. even if there is no way to convert the two programs. I was hoping that there was a vynl cutting program that would use g code for mach3 out of the all the world there must be somthing.

Hi Larry,

I use Roland software for sign layouts but use Mach3 and GCode for cutting the vinyl so convert HPGL to GCode quite a lot. The attached program, written by Martin DeRoode of Majosoft is simple and works just fine for me. There are a couple of little quirks such as needing SP1 (or whatever pen) at the start of the code but once you get used to it, editing is no problem.
Let me know how you get on.

Tweakie.

Thanks tweakie. I have seen your web site afew times and I like what you have been doing. What is the roland vynl cutting program. that you use. is it easy to use .. I dont care what program it is. As long as it works and is easy to use . Not the brightest cookie on the block when it comes to computers. But I can make thing work most of the time. I guess I am just lucky as most of the time I dont know what I did all I know is most of the time I get things to work.  I am not sure when you posted  but I would have got back Quicker but I had a heart atack last week got home friday an I am still a bit slow getting around.  Again thanks hope you help some more.

Hi Larry,

Take it easy and get well soon.

My Roland software is related to pen plotters not vinyl cutters.
It has been a long while since I used SignGo but from memory you can pre-program the post processor with HPGL start up strings so you should be able to create a file that will convert to GCode (using the program I posted) without editing. If you have difficulties setting it up send me a copy of your current SignGo output file I can see what needs adding / removing.

Tweakie.

thanks tweekie on ypur web site you had a programtarget to gcode you said works do you still use it or have you made your own post proccesser (converter)if you whant my adress is   larryellencharlton@hotmail.com   

Tweekie there is a man from holand back in july of   2010 under heading of general discussion  named blitskreik that was working on a conversion for mach3 I was able to get a hold of him. But he said the couldnt get the cutting offsets to work. Couldnt get a hold of him  again. It was under the heading producing gcode with signgo. Take a look.

tweekie I just saw that the file you gave me is the same one you used in your site. But when I tried to open the file it would not open. does it go into mach or how do you open it to use.

Hi Larry,

Target2Gcode is a standalone .exe application - Just place it on your desktop and run it. (as mentioned earlier there are certain HPGL codes it doesn't like and these return an error if they are not edited out which is where the SignGo post processor comes into its own).
The input files need .plt or .hpg file extension to open and the program creates a ....wire.din file which is the GCode. You just need to set the safe Z and cutting depth before creating the GCode.

Tweakie.

Hi Larry,

Something I forgot to mention    is that LazyCam (part of Mach) will also convert your HPGL files to GCode. It takes a long while with some of the larger files but usually gets there in the end. LazyCam has the advantage of allowing easy deletion of unwanted vectors and the redefinition of the origin etc. etc. and may be your best option.

Tweakie.