Slashdot Mirror

replacement bracket for my reel lawn mower: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/...
drag knife for my CNC machine: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/...
other odds and ends...

replacement bracket for my reel lawn mower: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/...
drag knife for my CNC machine: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/...
other odds and ends...

Available here:

http://docs.shapeoko.com/

Some awkward aspects are imposed by the source being Markdown on Github, so lowest common denominator for special characters such as what should be em-dashes.

Interesting footnote to the project is that the note explaining how to use the interactive diagrams was deleted by a person who thought it was unnecessary --- less than half of the people who responded to a poll figured out the interactivity and almost all those who did find it were surprised by it.

Part of the reason it's hard to write good documentation is that it's hard to get people to make use of it --- similarly we've tried to get everything about this CNC router onto the wiki, but there are still an awful lot of forum posts which I answer w/:

``That's on the wiki:

Yep.

That's why it's so important that people document this sort of thing w/ open licenses which can't be taken back.

I've been working on that sort of thing for the Shapeko: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Anyone know of any similar wikis / resources?

  - http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Rep... --- I've tried to help out on this, but simply didn't get any help when I expressed how mystifying I found the structure / hierarchy --- finally just did a link dump of 3D printing stuff here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...
  - http://www.reddit.com/r/hobbyc... --- this subreddit has a single page, which addresses the big thing which the Shapeoko wiki can't have, a list / comparison of other machines

Makerspace == workshop for geeks who missed shop class and don't understand the basics of craftsmanship

Yep.

That's why it's so important that people document this sort of thing w/ open licenses which can't be taken back.

I've been working on that sort of thing for the Shapeko: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Anyone know of any similar wikis / resources?

  - http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Rep... --- I've tried to help out on this, but simply didn't get any help when I expressed how mystifying I found the structure / hierarchy --- finally just did a link dump of 3D printing stuff here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...
  - http://www.reddit.com/r/hobbyc... --- this subreddit has a single page, which addresses the big thing which the Shapeoko wiki can't have, a list / comparison of other machines

Makerspace == workshop for geeks who missed shop class and don't understand the basics of craftsmanship

Yes, please, thank you.

Stackexchange managed to totally derail the Digital Fabrication area when they rebranded it as ``Maker'' something or other, and the term just annoys me.

Can we at least (re)define it as people who read _Make Magazine_?

Anyway, you may find the Shapeoko wiki of interest: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/

If you can get access to one or the other it's pretty straight-forward to bootstrap and make one: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Or, real life for kids who missed shop class.

The "Maker" movement labeling really annoys me (and I'm still annoyed 'bout when when stackexchange changed the name of the Digital Fabrication beta in mid launch to some new age maker bullshit).

I build stuff, both by hand and using tools, I share what I make and learn, including the files ( http://www.shapeoko.com/projec... ), I volunteer as best I can ( http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i... ), and try to improve how we document and build machines (when the Shapeoko 2 was featured in Popular Mechanics less mechanically inclined people became aware of it and found traditional assembly diagrams hard to read, so we had to update the diagrams so as to make it obvious where "hidden" parts were located: http://docs.shapeoko.com/conte... ).

I'm not a "maker", I'm just a guy w/ a workbench at one end of the laundry room and a couple of CNC machines and 3D printers scattered around the rest of the house.

William

Or, real life for kids who missed shop class.

The "Maker" movement labeling really annoys me (and I'm still annoyed 'bout when when stackexchange changed the name of the Digital Fabrication beta in mid launch to some new age maker bullshit).

I build stuff, both by hand and using tools, I share what I make and learn, including the files ( http://www.shapeoko.com/projec... ), I volunteer as best I can ( http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i... ), and try to improve how we document and build machines (when the Shapeoko 2 was featured in Popular Mechanics less mechanically inclined people became aware of it and found traditional assembly diagrams hard to read, so we had to update the diagrams so as to make it obvious where "hidden" parts were located: http://docs.shapeoko.com/conte... ).

I'm not a "maker", I'm just a guy w/ a workbench at one end of the laundry room and a couple of CNC machines and 3D printers scattered around the rest of the house.

William

Or, real life for kids who missed shop class.

The "Maker" movement labeling really annoys me (and I'm still annoyed 'bout when when stackexchange changed the name of the Digital Fabrication beta in mid launch to some new age maker bullshit).

I build stuff, both by hand and using tools, I share what I make and learn, including the files ( http://www.shapeoko.com/projec... ), I volunteer as best I can ( http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i... ), and try to improve how we document and build machines (when the Shapeoko 2 was featured in Popular Mechanics less mechanically inclined people became aware of it and found traditional assembly diagrams hard to read, so we had to update the diagrams so as to make it obvious where "hidden" parts were located: http://docs.shapeoko.com/conte... ).

I'm not a "maker", I'm just a guy w/ a workbench at one end of the laundry room and a couple of CNC machines and 3D printers scattered around the rest of the house.

William

http://www.shapeoko.com/

It can be easily configured as a 3D printer, so would be suited for use in-doors w/o hearing protection: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Assembly instructions here: http://docs.shapeoko.com/

http://www.shapeoko.com/

It can be easily configured as a 3D printer, so would be suited for use in-doors w/o hearing protection: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Assembly instructions here: http://docs.shapeoko.com/

http://www.shapeoko.com/

It can be easily configured as a 3D printer, so would be suited for use in-doors w/o hearing protection: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Assembly instructions here: http://docs.shapeoko.com/

The Shapeoko 2 works well for milling circuit boards (esp. if one upgrades the spindle): http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Precisely adding solder paste should just be a variation on an extruder: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

and here's one example of using the machine for pick and place: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/... (using an aquarium pump for vacuum).

The Shapeoko 2 works well for milling circuit boards (esp. if one upgrades the spindle): http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Precisely adding solder paste should just be a variation on an extruder: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

and here's one example of using the machine for pick and place: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/... (using an aquarium pump for vacuum).

The Shapeoko 2 works well for milling circuit boards (esp. if one upgrades the spindle): http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Precisely adding solder paste should just be a variation on an extruder: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

and here's one example of using the machine for pick and place: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/... (using an aquarium pump for vacuum).

So the wiki and pages such as: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Have made a few things:

  - Wooden Box with hinged lid --- http://www.shapeoko.com/projec... --- cut w/ a CNC machine
  - wooden case for my Bear Custom Kodiak T/D --- http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3... --- done entirely by hand tools, including the dovetails save for drilling the holes for the arrow holder (used a jig and an electric hand drill for that) --- this build was documented on ArcheryTalk though: http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/...

So the wiki and pages such as: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Have made a few things:

  - Wooden Box with hinged lid --- http://www.shapeoko.com/projec... --- cut w/ a CNC machine
  - wooden case for my Bear Custom Kodiak T/D --- http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3... --- done entirely by hand tools, including the dovetails save for drilling the holes for the arrow holder (used a jig and an electric hand drill for that) --- this build was documented on ArcheryTalk though: http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/...

I wrote up the instructions for assembling the Shapeoko (an open source / hardware CNC machine) and a recurring theme on the forums is people suggesting that such-and-such a hint / suggestion should be added to the text instructions --- and said text was already there:

http://docs.shapeoko.com/zaxis...

I did make the diagrams interactive, which at least cut eliminated the complaints that ``there are supposed to be 2 of part X in assembly Y, but only 1 is shown'':

http://docs.shapeoko.com/conte...

I wrote up the instructions for assembling the Shapeoko (an open source / hardware CNC machine) and a recurring theme on the forums is people suggesting that such-and-such a hint / suggestion should be added to the text instructions --- and said text was already there:

http://docs.shapeoko.com/zaxis...

I did make the diagrams interactive, which at least cut eliminated the complaints that ``there are supposed to be 2 of part X in assembly Y, but only 1 is shown'':

http://docs.shapeoko.com/conte...

I've tried to list all the 3D opensource / free design options here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

(Had to exile SketchUp to the Commercial page when Trimble changed the license)

Wound up w/ a second ShapeOko (a 2, which I got so that I could write the instructions at http://docs.shapeoko.com/ ), so have been planning to turn it into a 3D printer.

The initial (naïve) plan was to just mount an extruder I'd bought, source a hot-end, connect it to a spare stepper driver on my AtomCNC board, reflash w/ Teacup or Marlin and print --- anyone who knows anything about 3D printers can quit laughing now.

The current plan is:

  - mount an extruder (a Wade's reloaded)
  - wire up a hot-end (a J-Head Mk V or so w/ 0.35mm orifice for 1.75mm filament)
  - source a new Arduino (an Uno w/ just a 328p won't cut it)
  - source a stepper shield which has 4 stepper drivers (one for each axis, one more for the extruder, plus electronics support for powering the hot-end and monitoring its temperature)

Still haven't decided if I'm going to buy a heated bed or no --- hoping to manage w/o one ---you 3D guys may quietly laugh again now.

Unfortunately, there wasn't as much in the way of documentation on the RepRap wiki as I'd hoped for: http://reprap.org/wiki/Categor...

So I'm documenting things here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

Wound up w/ a second ShapeOko (a 2, which I got so that I could write the instructions at http://docs.shapeoko.com/ ), so have been planning to turn it into a 3D printer.

The initial (naïve) plan was to just mount an extruder I'd bought, source a hot-end, connect it to a spare stepper driver on my AtomCNC board, reflash w/ Teacup or Marlin and print --- anyone who knows anything about 3D printers can quit laughing now.

The current plan is:

  - mount an extruder (a Wade's reloaded)
  - wire up a hot-end (a J-Head Mk V or so w/ 0.35mm orifice for 1.75mm filament)
  - source a new Arduino (an Uno w/ just a 328p won't cut it)
  - source a stepper shield which has 4 stepper drivers (one for each axis, one more for the extruder, plus electronics support for powering the hot-end and monitoring its temperature)

Still haven't decided if I'm going to buy a heated bed or no --- hoping to manage w/o one ---you 3D guys may quietly laugh again now.

Unfortunately, there wasn't as much in the way of documentation on the RepRap wiki as I'd hoped for: http://reprap.org/wiki/Categor...

So I'm documenting things here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/i...

How are we going to harness tech and knowledge to create a better world for our children and grand-children?

Is it really an improvement to have machines such as the ShapeOko: http://www.shapeoko.com/ rather than teaching children how to use a set of carving gouges, chisels, saws, &c.?

Is it inevitable that we will see the banning of commercial fishing as commercial hunting was out-lawed during our grand-parents' day?

What technologies or organizations are there which offer options for making the world a better place?

  - http://opensourceecology.org/ --- and their ``global village construction kit are one bright light --- arguably the ShapeOko has a place in that though.
  - http://www.heifer.org/ --- teach a man to fish and all that

I use mine to run Grbl in a CNC milling machine --- a ShapeOko:

http://www.shapeoko.com/

(discl. I'm a moderator on the forums and wiki and will be doing the docs for the ShapeOko 2)

3D modeling is a pain.

I spent ~ a week of evenings measuring and drawing up the tools (machinists' square, 3 hex keys, 8mm wrench, analog caliper, scribing point, micrometer, Starrett screwdriver, bit cases) for my milling machine and then making a file to mill it out of foam (working on a new version to do it out of wood):

http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1797

The ShapeOko is a well-documented, opensource and affordable hobby-levek CNC router:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

I tried to put together a B.O.M. @ kitbom.com: http://kitbom.com/WillAdams/reprap-morgan and it currently prices out @ $274.26, not including the 3D printed parts and some things we've not found good sources for.

Also, free software for 3D CAD/CAM still needs a lot of work --- I've listed everything I could find here:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAD
http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

and people still over-whelmingly choose commercial software:

3D CAD 9/15 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1783
3D CAM 19/37 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1785

(by way of comparison the commercial stuff is listed here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Commercial_Software )

Please tell me I missed a fabulous opensource solution, or some much less expensive parts....

I tried to put together a B.O.M. @ kitbom.com: http://kitbom.com/WillAdams/reprap-morgan and it currently prices out @ $274.26, not including the 3D printed parts and some things we've not found good sources for.

Also, free software for 3D CAD/CAM still needs a lot of work --- I've listed everything I could find here:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAD
http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

and people still over-whelmingly choose commercial software:

3D CAD 9/15 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1783
3D CAM 19/37 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1785

(by way of comparison the commercial stuff is listed here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Commercial_Software )

Please tell me I missed a fabulous opensource solution, or some much less expensive parts....

I tried to put together a B.O.M. @ kitbom.com: http://kitbom.com/WillAdams/reprap-morgan and it currently prices out @ $274.26, not including the 3D printed parts and some things we've not found good sources for.

Also, free software for 3D CAD/CAM still needs a lot of work --- I've listed everything I could find here:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAD
http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

and people still over-whelmingly choose commercial software:

3D CAD 9/15 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1783
3D CAM 19/37 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1785

(by way of comparison the commercial stuff is listed here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Commercial_Software )

Please tell me I missed a fabulous opensource solution, or some much less expensive parts....

I tried to put together a B.O.M. @ kitbom.com: http://kitbom.com/WillAdams/reprap-morgan and it currently prices out @ $274.26, not including the 3D printed parts and some things we've not found good sources for.

Also, free software for 3D CAD/CAM still needs a lot of work --- I've listed everything I could find here:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAD
http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

and people still over-whelmingly choose commercial software:

3D CAD 9/15 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1783
3D CAM 19/37 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1785

(by way of comparison the commercial stuff is listed here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Commercial_Software )

Please tell me I missed a fabulous opensource solution, or some much less expensive parts....

I tried to put together a B.O.M. @ kitbom.com: http://kitbom.com/WillAdams/reprap-morgan and it currently prices out @ $274.26, not including the 3D printed parts and some things we've not found good sources for.

Also, free software for 3D CAD/CAM still needs a lot of work --- I've listed everything I could find here:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAD
http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAM

and people still over-whelmingly choose commercial software:

3D CAD 9/15 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1783
3D CAM 19/37 --- http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1785

(by way of comparison the commercial stuff is listed here: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Commercial_Software )

Please tell me I missed a fabulous opensource solution, or some much less expensive parts....

That's why I listed all the creativity tools which I use on my Tablet PC --- I keep looking for creativity apps on Tablets and mostly I just find fingerpainting or the equivalent.

I'm currently running up against limitations of using openSCAD and pyCAM to create G-Code for my hobby-level CNC-milling machine --- where's the fabulous, elegant, (opensource would be nice, but I'm to the point where I'd pay) 3D modelling program which will let me easily model files like:

http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1735 (from the discussion http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1756 )

and then generate G-Code to cut such out?

That's why I listed all the creativity tools which I use on my Tablet PC --- I keep looking for creativity apps on Tablets and mostly I just find fingerpainting or the equivalent.

I'm currently running up against limitations of using openSCAD and pyCAM to create G-Code for my hobby-level CNC-milling machine --- where's the fabulous, elegant, (opensource would be nice, but I'm to the point where I'd pay) 3D modelling program which will let me easily model files like:

http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/download/file.php?id=1735 (from the discussion http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1756 )

and then generate G-Code to cut such out?

With MakerSlide, it's quite easy. There's a new version of the ShapeOko (Americas - http://www.shapeoko.com/ ) / eShapeOko (Europe - http://store.amberspyglass.co.uk/eshapeoko-mechanical-kit.html ) and it's quite easy to assemble / use, and can be used to build parts for robots as described in the ``Guerrilla guide to CNC machining, mold making, and resin casting (Home manufacturing tutorial for robot builders, model makers, and other hobbyists)'' http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/gcnc/

The wiki is quite interesting, and I'm hoping to build some of the things from the site once I get my Shapeoko http://www.shapeoko.com/ up and running again.

I write scripts in TeX and AppleScript for my day job, thank you.

I don't see an available tool or technique that'll take 80 search results for ``driveshaft'': http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/search.php?keywords=driveshaft

and condense, reformat,discard redundant / off-topic mentions and create a structured page like: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Drive_Shaft

There's also 138 matches for ``drive shaft'': http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/search.php?keywords=drive+shaft (and I'm sure someone mis-spelled it as well).

Yes, I could script auto-adding or concatenating 218 pages, but that's not any more useful than any of the responses to my initial post.

I write scripts in TeX and AppleScript for my day job, thank you.

I don't see an available tool or technique that'll take 80 search results for ``driveshaft'': http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/search.php?keywords=driveshaft

and condense, reformat,discard redundant / off-topic mentions and create a structured page like: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Drive_Shaft

There's also 138 matches for ``drive shaft'': http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/search.php?keywords=drive+shaft (and I'm sure someone mis-spelled it as well).

Yes, I could script auto-adding or concatenating 218 pages, but that's not any more useful than any of the responses to my initial post.

I write scripts in TeX and AppleScript for my day job, thank you.

I don't see an available tool or technique that'll take 80 search results for ``driveshaft'': http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/search.php?keywords=driveshaft

and condense, reformat,discard redundant / off-topic mentions and create a structured page like: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Drive_Shaft

There's also 138 matches for ``drive shaft'': http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/search.php?keywords=drive+shaft (and I'm sure someone mis-spelled it as well).

Yes, I could script auto-adding or concatenating 218 pages, but that's not any more useful than any of the responses to my initial post.

I've spent more time than I care to remember moving content from:

http://www.shapeoko.com/forum

to

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki

Why can't it be automated?

I've spent more time than I care to remember moving content from:

http://www.shapeoko.com/forum

to

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki

Why can't it be automated?

Is there anything a typical na\"ive user can use?

Thus far I've been most successful w/ OpenSCAD --- I don't think that will work for most of Staples' clientele. I've tried pretty much everything here:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/CAD

But haven't found anything which really appeals --- is there anything I missed?

I've been trying hard to find opensource (and free) 3D and CAD/CAM software for the ShapeOko wiki:

http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Software

and I'm not finding much w/o significant issues of some sort:

OpenSCAD --- programmers only, mesh is okay for printing, but not milling (ImplicitCAD is better on that front, but needs to be easier to install, and to have 3D G-code export)
SketchUp --- also limited to meshes, weird interface which requires odd workflow to achieve precision
FreeCAD --- bizarre interface
Blender --- ditto
Inkscape --- 2D only, drawing interface not as nice as Macromedia FreeHand
&c.

I'd be very interested in any opensource (and free) 3D and CAD/CAM software which isn't listed on the wiki.

The ShapeOko
(~$350--600 http://www.shapeoko.com/
w/ a dual-motor Y-axis
($59.79 https://www.inventables.com/projects/shapeoko-dual-drive-kit --- Y-axis drive shaft, a bit cheaper, should work too) and
double MakerSlide X-axis
($23.52 + s/h & misc. hardware http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Double_Makerslide_X-Axis)
will cut aluminum
(priceless http://shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=171, see also http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=693)

The ShapeOko
(~$350--600 http://www.shapeoko.com/
w/ a dual-motor Y-axis
($59.79 https://www.inventables.com/projects/shapeoko-dual-drive-kit --- Y-axis drive shaft, a bit cheaper, should work too) and
double MakerSlide X-axis
($23.52 + s/h & misc. hardware http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Double_Makerslide_X-Axis)
will cut aluminum
(priceless http://shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=171, see also http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=693)

The ShapeOko
(~$350--600 http://www.shapeoko.com/
w/ a dual-motor Y-axis
($59.79 https://www.inventables.com/projects/shapeoko-dual-drive-kit --- Y-axis drive shaft, a bit cheaper, should work too) and
double MakerSlide X-axis
($23.52 + s/h & misc. hardware http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Double_Makerslide_X-Axis)
will cut aluminum
(priceless http://shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=171, see also http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=693)

The ShapeOko
(~$350--600 http://www.shapeoko.com/
w/ a dual-motor Y-axis
($59.79 https://www.inventables.com/projects/shapeoko-dual-drive-kit --- Y-axis drive shaft, a bit cheaper, should work too) and
double MakerSlide X-axis
($23.52 + s/h & misc. hardware http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Double_Makerslide_X-Axis)
will cut aluminum
(priceless http://shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=171, see also http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=693)

Where's the elegant, intuitive interface which effortlessly converts a sketch into arcs and lines for G-code output? And I don't mean by faking it as polylines. Best list of software I can find is: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Advanced_Software and I'm reduced to hand-coding G-code: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/File:Circle-diamond-square-50mm.txt 'cause nothing works well on my Fujitsu Stylistic --- at least it works well for using Grbl controller: http://zapmaker.org/projects/grbl-controller-3-0/ to interface w/ the machine.

I'm hoping I'll be able to grok the Python code in xasy the Asymptote front-end and tweak it into something I find as comfortable as Macromedia Freehand.

Where's the elegant, intuitive interface which effortlessly converts a sketch into arcs and lines for G-code output? And I don't mean by faking it as polylines. Best list of software I can find is: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Advanced_Software and I'm reduced to hand-coding G-code: http://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/File:Circle-diamond-square-50mm.txt 'cause nothing works well on my Fujitsu Stylistic --- at least it works well for using Grbl controller: http://zapmaker.org/projects/grbl-controller-3-0/ to interface w/ the machine.

I'm hoping I'll be able to grok the Python code in xasy the Asymptote front-end and tweak it into something I find as comfortable as Macromedia Freehand.

One of the reasons I got a Shapeoko ( http://www.shapeoko.com/ ) was so that I would be able to make my own brass hardware for woodworking projects and wouldn't be limited to what I could buy commercially (my last project involved: U.S. made hinges, sand-cast handle from England, forged brass stay chain from Italy, latches from Taiwan and corner protectors from China).