PyCAM v0.5.1 released
The new release of PyCAM contains one important new feature (extrusion of 2D models) and many small fixes and improvements. Windows users will enjoy a more modern look of the GUI theme and Linux users will be happy about a packaging with better integration into the desktop. Additionally the 3D preview performance improved drastically. This article will give you an overview of all important changes.
Extrusion
Extrusion turns a flat 2D model into a nicely shaped 3D object. Different slope styles are available. Precision as well as width, height and steepness of the slope are configurable. This feature should be especially useful for carving out some letters.
Read more about Extrusion of 2D models.
OpenGL preview performance
The OpenGL rendering received a bit of love during this release cycle. Thus the models are now rendered via [Bad Link]. The changes were quite trivial, but the performance gain is astonishing. Some tests with medium sized models (10k triangles) required only around 5% of the previously needed time to refresh the screen.
Windows theme
People using PyCAM v0.5 on a Windows system were surely a bit disappointed by its aged look. This is fixed now. Improved visuals for Windows standalone executable gives you some screenshots comparing the old and the new style. Hail to [Bad Link] and [Bad Link] ;-)
Library detection (Windows)
Due to the lack of a proper package manager for Windows, it is always a bit of a pain to distribute software that depends on external libraries. Thus the [Bad Link] (installed via the [Bad Link]) was not found by the previous PyCAM v0.5 package installer. The new release is trying hard to locate the GtkGLext library – and it should succeed reliably.
Debian package
This new release is the first that includes a Debian package. The required setup was available since v0.3 but its state was always a bit incomplete. Now everything is included:
- a menu item with the PyCAM logo
- file manager, browser and mail programs use PyCAM for STL/DXF/SVG/PS files
We are working on getting PyCAM added to the official Debian repository. Until then you will need to download the package file manually.
Incomplete dependency installer
PyCAM’s [Bad Link] was lacking the GtkGLext library. This is fixed for the new release with an accompanying update dependency installer package.
“Help!”’
The ‘‘help’‘ links in PyCAM v0.5 did not work for Windows users. This misbehaviour is caused by GTK and was manually fixed for v0.5.1.
FAQ
Due to a good amount of input via the forum, a number of questions turned out to be quite widespread among many users. Some of these are now [Bad Link]. If you don’t find an answer there, just add your problem to the “open questions” section …
Download
Visit [Bad Link] to download the new release!
Comments
Windows Versions cannot open SVG
Hello, I would like to use this software for my DIY CNC machine but I am having problems opening SVG files with it in Windows. I am running WinXP SP3 and I have tried both the stand-alone and full install versions but both of them fail to open SVG files.
The problem seems to be with dependencies like pstoedit and GraphicsMagick.
I have posted detailed logs of my attempts and the reported errors on the SourceForge Forum but I have received no response there. Any advice you have would best be posted there for all to see. Here is the link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/pycam/forums/forum/860184/topic/5132525
Could you please address this issue? I think there is a conflict with new versions of the dependencies but I have run out of ideas on how to solve the problem.
Thank you!
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