This program is meant to be used together with Vector Slicer (https://github.com/Zmmyslony/Vector_Slicer) in order to translate the generated print paths from a pixel based sequence of coordinates that Vector Slicer generates, into a gcode files.
The output files have been tested using System 30M by Hyrel 3D printer using KR2 printhead with UV array, and Prusa MK4S with PLA filament.
Before running the files need to be first sliced using Vector Slicer and environment variables need to set according to installation guide for the Vector Slicer. If this step is omitted, the output directory should be specified within the code.
The easiest installation requires having Git (https://git-scm.com/downloads) and Anaconda (https://www.anaconda.com/download) installed on your device. Once they are installed, typing the following commands in the command line in the desired parent directory will complete the installation:
git clone https://github.com/Zmmyslony/VectorSlicerGCode.git
cd VectorSlicerGCode
conda create --name VectorSlicerGCode --file requirements.txt
conda activate VectorSlicerGCode
python main.py
Provided that the Vector Slicer has been successfully installed with environment paths configured (happens automatically on Windows if the install_win.bat was run), and that first example was run which sliced "radial_5_mm" pattern, running main.py will create two GCode files: the first for Hyrel 30M system and the second for Prusa's MK4S system printing PLA. The output can be validated using CAMotics (https://camotics.org/) which visualises the tool paths.
The programme can be later run from the command line by typing:
cd **PATH TO YOUR VectorSlicerGCode DIRECTORY**
conda activate VectorSlicerGCode
python main.py
In case of any encountered issues with the installation or any later part of the programme, please use the "Issues" tab on GitHub or get in touch with Michał Zmyślony (mlz22@cam.ac.uk) or John Biggins (jsb56@cam.ac.uk). The software is meant to be useful for the 3D printing community and may be lightly maintained.
Please cite following publication if you use any part of this code in work you publish or distribute:
[1] Michał Zmyślony M., Klaudia Dradrach, John S. Biggins,
Slicing vector fields into tool paths for additive manufacturing of nematic elastomers,
Additive Manufacturing, Volume 97, 2025, 104604, ISSN 2214-8604, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2024.104604.
Software is published without any guarantee or promise of maintenance. It was developed for internal use, and is published without extensive documentation.
