plottool

This script is intended to be used with a HPGL plotter/cutter connected over a serial port.

It will split the file into blocks <=10kB to prevent the plotter from choking on data, as long as data is waiting, the tool will resume with the next part after user input.

This script has been tested with a Cogi CT-630 cutting plotter @Stratum0: https://stratum0.org/wiki/Cogi_CT-630

It also works on macOS, but less reliably so prepare for occasional job cancellation.

Dependencies

For Debian-based Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Mint): sudo apt-get install python3-serial python3-wxgtk4.0 python3-numpy (since Debian buster/testing).

For Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S python-numpy python-pyserial python-wxpython.

For macOS you can use homebrew and pip to install the dependencies: pip install numpy pyserial && brew install wxpython.

With Nix (flakes enabled), no manual dependency install is needed:

• nix run . -- file.hpgl runs plottool
• nix run .#hpglpreview -- file.hpgl runs the preview viewer
• nix develop gives a shell with all dependencies available

You can also run it straight from GitHub without cloning:

• nix run github:stratum0/plottool -- file.hpgl
• nix run github:stratum0/plottool#hpglpreview -- file.hpgl

Usage

usage is simple:

./plottool file.hpgl will simply print the data to /dev/ttyUSB0

./plottool -p /dev/ttyUSB4 file.hpgl will do the same but to port /dev/ttyUSB4

Note that on macOS, tty-devices follow another naming convention. Look for something like /dev/tty.usbserial-14430 or /dev/cu.usbserial-14430. Both should work equally, but some users reported better results with one or the other.