[migpics]

Hi, I'm working on making a two axis LEGO CNC with an extruder.
I'm new to CNC and don't know how to go from converting a CAD file, into coordinates and directions for my motors.

Right now the motors receive instructions like so froma simple text file

120 (X Axis Turn 120 Degrees)
360 (Y Axis Turn 360 Degrees)
360 (Extruder motor turn 360 Degrees)
240 (X Axis Turn 240 Degrees)
320 (Y Axis Turn 320 Degrees)
360 (Extruder motor turn 360 Degrees)
Etc.

Anyone know how or what software is needed to turn a DWG or DXF into some kind of coordinate values? I can write a python script to convert to degrees.
Thanks
Miguel

[MarkU]

You might try Inkscape with the Gcodetools plugin (NB I am using the current "dev" version, it has some useful bugfixes.

[skullworks]

This may be a "you can't get there from here" type answer...

What you need to look into is the REP-RAP project.

It is designed to be a 3D plastics printer and has its own software for design and code output - or you can use other professional 3D solid model warez that work with STL files etc.