Ifyou're using an STL file and you can'tevencarveit,tryconvertingittoaGNUTriangulatedSurfacefileinArtofIllusion.Ifitstilldoesn't carve, then follow the advice in the troubleshooting section.
SkeinforgeimportsStereolithography(.stl)filesorGNUTriangulatedSurface(.gts)files.IfimportinganSTLfiledirectlydoesn't work, an indirect way to import an STL file is by turning it into a GTS file is by using the Export GNU Triangulated Surface script at:
TheExportGNUTriangulatedSurfacescriptisalsointheArtofIllusionfolder,whichisinthesamefolderasskeinforge.py.TobringthescriptintoArtofIllusion,dropitintothefolderArtOfIllusion/Scripts/Tools/.ThenimporttheSTLfileusingtheSTLimportpluginintheimportsubmenuoftheArtofIllusionfilemenu.ThenfromtheScriptssubmenuintheToolsmenu,choose'Export GNU Triangulated Surface'andselecttheimportedSTLshape.Clickthe'Export Selected'checkboxandclickOK.Onceyou've created the GTS file, you can turn it into gcode by typing in a shell in the same folder as skeinforge:
>pythonskeinforge.py
Whentheskeinforgedialogpopsup,click'Skeinforge',choosethefilewhichyouexportedin'Export GNU Triangulated Surface'andthegcodefilewillbesavedwiththesuffix'_export.gcode'.
Ifyoucan't use the graphical interface, you can change the settings for skeinforge by using a text editor or spreadsheet to change the settings in the profiles folder in the .skeinforge folder in your home directory.
Commentsandsuggestionsarewelcome,however,Iwon't reply unless you are a contributor. Likewise, I will only answer your questions if you contribute to skeinforge in some way. Some ways of contributing to skeinforge are in the contributions thread at:
# document raft, stretch, then carve, comb, fill, inset, oozebane, splodge, temperature, speed once they are updated
# wiki document help, description, polyfile
# subplugins like export static, maybe later mill cut and coil plugins, maybe later still export plugins & change file extension to output file extension http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com/wiki/index.php/Skeinforge
#
# backup demozendium links
# replace replace baseLayerThickness.. with baseLayerHeightMultiplier
# announce layer thickness with layer height
#
# unimportant
# minor outline problem when an end path goes through a path, like in the letter A
# view profile 1 mm thickness
# analyze doesn't save skeinlayer settings, remember xy in skeiniso
#
#
# retraction step leave
# melt _extrusion
# think about http://code.google.com/p/skeinarchiver/ and/or undo
# getStrokeRadius default to edgeWidth
# look at loop end removed bug in upper loop of layer 8 of Screw_Holder_alteration
# fix tower edge line start problem
# check globalExecutionOrder, ensure that bottom order is really high
# set temperature in temperature
# maybe rename geometry_plugins xml
# maybe add carve preview, opening it up in browser
# voronoi average location intersection looped inset intercircles
# skin layers without something over the infill
# check for last existing then remove unneeded fill code (getLastExistingFillLoops) from euclidean, add fill in penultimate loops, if there is no fill it should not use edge - skin should work
# delete commented addInfillPerimeter
# unpause slow flow rate instead of speeding feed rate
# maybe in svgReader if loop intersection with previous union else add
# add links download manual svg_writer, add left right arrow keys to layer
# profile copy / rename / delete, maybe move craft type to profile
# think about rectangular getVector3RemoveByPre..
# del previous, add begin & end if far get actual path
# bridge infill modifiers only in the bridge infill loop
# linearbearingexample 15 x 1 x 2, linearbearingcage
# polling
# connectionfrom, to, connect, xaxis
# move replace from export to alterations
# lathe, transform normal in getRemaining, getConnection
# add overview link to crnsdoo index and svg page
# getConnection of some kind like getConnectionVertexes, getConnection
# incorporate actual thickness from feed rate and flow rate in statistics for dimension
# update stretch pictures By design, distance between parallel sides in hexagonal hole are 13mm, 7mm, 6.5mm, round hole diameter's are 8mm, 4mm and 3mm. http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com/wiki/images/Stretch.png http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com/wiki/images/thumb/NormalHole.png/180px-NormalHole.png http://fabmetheus.crsndoo.com/wiki/images/thumb/StretchDeformedHole.png/180px-StretchDeformedHole.png
# maybe get rid of testLoops once they are no longer needed
# thermistor lookup table
# stretch maybe add back addAlong
# import, write, copy examples
# maybe remove default warnings from scale, rotate, translate, transform
# easy helix
# write tool; maybe write one deep
#
#
# tube
# rotor
# coin
# demozendium privacy policy, maybe thumbnail logo
# pymethe
# test translate
# full lathe
# pyramid
# round extrusion ?, fillet
# make html statistics, move statistics to folder
# manipulate solid, maybe manipulate around elements
# boolean loop corner outset
# mechaslab advanced drainage, shingles
# dovetail
# maybe not getNewObject, getNew, addToBoolean
# work out close and radius
# maybe have add function as well as append for list and string
# maybe move and give geometryOutput to cube, cylinder, sphere
#
# maybe move widen before bottom
# maybe add 1 to max layer input to iso in layer_template.svg
# maybe save all generated_files option
# table to dictionary
# remove cool set at end of layer
# add fan on when hot in chamber
# maybe measuring rod
# getLayerHeight from xml
# maybe center for xy plane
# remove comments from clip, bend
# winding into coiling, coil into wind & weave
# later, precision
# documentation
# http://wiki.makerbot.com/configuring-skeinforge
#
#
# remove index from CircleIntersection remove ahead or behind from CircleIntersection _speed
# probably not speed up CircleIntersection by performing isWithinCircles before creation _speed
# don't remove brackets in early craft tools _speed
# check bounding box when subtracting or intersecting boolean geometry
# get arounds in inset, the inside become extrude loops and the outside below loops _speed
#
#
# integral thin width _extrusion
# layer color, for multilayer start http://reprap.org/pub/Main/MultipleMaterialsFiles/legend.xml _extrusion
# maybe raft triple layer base, middle interface with hot loop or ties
# somehow, add pattern to outside, http://blog.makerbot.com/2010/09/03/lampshades/
# implement acceleration & collinear removal in penultimate viewers _extrusion
#
# rename skeinforge_profile.addListsToCraftTypeRepository to skeinforge_profile.addToCraftTypeRepository after skirt
# basic basedit tool
# arch, ceiling
# meta setting, rename setting _setting
# add polish, has edge, has cut first layer (False)
# probably not set addedLocation in distanceFeedRate after arc move
# maybe horizontal bridging and/or check to see if the ends are standing on anything
# thin self? check when removing intersecting paths in inset
# save all analyze viewers of the same name except itself, update help menu self.wikiManualPrimary.setUpdateFunction
# check alterations folder first, if there is something copy it to the home directory, if not check the home directory
# add links to demozendium in help
# maybe add hop only if long option
#
#
#
# help primary menu item refresh
# add plugin help menu, add craft below menu
# give option of saving when switching profiles
# xml & svg more forgiving, svg make defaults for layerHeight
# option of surrounding lines in display
# maybe add connecting line in display line
# maybe check inset loops to see if they are smaller, but this would be slow
# maybe status bar
# maybe measurement ruler mouse tool
# search rss from blogs, add search links for common materials, combine created on or progress bar with searchable help
# boundaries, center radius z bottom top, alterations file, circular or rectangular, polygon, put cool minimum radius orbits within boundaries, <bounds> bound.. </bounds>
# move & rotate model
# possible jitter bug http://cpwebste.blogspot.com/2010/04/hydras-first-print.html
# trial, meta in a grid settings
# maybe interpret svg_convex_mesh
#laminate tool head
#maybe use 5x5 radius search in circle node
#maybe add layer updates in behold, skeinlayer and maybe others
#lathe winding, extrusion and cutting; synonym for rotation or turning, loop angle
# maybe split into source code and documentation sections
# transform plugins, start with sarrus http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1425
# maybe make setting backups
# maybe lathe cutting
# maybe lathe extrusion
# maybe lathe milling
# maybe lathe winding & weaving
#
#
#
# pick and place
# search items, search links, choice entry field
# svg triangle mesh, svg polygon mesh
# simulate
#transform
# juricator
# probably not run along sparse infill to avoid stops
#custom inclined plane, inclined plane from model, screw, fillet travel as well maybe
# probably not stretch single isLoop
#maybe much afterwards make congajure multistep view
#maybe stripe although model colors alone can handle it
#stretch fiber around shape, maybe modify winding for asymmetric shapes
#multiple heads around edge
#maybe add rarely used tool option
#angle shape for overhang extrusions
#maybe m111? countdown
#first time tool tip
#individual tool tip to place in text
# maybe try to simplify raft layer start
# maybe make temp directory
# maybe carve aoi xml testing and check xml gcode
# maybe cross hatch support polishing???
# maybe print svg view from current layer or zero layer in single view
# maybe check if tower is picking the closest island
#stepper rotor with ceramic disk magnet in middle, electromagnet with long thin spool line?
#stepper motor
#make plastic coated thread in vat with pulley
#tensile stuart platform
#kayak
#gear vacuum pump
#gear turbine
#heat engine
#solar power
#sailboat
#yacht
#house
#condo with reflected gardens in between buildings
#medical equipment
#cell counter, etc..
#pipe clamp lathe
# square tube driller & cutter
# archihedrongagglevoteindexium
# outline images
# look from top of intersection circle plane to look for next, add a node; tree out until all are stepped on then connect, when more than three intersections are close
# when loading a file, we should have a preview of the part and orientation in space
# second (and most important in my opinion) would be the ability to rotate the part on X/Y/Z axis to chose it's orientation
# third, a routine to detect the largest face and orient the part accordingly. Mat http://reprap.kumy.net/
# concept, three perpendicular slices to get display spheres
# extend lines around short segment after cross hatched boolean
# concept, donation, postponement, rotate ad network, cached search options
# concept, local ad server, every time the program runs it changes the iamge which all the documentation points to from a pool of ads
# concept, join cross slices, go from vertex to two orthogonal edges, then from edges to each other, if not to a common point, then simplify polygons by removing points which do not change the area much
# concept, each node is fourfold, use sorted intersectionindexes to find close, connect each double sided edge, don't overlap more than two triangles on an edge
# concept, diamond cross section loops
# concept, in file, store polygon mesh and centers
# concept, display spheres or polygons would have original triangle for work plane
# .. then again no point with slices
# concept, filled slices, about 2 mm thick
# concept, rgb color triangle switch to get inside color, color golden ratio on 5:11 slope with a modulo 3 face
# concept, interlaced bricks at corners ( length proportional to corner angle )
# concept, new links to archi, import links to archi and adds skeinforge tool menu item, back on skeinforge named execute tool is added
# concept, trnsnt
# concept, indexium expand condense remove, single text, pymetheus
# concept, inscribed key silencer
# concept, spreadsheet to python and/or javascript
# concept, range voting for posters, informative, complainer, funny, insightful, rude, spammer, literacy, troll?
# concept, intermittent cloud with multiple hash functions
self.fileNameInput=settings.FileNameInput().getFromFileName(fabmetheus_interpret.getGNUTranslatorGcodeFileTypeTuples(),'Open File for Skeinforge',self,'')