Geometry Object

A Geometry object holds paths: lines and polygons that a machine follows to cut, mill or engrave. It has one tools table. Each row is a tool with its own diameter, offset and job type. Most plugins create Geometry objects, and a Geometry object is the input for the Milling plugin.

Where to find it

• Made by the plugins: Isolation Routing, Cutout, NCC, Follow, Film and others. Each makes a new Geometry object.
• Edit > Conversion > Convert Any to Geo makes a Geometry object from a Gerber, Excellon or Geometry object. See Object Operations.
• Edit > Join Objects > Join Geo/Gerber/Exc -> Geo joins the selected objects into a Geometry object.
• Project tree: a Geometry row. The title of its Properties tab is Geometry Object.
• Use the Geometry Editor button in the Properties tab to edit the paths. See Geometry Editor.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Geometry-Object-1.png - the Properties tab of a Geometry object with the tools table and the Plugins frame visible.

Quick start

1. Select a Geometry row in the Project tree.
2. Check the Dia and Offset of the rows in the tools table.
3. Click Milling in the Plugins frame to make a CNCJob object from the paths. See Milling.
4. Click the Geometry Editor button to change the paths by hand. See Geometry Editor.

Parameters

General Information (Plot Options)

Parameter	Description	Default
Multi-Color (check box)	Draws each tool in a different color.	Off (geometry_multicolored)
Name (text box)	The object name in the project. Press Enter to apply.	Object name
Geometry Editor (button)	Starts the Geometry Editor for this object.	-
INFO (toggle button)	Shows or hides the attribute tree of the object.	Hidden

Tools Table

Parameter	Description	Default
Plot Object (check box)	Shows or hides the object on the canvas.	On (geometry_plot)
Tools table - #	The tool number. When ToolChange is on, the tool is shown as T1, T2 and so on in the G-code.	-
Tools table - Dia	The tool diameter. It is the cut width in the material. In mm (or inch).	-
Tools table - Offset	The kind of cut offset: inside, outside, on path (none) or custom.	-
Tools table - Job	The job type: Rough(ing), Finish(ing) or Iso(lation). It is only a note. It helps you to remember the intent of the tool.	-
Tools table - Shape	The tool shape: C1 to C4 (circular, 1 to 4 flutes), B (ball tip), V (V-shape) or L (laser). When V is selected, the job type is set to Iso, the CutZ entry is grayed out and the cut depth is calculated from the V-Tip Dia and V-Tip Angle entries.	-
Tools table - P (check box per row)	Shows or hides the paths of this tool on the canvas. The column is shown only for Multi-Geometry objects.	On
Tools table - header click	Selects or clears the selection of all rows.	-

The rows are the tools of the object. The table accepts drag and drop of rows.

Plugins

Button	Result	Page
Milling	Opens the Milling plugin. It makes a CNCJob object from the paths of this Geometry object.	Milling
Paint	Opens the Paint plugin. It makes tool paths that cover the area of each polygon.	Paint
NCC	Opens the Non-Copper Clearing plugin. It makes a Geometry object that removes the copper outside the paths.	Non-Copper Clearing

Utilities (shown with the Utilities button)

Parameter	Description	Default
Points (text box)	Shows the number of vertex points in all paths of the object after Calculate.	-
Calculate (button)	Counts the vertex points of all tools and shows the result in Points.	-
Tolerance (text box)	The largest distance between the simplified path and the original path. All points of the simplified path are within this distance. The step is one unit of the precision. Range 0 to 10000.	-
Simplify (button)	Simplifies the paths of each tool with the Tolerance. It reduces the number of vertex points. It is saved in the history, so Ctrl+Z undoes it.	-

Transformations

These controls are the same for all object types. See Object Operations.

Parameter	Description	Default
Scale (text box and button)	Scales the object by the factor. Expressions are allowed. A factor of 1.0 does nothing.	1.0
Offset (text box and button)	Moves the object by (x, y). Expressions are allowed.	(0, 0)
Transformations (button)	Opens the Transform tool for this object. See Transform.	-

Beginner / Advanced (level button)

In Beginner mode, many parameters are hidden. Switch to Advanced to show all of them.

Context menu

Right-click a Geometry row in the Project tree. See Objects Overview. The Join entry As Geometry makes a Geometry object from the selection. See Object Operations.

Advanced

• Single-Geometry and Multi-Geometry: a Geometry object is either single or multi. A Multi-Geometry object has a tools table, and each tool keeps its own paths. The P column is shown for Multi-Geometry objects. Change the kind in Edit > Conversion:
  • Convert Single to MultiGeo: converts the object from the single_geometry type to the multi_geometry type.
  • Convert Multi to SingleGeo: converts the object from the multi_geometry type to the single_geometry type.
• Default tool values: a new tool row takes its values from the Milling defaults (for example the tool diameter tools_mill_tooldia = 2.4, the cut depth tools_mill_cutz = -2.4). See Preferences-Geometry.
• Units: the object uses the units of the project. See Getting Started.
• Plot: the Multi-Color and Plot check boxes only change the drawing.
• Edit the paths: the shapes are edited in the Geometry Editor. The editor has the transform tools of the object.

See also

• Objects Overview - Gerber Object - Excellon Object - CNCJob Object
• Geometry Editor - Milling - Paint - Non-Copper Clearing
• Isolation Routing - Cutout - Follow - Preferences-Geometry
• Object Operations - Glossary