Preferences Geometry

The GEOMETRY tab sets the default values for Geometry objects. A Geometry object holds the paths that the CNC operations use. The tab controls how the geometry is plotted, how it is exported, and how the Geometry Editor works.

Where to find it

• Menu: Edit > Preferences (shortcut: Shift+P).
• Tab: GEOMETRY. See Preferences Overview.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Preferences-Geometry-1.png — the GEOMETRY tab with the General group visible, with the Plot and M-Color check boxes and the circle settings.

Quick start

1. Select Edit > Preferences, then select the GEOMETRY tab.
2. In the General group, check Plot to show the Geometry objects on the canvas.
3. Set the circle settings in the same group.
4. Select Apply to use the values now. Select Save to keep them.

Parameters

Each table lists every control of one group. The Key column shows the key in defaults.py.

General

Source file: appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryGenPrefGroupUI.py.

This group controls the plot of a Geometry object and its colors. The circle settings set how circles are made of line segments.

Option	Description	Default	Choices	Key
Plot	Plot (show) this object.	True	On or off	geometry_plot
M-Color	Draw polygons in different colors.	False	On or off	geometry_multicolored
Algorithm	This sets the path optimization algorithm. - Rtre -> Rtree algorithm - MetaHeuristic -> Google OR-Tools algorithm with MetaHeuristic Guided Local Path is used. Default search time is 3sec. - Basic -> Using Google OR-Tools Basic algorithm - TSA -> Using Travelling Salesman algorithm Some options are disabled when the application works in 32bit mode.	'R'	Rtree = R; MetaHeuristic = M; Basic = B; TSA = T; None = N	tools_mill_optimization_type
Duration	OR-Tools MetaHeuristic and Basic stop the path optimization after this time. In seconds. 0 means 3 seconds.	3	Number 0 to 999	tools_mill_search_time
Fuse Tools	When checked, the tools will be merged but only if they share some of their attributes.	True	On or off	geometry_merge_fuse_tools
Outline	Set the line color for plotted objects.	"#FF0000"	Color	geometry_plot_line

The circle settings are the same as in Preferences Gerber and Preferences Excellon. The defaults for the geometry are Adaptive, Max Deviation 5.0 um and Circle Steps 32.

Option	Description	Default	Choices	Key
Circles	How each circle is made of straight line segments. Adaptive: each circle gets the number of segments that keeps it within Max Deviation. Fixed: each circle gets the number of segments in Circle Steps.	'adaptive'	Adaptive = adaptive; Fixed = fixed	geometry_circle_steps_mode
Max Deviation	The largest distance, in micrometers (um), between a circle and the straight segments that replace it. A smaller value gives smoother circles and more segments. Used in Adaptive mode.	5.0	Number, 0.01 to 1000.0	geometry_circle_tolerance
Circle Steps	The number of circle steps for the linear approximation of circles. Used in Fixed mode.	32	Whole number, 0 and up	geometry_circle_steps

Options

Source file: appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryOptPrefGroupUI.py.

This group has a Cut Z control only: the cutting depth (negative) below the copper surface. The value is not saved between sessions. The control has no key in defaults.py.

Export

Source file: appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryExpPrefGroupUI.py.

This group sets the options of the DXF export of a Geometry object. See Exporting Files.

Option	Description	Default	Choices	Key
Format	Autodesk DXF Format used when exporting Geometry as DXF.	'R2010'	List: R12, R2000, R2004, R2007, R2010, R2013, R2018	geometry_dxf_format
Layers	How the DXF layers are named. Tool: one layer per tool. Object: one layer per object.	'tool'	Tool = tool; Object = object	geometry_dxf_layers
Gerber	How Gerber traces are exported. Outline: the copper shape. Centerline: the trace axis.	'outline'	Outline = outline; Centerline = centerline	geometry_dxf_gerber_traces
Travel moves	Export the travel moves of a CNCJob.	True	On or off	geometry_dxf_travel
Arcs and circles	Export arcs and circles as DXF arcs and circles, not as polylines.	True	On or off	geometry_dxf_arcs
SVG Paths-Only	SVG Format. When checked it will export only paths.	True	On or off	geometry_paths_only

Editor

Source file: appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryEditorPrefGroupUI.py.

This group sets the defaults of the Geometry Editor. See Geometry Editor.

Option	Description	Default	Choices	Key
Selection limit	Set the number of selected geometry items above which the utility geometry becomes just a selection rectangle. Increases the performance when moving a large number of geometric elements.	30	Number 0 to 9999	geometry_editor_sel_limit
Milling Type	Milling type: - climb / best for precision milling and to reduce tool usage - conventional / useful when there is no backlash compensation	"cl"	Climb = cl; Conventional = cv	geometry_editor_milling_type

Adv. Options

Source file: appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryAdvOptPrefGroupUI.py.

The keys geometry_seg_x and geometry_seg_y are project keys. They are listed in PROJECT_KEYS in defaults.py. They are saved with the project, not in the preferences file.

Option	Description	Default	Choices	Key
Segment X size	The size of the trace segment on the X axis. Useful for auto-leveling. A value of 0 means no segmentation on the X axis.	0.0	Number 0 to 99999	geometry_seg_x
Segment Y size	The size of the trace segment on the Y axis. Useful for auto-leveling. A value of 0 means no segmentation on the Y axis.	0.0	Number 0 to 99999	geometry_seg_y

Advanced

• The circle settings change the number of segments of each circle in the geometry. A higher Circle Steps value, or a lower Max Deviation value, gives more segments.

See also

• Geometry Object
• Geometry Editor
• Exporting Files
• Preferences Overview
• Preferences General
• Preferences Gerber
• Preferences Excellon
• Preferences CNCJob
• Preferences Plugins
• Preferences Utilities