Ideas for improvements

[Anonymous]

First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Ty, I just got my first Makelangelo last week after borrowing a friends Drawbot for a few months. Love the software and robot, but my QA mind instantly starts looking for more features/functions that could be added or improved. If these are already in place and I missed them, please feel free to let me know. Here is what I have come up with so far:

1. The jar file makes it hard to open on some computers (my Mac does not like to open it at all)
2. Screen opens too large on Mac and PC, has to be resized
3. Generate art files that are too large will sometimes freeze the program suggested limits might be helpful
4. Sometimes the Voroni, and zig zag patterns freeze the program, suggested settings would be helpful
5. Examples of what each drawing style does would be helpful
6. Letter/legal size paper options would be helpful as well as switching between profile and landscape orientations
7. Default numbers for pen up/down are backwards
8. Being able to add/position text to a drawing would be awesome.

I am also looking into a gcode editor so that I can start creating custom drawings and add or skip steps as needed. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Oops, I forgot 2:
9. Be able to switch between drawing styles on an image while only selecting it once
10. Be able to use more of the OS file/folder search tools

[Dan]

Great suggestions.

1. I don’t have the skills yet to make java with a native executable, but this is a good idea.
2. Will be fixed in the next update
3. Please provide an example.
4. Suggested settings are there by default when you start the program. original zigzag is a known/won’t fix problem.
5. https://www.marginallyclever.com/2016/04/micromouse-contest-update-3-2/ ?
6. Orientations can be done with manual settings. Could be added to the default choices.
7. Probably the pen holder was assembled backwards and the servo turns the opposite direction.
8. Generate “Your message here” will add text in font family and size of your choice. No position control yet.
9. I agree, but there isn’t a nice fix yet because of stuff under the hood.
10. I use Java’s default “open file” dialog. It’s beyond my control.

[Dan]

I just added an “is landscape” checkbox to the paper settings, it should give you what you want.
Will be in the next release. Great idea!

[Anonymous]

Would it be possible to add additional options to the Generate Art “Your Message Here” option?
Ideas include:
Bold
Italic
Underline
Different size text in one image
Justification
Spacing
preview text in window

[Anonymous]

Would it be possible to add a “Go To ___ at end of drawing” setting? Often the drawing ends in the center or near home, but if we are filming the process, it is blocking the drawing. It’d be nice if the pen holder could be told to go to Top Right or Bottom or similar as a last command in the gcode.

[Author]

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