HP7440A-Tools

This README was generated by Claude

Command shortcuts, command optimizations, and output preview

Usage

As a Library

Put easyplot in a directory within your project

import easyplot.easyplot as ep

def main():
    ep.init()

    #ep plot commands go here

    ep.end()

As a Separate Tool

python easyplot/cli.py <path to hpgl file> <--optimize | --preview>

NVM THIS ISN'T DONE

Units

Coordinates are plotter units: 1 unit = 0.025 mm. ep.BOUNDS = [10300, 7650] (page), ep.UNITS_PER_mm = 40, ep.UNITS_PER_INCH = 1016. Speeds are cm/s; font height and kerning are mm.

Pen carriage

The carriage is the set of pens physically loaded in the plotter: 8 slots, 0-indexed (vs HP-GL/1 1-indexing), empty slots hold the int 0. ep.init() optionally takes one and ep.switchPen(slot) selects from it.

Reference

Easyplot

import easyplot.easyplot as ep

Shapes leave the pen up. arc, circle, rect, square and text are filled per the current fill mode; polyline, line and regularPolygon are not.

ep.init(penCarriage: PenCarriage = ALL_BLACK, carriageIndex: int = 3, startX: int = 0, startY: int = 0)
ep.end(show: bool = True, outputPath: str = "output.txt")   # optimize, write, preview
ep.debugPrint()                                             # last 5 instructions

ep.switchPen(carriageIndex: int | None)                     # None = no-op
ep.setSpeed(cm_per_second: int)
ep.set(x: float, y: float)                                  # absolute (PA)
ep.move(x: float, y: float)                                 # relative (PR)
ep.penDown() / ep.penUp()
ep.getPos() -> list[int]

ep.line(x1: float, y1: float, x2: float, y2: float)
ep.point(x: float, y: float)
ep.polyline(points: list[tuple[float, float]])
ep.bezier(startx, starty, c1x, c1y, c2x, c2y, endx, endy, stepSize: float = 80)
ep.arc(x: float, y: float, r: float, rads: float, rot: float = 0, stepSize: float = 40)
ep.circle(x: float, y: float, r: float, stepSize: float = 40)
ep.rect(x: float, y: float, w: float, h: float)             # x,y = lower-left
ep.square(x: float, y: float, s: float)
ep.regularPolygon(x: float, y: float, radius: float, sides: int, rotation: float = 0)

ep.setFillMode(mode: FILLMODE, penSlotFill: int = None, lineAngle: float = 0,
               fillSpacing: float = 0.75, speed: int = 10)
ep.setFont(font: str = None, height_mm: float = 10.0, justification: JUSTIFY = JUSTIFY.LEFT,
           kerning_mm: float = 0.0, outline: bool = True)
ep.text(s: str, x: float, y: float)
ep.getStringWidth(string: str) -> float
ep.getCharSize(char: str) -> float

ep.FILLMODE.NONE | LINE | CONTOUR      # LINE = hatch at lineAngle, CONTOUR = inset rings
ep.JUSTIFY.LEFT | CENTER | RIGHT       # applied about x

optimize_verify_estimate.py

from easyplot.optimize_verify_estimate import OVE

OVE(instructions: list[str], carriage: PenCarriage) -> list[str]

Called by end(); run manually only on a raw instruction list.

pen_definition.py

import easyplot.pen_definition as pd

pd.PenDefinition(r: int, g: int, b: int, width_mm: float)
  .color -> tuple[int, int, int]    # preview only
  .width_mm -> float
  .pixel_width -> float             # width_mm * 40, drives fill spacing
  .DARKNESS = 0.9                   # class attr, preview alpha

pd.PenCarriage(penArray: list[PenDefinition | int] = [0] * 8)
  .slots -> list[PenDefinition | int]
  .loadPen(slot: int, pen: PenDefinition)   # 0-7, no-op if occupied
  .getUsedSlots() -> list[int]
  .getSlot(slot: int) -> PenDefinition | int   # 0 if empty, None if out of range

pd.ALL_BLACK                      # MICRON_BLACK_05 in all 8 slots

Presets, MICRON_<COLOR>_<NIB> where nib is the Micron size (01 = 0.25 mm, 05 = 0.45, 08 = 0.50, 10 = 0.60):

LIGHT_COOL_GRAY and COOL_GRAY in 01/05/08/10, BLACK in 05/10, and SEPIA/BLUE/GREEN/RED/PURPLE/ROSE/BROWN in 05.

plot_preview.py

from easyplot.plot_preview import preview

preview(instructions: list[str], carriage: PenCarriage)

separate instrs into a python list first. Only supports one pair of coords per line rn :(

Examples

Text

import easyplot.easyplot as ep

ep.init()
ep.setFillMode(ep.FILLMODE.LINE)
ep.setFont("Sofachrome Rg.otf", 14, ep.JUSTIFY.CENTER)

text = "warning: plotting"
ep.text(text, ep.BOUNDS[0]/2, ep.BOUNDS[1]/8*2)

text =  "steals batches"
ep.text(text, ep.BOUNDS[0]/2, ep.BOUNDS[1]/8)

ep.end()