Pycam

* Toolpaths:
* added adaptive positioning for DropCutter strategy (improves precision)
* allow conventional/climb milling style for ContourFollow and Engrave strategies
* added a very simple "pocketing" mode for 2D models
* added toolpath cropping
* added toolpath grid pattern: clone a single toolpath in rows and columns
* unify DropCutter behaviour for models that are higher than the defined bounding box
* more efficient tool moves for Engraving
* Model handling:
* added support for simple multi-layered 2D models
* added 2D projection of 3D models
* added automatic repair of inconsistent polygon winding (inside/outside detection)
* automatically distributed support bridges can now be placed at corners or edges
* GCode:
* added basic support for "touch off" and length compensated tool change
* GCode positioning precision (number of digits) is configurable
* the default filename extension for exported GCode files is now configurable
* Visualization:
* changed "simulation mode" for visualizing the machine moves (before: material removal)
* visualize toolpath moves up to safety height properly
* the scroll wheel now behaves similarly to Inkscape's interface (pan and zoom)
* optional visualization of toolpath direction
* visualize "inside" polygons (holes) via partial transparency
* Usability:
* added a configuration setting for automatically loading a custom task settings file on startup
* added a simple "undo" feature for reversing model manipulations
* enabled drag'n'drop for loading models
* visibility of 3D view items is now configurable in the 3D window
* via a button and via the context menu
* added copy/paste of model to and from the clipboard
* Distributed processing:
* parallel and distributed processing is configurable in a dialog
* improved stability of remote processing: disconnected nodes should not cause problems anymore
* Miscellaneous:
* added support for single-line fonts text (based on fonts from QCAD)
* support non-local file handling (e.g. http, ...)
* added support for more DXF features:
* 2D: LWPOLYLINE, POLYLINE, CIRCLE, ARC, TEXT, MTEXT
* 3D: 3DFACE
* added support for EPS/PS contour files
* fixed offset of SVG export
* noteworthy changes:
* bounding box for 2D models must be _above_ the model (before: below or above)
* simulation mode: the stock material removal simulation was removed

* disabled parallel processing for Windows standalone executable
(a real fix will follow later)

* use all available CPU cores for parallel processing
* this requires at least Python 2.6 or the "python-multiprocessing" package
* a standalone windows executable is available (experimental)
* added an improved contour toolpath strategy (ContourFollow)
* see http://fab.senselab.org/node/43
* added options for conventional/climb milling
* added automatic support grid distribution for contour models
* allow to reverse the direction of a 2D contour model
* beautification of the process name (via python-setproctitle)
* added experimental cluster processing (server mode)
* added G61/64 GCode settings for path precision
* Usability:
* added optional "orthogonal" view (instead of perspective)
* added a "recent files" item to the file menu
* added the transparency (alpha) component to all configurable colors
* added "remaining time" estimation for all operations
* pre-select output filenames of "Save as" dialogs based on the name of the model file
* Bugs fixed:
* SVG import: work around a bug in pstoedit (shipped with Ubuntu Lucid)
* fixed various problems with the support grid

* added support for importing contour paths from SVG files (requires Inkscape and pstoedit)
* added basic support for importing simple DXF contour files
* added support for engravings (along the lines of a contour model)
* added a feature-complete commandline interface
* integrated "help" links pointing to the wiki
* improved OpenGL lighting (contributed by imyrek)
* improved flexibility of the support grid layout:
* allow non-square profiles for the support grid
* added ability to create support grids with different x/y grid distance
* added x/y offsets to support grid options
* added 3D view movement and rotation with a keyboard in addition to the mouse
* added optional support for the Psyco just-in-time compiler
* information about the toolpath settings are stored as comments in GCode files
* added a log window
* switched default tool size from radius to diameter
* improved progress bar responsiveness
* fixed first movement in GCode: go up to safety height before moving to the side
* fixed model orientation of STL files created by Art of Illusion
* fixed performance issue when using a support grid
* fixed empty toolpath after transforming the model
* fixed various minor bugs of the toolpath generator
* fixed rounded corners (see GCode G61)

* added support bridges for holding the object during cutting
* calculate the estimated machine time for each toolpath
* changing the unit (mm/inch) now opens a dialog for scaling the model,
processing dimensions or tool dimensions accordingly
* remove unnecessary moves to safety height
* changed name of configuration setting "overlap" to "overlap_percent"
(you may need to change this name in your custom config files)

* added a simple simulation mode for visualizing the material penetration of a toolpath
* join tangential moves (removes the inner points in a colinear set of adjacent path points)
* fixed careless import of Tkinter
* added missing INSTALL.TXT to source package
* fixed typo that breaks PyCAM for Python 2.6