EzCad + AutoIt automator script

In order to get a deep hatch with a smooth bottom, you must use autorotate, preferably with a "strange" angle like 43° - one that doesn't divide into 360°, so the hatch never repeats over itself. The only way that autorotate is triggered in EzCad is every time the Mark (F2) button is pressed, or you enter a multiple number of parts to mark (the "total num" box down to the right of Mark (F2)).
This is very inconvenient and means it is impossible (or at least extremely difficult) to automate the running of a particular part. Suppose (like in this example) you wanted to hatch a deep area with autorotate, cut out and leave the part attached by tabs, and finally do several cleanup hatches over the whole thing, again with autorotate. There is no way to do this in EzCad without manually selecting and specifying the number of times to run each object.
It is sometimes possible to achieve close results by careful use of the three different hatch settings, duplicating parts, and doing multiple loops (under pen settings) - however, this quickly becomes very tedious, and I wanted a better way. I found a fantastic scripting language called AutoIt (www.autoitscript.com/site/) and wrote a script to interface with the EzCad window, do button clicks and various things. I've used it ever since for production parts and it has been extremely useful. Here's a quick overview:
Create the various objects that you want to mark in EzCad. These will appear in the object list. Sort them in the order that you want them to be marked. Go through each one, double click, and give it a descriptive name. After the name, put the number of times that you want to mark that object in square brackets - for example, "Hatched area [20]". Position your workpiece however you like - e.g. lighting the boundary, whatever you do normally.
Now run the automator script. Click start. That's it. Following so far? ;-)
The script goes through each object in the EzCad object list, double-clicks it to open the dialog where the name is shown, then pulls the text of the name and looks to see if there is a number in square brackets at the end. If there is, it fills that into the Total num box, chooses Mark select, and clicks Mark (F2). It then constantly checks to see when the mark window disappears, and advances to the next object. Once finished, it beeps.
IMPORTANT POINTS. Make sure "Continue mode" is unchecked (otherwise the whole thing freezes up after the first object). The script window is permanently pinned on top of all other windows. Clicking stop in the script window stops things MOST of the time, but you might need to click it a few times. I have tested with EzCad versions 2.14.10 and 2.14.11 - it MAY work with others, I'm not sure. Although I've used it for 6 months and hundreds of parts, I make no guarantees that it doesn't screw up and burn your house down, so use at your own risk.
DOWNLOAD SCRIPT HERE: imajeenyus.com/temp/automator.au3
Yes, I filmed the computer monitor. The computer that controls the laser is old and is running XP, so not a hope of getting screen capture from it ;-)

[@frankcorker250]

Thats genius stuff right there Lindsay, thank you for sharing, it makes a very pleasant change.

[@CalebCoffie]

That is really awesome! Thanks for sharing. It's already giving me ideas for improving my workflow.

[@imajeenyus42]

You're welcome! It opens up a lot of possibilities 😉

[@MilanKarakas]

This is fantastic! Out of this world.

[@imajeenyus42]

Thanks! The AutoIt scripting thing is incredible, I wish I'd heard about it long ago ;-)

[@user-ld5fn2dy7c]

good night, observing your script worked I realized that you use the automation of the keyboard and mouse to run a certain application in EZCAD, I was looking for some manual that could tell me which addresses through serial communication can communicate directly with the controller of the laser machine, but so far I could not, apparently I will have to use this same application, but I will develop in python

[@imajeenyus42]

Communication with the BJJCZ controller board is not by a simple serial port - it appears to be a proprietary interface and commands over USB, so would require a lot of reverse engineering.

[@imajeenyus42]

Hello, just realised I bookmarked this a while go. It appears to be Python scripts that talk directly to a laser control board, might be of use. www.bryce.pw/engraver.html