Newbie Question on Software

[Jim]

I'm a hobby nut who is going to be ordering my first CNC (HS-1) in a couple of week along with VCarvePro. I want to start with signs and some cutouts and then be able to do some carving of plaques once I get familiar with the machine. I'v been reading the forum for awhile now and I see references to Cut2D, 2.5D and Cut3D and I'm totally confused.
Will VCarvePro allow me to do carving or would I need to purchase Cut3D.
I'm hoping someone can help me understand the differences in all of this.

Jim

[jimwill52]

Jim
I use Vcarvepro and I bought C3d and photocarve. C3d let's you incorporate 3d components into your signs, plaques etc. I haven't done anything with Photocarve but I will one of these days. Check out the Vectric Forum at www.vectric.com/forum for lots of advice and suggestions... it's a very active and helpful forum.

You still need Mach3 or some other post-processor software. Vcarvepro lets you create your project and translate it into 'g-code.' Mach3 takes that g-code and tells the CNC what to do to machine your project.

I hope this helps a little,

Jim

[georgemyers]

Hi Jim and welcome.

I think I gave a quick answer to your question on another forum so will try and give a few examples as Ron have them available here: www.romaxxcnc.com/customerpic.html

Top left you see that someone cut out a wood clock which has a good example of a 2d cut. The gears.

The Marine emblem on page two here www.romaxxcnc.com/usmc1.html is an example of 2.5D (sometimes you see this referred to as 3D) I did this using VectorArt3D's 3D Machinist and VcarvePro.
Bought the rope and emblem from VectorArt3D and used their 3D Machinist software to size them and get the depth I wanted and generate the g-code. Loaded the rope and emblem files into VcarvePro to do the text and profile cutout . You can only use Machinist on the art that VectorArt3d sells, you are limited to changing the size and depth plus a few other machining options.

www.vectorart3d.com/store/index.cfm?q=usmc

www.vectorart3d.com/store/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Detail&ID=50094

VcarvePro has all the options as Cut2d with the ability to v-carve and more options. I have not looked at Cut2d so it would be best to look on the Victric site to compare the software options.

Aspire has all the features of VcarvePro plus the ability to create/manipulate 2.5D (3D) projects.

Cut3d lets you take a 3d file (.stl) and slice and dice it. I have not used this software so don't want to say much about it except it is on my “buy” list if I ever have a use for it.

PhotoVcarve..You can take a photo and load it into the software and “reproduce” it on wood, corian or anything else you can cut/engrave in. I found it takes a bit of “tweaking” to get a good reproduction in wood. I have used it for a few lithophanes I cut in corian. Here is an example of one.

www.romaxxcnc.com/picgm002.html

A note on cutting corian. Make sure you have a good vacuum setup. The corian dust (finer than flour) did a job on my v-wheel bearings. (Ron came to the rescue) I quite messing with corian.

One of the most useful options in VcarvePro that I ignored for a few months because I thought it was too involved at first glance was the option “node editing”. Take 30 minutes to play with it after you get comfortable with the software, it comes in very useful. Another option they added about two versions back in VcarvePro was the “Trim Vectors”. Both can save you a ton of time especially if you are using vector files that you did not create.

Form my experience you made the correct choice in getting a Romaxx machine and Vectric software. In their size range (IMO) Romaxx machines are THE leaders and paired with Vectric software you have a combination that you can really enjoy working with. Ron's support has been above and beyond what I could have expected from any other company. You will also find Vectric is another company that has top of the line support.

George

[Jim]

George

I appreciate your response; it has helped clear things up somewhat for me. Your comment on Cut3D "cut and splice" and you would buy it if you ever have a use for it, causes me to question whether I really need it. With your very excellent work and experience and you haven't used it, I can't imagine me using it for possibley a long time.
Am I missing something here???

One other thing I'm still mulling over is the MPG and Closed Loop Options for the system. I've seen several comments where people have indicated they hardly ever use the Closed Loop system.
On the MPG; I don't really understand what it does.
Any comments I should consider??

Thanking you again for your response.

Jim

[georgemyers]

Jim

An example of using Cut3D is the Maple leaf in the demo version of Cut3D.

When you load it the default position of the leaf is cutting the top surface. Notice how nice the curve is on each section of the leaf. You could not do that with VcarvePro. Also on the leaf example you can select in Cut3D which view you want to cut. IE. Top, right, front, bottom, etc. On the leaf the only views you want to cut is the top and bottom. You cut one surface then flip it over and cut the other side and once you have it cut out you have a true 3D object.
Example of a car. If you have a 3D file of a complete car you do have the ability in the software to cut all 6 surfaces. Trick here would be re-registering you work piece before you cut the next side. Not to mention enough Z clearance for the front and back if you wished to cut such a project. Down the road you may look into a “rotary axis” which would make cutting say the top, bottom and each side, a bit easier but then you still would have to deal with the front and back. There is a knack in getting your work piece flipped over to cut the opposite side and have it registered properly so the each side is aligned correctly. Which I still have problems doing on the few times I need to flip the piece to drill some holes on the other side that I did not want to go completely through the project.

I hate to rate how useful the MPG or Closed Loop System is, due to the many different ways people use their machine. And what works for me may not be the best solution for anyone else.

I bought the MPG, Closed Loop Option and aluminum table. The MPG you can use to move each axis. In Mach3 you select which axis you want to move then turn the MPG wheel and it will move that axis as you turn the wheel. You have settings in Mach3 to determine how fast the axis moves as you turn the wheel. You cannot move the axis with the MPG alone, Mach3 or what ever control software you are using has to have it configured.

On a scale of 1 to 3 of the three options I bought the Aluminum table comes in first, MPG second and closed loop third. I seldom use the MPG but the times I did it was very useful to have it. I was using my HS1 for about 2 months before I realized I did not have that option for closed loop selected in Mach3. I got it working and had no problems, one day I whacked the encoder on the Z axis with a big piece of MDF and broke it so I turned that option off until I get a new encoder.

In my old age I tend to ramble a lot so I hope this is of some help.

If have any questions on VcarvePro feel free to pm me or could use land line or skype if you like.
George

[esteeme1]

Hi,

Jim and George have given you great advise and George has been exceptionally thorough.

I just wanted to add some more about Vectric's Aspire routine. If you think you will be creating your own custom carvings aspire is really the way to go. The editing tools that the new Aspire 3 as incorporated are outstanding. It includes distortion tools, model cutting (where you can segment your model and add it to another), as well as the slicing tool that George was talking about.

The bottom line is I started using V-Carve pro and found that I needed to step it up. So about two months latter I was working with Aspire. It has more than paid for itself.

Here is a couple things I have been able to do with WD-1 and Aspire. And trust me I don't think I am that incredibly talented just persistent.

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[esteeme1]

second graphic post.

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