Software

Discussion specifically about the Shark's bigger brother, the CNC Shark Pro

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lazym
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:47 pm

Software

Post by lazym »

I bought the CNC Shark Pro and have the VCarve Pro 5.5 software to run it. I am now getting to the point where I know how to set up the work and carve letters (raised and V Carve).

When I went to Vetric 3D Art, I saw all kinds of images I can buy to carve on my projects.

My Question:

Can I buy the software for the images and carve them out with the Shark Pro or do I have to make an additional purchase and buy the 3D Art program in order to carve them?

Thanks,
Wayne

jeb2cav
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Re: Software

Post by jeb2cav »

Hi Wayne,

You don't need to make any additional purchases. You do need to download the Vector Art 3D Machinist software from the Vector Art 3D website. It is free. Alternatively, you could use Cut 3D.

The purpose of either is to take that 3D model, configure it, and write out the toolpaths for the 3D object to use in VCarve Pro. A low level description of the workflow can be found in this thread - http://www.cncsharktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=349

I went ahead and walked through a very simple example of this, and how I've approached it using VCarve Pro. It may not be the ideal workflow, and I'm sure some folks will chime in with their own tips and comments. Because of the 3 photo attachment limitation to this forum, my response will be posted over the next few messages.

You'd start with Vector Art 3D Machinist (VA3DM). The good news is that this application is written by the Vectrics team for use by VA3D customers, so it will be familiar in appearance and use with VCarve.

The first step is to load the 3D model in VA3DM. In this case, I'm using one of the free samples you can download at the VA3D website.
VA3DM Load File
VA3DM Load File
Select Next and Set the dimensions you want the final 3D object to be. Pay close attention to ensure the material depth is the same as the material you are going to use for your VCarve project.
VA3DM Set Dimensions
VA3DM Set Dimensions
Select Next. You may want to create a roughing toolpath, in this example I'm skipping this step. I hit next again to get to the Finishing Toolpath. I chose to use a 1/16" ball nose. You definately want to use some sort of round nose bit. While waiting for my BNs to come in, I used the round nose bit I got when I purchased the sign bit kit from Rockler. It was good enough to test cut to see if I understood the workflow. Once the bit is selected, and speeds, plunge rates are set as you need, hit calculate. A toolpath will be generated.
VA3DM Finishing Toolpath
VA3DM Finishing Toolpath
Then hit next - and go to the next post as I've hit the limit of 3

jeb2cav
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Re: Software

Post by jeb2cav »

Part 2 of my response -

So, the last step in VA3DM is to save the toolpath.

A note on this - after installing VA3DM, you'll need to copy the 2 CNC Shark post processor files to the VA3DM installation (in the same manner you did for VCarve Pro). This is typically something like C:\Program Files\Vector Art 3D Machinist\PostP.

Save the toolpath to a location of your choice. You can also preview the toolpath in this view.
VA3DM Save Toolpath
VA3DM Save Toolpath
The key to understand here is that you're not saving a model - you are saving a VCarve/Aspire/other Vectric Application toolpath representation of a given model. When you import this into VCarve, you will not be able to resize it or influence height, etc. You will be able to move it around and rotate it.

All of the above steps are explained in much more detail in the VA3DM Help file.

Next you'll import this into VCarve Pro. I created a simple test project 10" x 10" using 1/2" material. Select Import, Import PhotoVCarve or Cut3D Toolpaths...
VCP Import Toolpath
VCP Import Toolpath
After importing, you'll see a shaded bitmap looking thing appear in the lower left of your drawing view, and if you open the Toolpaths Window, you see that a toolpath has already been added to this "new" project. This is the toolpath you created in VA3DM.
VCP After Import of Toolpath
VCP After Import of Toolpath
Now have 3 attachments, on to a new post...

jeb2cav
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Re: Software

Post by jeb2cav »

Part 3 of my response -

If you preview the toolpath at this point, you'll notice that the part is cut as expected, however it is "sunk in" to my workpiece.
Preview Toolpath after Import
Preview Toolpath after Import
But, because I've fooled around with this, I knew this was coming and it is fine. I'm going to create a pocket around this 3D object as part of my design - of which the 3D component is just one piece. Creating a box inside the material area is the easy, hand drawn part. However, creating a vector border around my 3D object is just as easy.

Select the 3D bitmap looking thing and then Select the Fit Vectors to Bitmap tool (in the Create Vectors section of the Drawing window.
VCP Fit Vectors to Bitmap Tool
VCP Fit Vectors to Bitmap Tool
The software knows this is a bitmap of a toolpath, and so type of tracing is greyed out. You can experiment with the other settings to see what impact it has on the outcome. Select Fit Vectors and a new vector that follows the outline of the 3D object will be created.
VCP Create Border Around 3D Ojbect
VCP Create Border Around 3D Ojbect
3 attachments - onto part 4...

jeb2cav
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Re: Software

Post by jeb2cav »

Part 4 of the response -

By selecting the bitmap and moving it, you can see the outline vector created using the Trace Bitmap tool and the "box" vector I created using the Draw Rectangle tool.
VCP Border Vector
VCP Border Vector
Select both the square vector and the border vector, and go to the toolpath window.
S11_Select 2 Vectors for Pocket.png
Pocket Vectors
(3.56 KiB) Not downloaded yet
Open the 3D object's toolpath and write down the cut depth. Hit cancel. Select Pocket Toolpath, then the tool and tool settings you want to use. Be sure to set the cut depth to the same value as that of the 3D Object's.[

attachment=0]S12_Pocket Toolpath.png[/attachment]

Already 3 attachments - on to next post...
Attachments
Pocket Toolpath
Pocket Toolpath
Last edited by jeb2cav on Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jeb2cav
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Re: Software

Post by jeb2cav »

Part 5 of the response -

At this point, preview the pocket toolpath. You'll see that no material where the 3D object is present was cut in the pocket.
Preview Pocket Toolpath
Preview Pocket Toolpath
Now preview the 3D object's toolpath. You'll see that not only is it cut, but that the base of the object aligns with the floor of the pocket.
Preview Both Toolpaths
Preview Both Toolpaths
I wanted to add some text below the 3D object. I created a text vector, selected it, moved to the Toolpath Window, and selected a VCarve toolpath. Note that I used the depth of my pocket as the Start Depth for the VCarve toolpath as I'm carving these letters in the floor of the pocket.
Text VCarve Toolpath Settings
Text VCarve Toolpath Settings
3 attachments, on to the last post for now...
Last edited by jeb2cav on Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jeb2cav
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Re: Software

Post by jeb2cav »

6th and last post in response -

Previwing all 3 toolpaths (3D finishing, pocket, and vcarve lettering), I get -
Quick Test Final Result Preview
Quick Test Final Result Preview
This project would require 3 tool changes. Not bad, but pay close attention to resetting the z between tool changes. I would use a roughing tool pass. If the roughing tool pass used the same tool as the pocket toolpath, you'd still have only 3 toolchanges.

Hope this helps.

tonydude
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Re: Software

Post by tonydude »

This is excellent! You really went all out on this. All of us on here appreciate what you have done. Thank you for showing how you do it. Tony
Buffalo,NY

"What will matter is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave”

Aspire 11.015, photo vcarve, cnc mako shark extended bed with the new upgraded HD 5 gantry with Led pendent.

tonydude
Posts: 1581
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:23 am
Location: Buffalo,NY

Re: Software

Post by tonydude »

Can you put this under software, programming so more people would find it. Thank you, Tony
Buffalo,NY

"What will matter is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave”

Aspire 11.015, photo vcarve, cnc mako shark extended bed with the new upgraded HD 5 gantry with Led pendent.

lazym
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:47 pm

Re: Software

Post by lazym »

Thank you. You went above and beyond the call of duty.
This helps me out of something I never would have figured out.

Again, thanks
Wayne

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