[Mountaincraft]

VCarve Pro has settings for "flat area clearance tool" on the v-carve screen. It automatically generates both paths once you enter the parameters in.

Hi Louie, Yeah I understand all that, I was just verifying what you were suggesting...


[quote=louieatienza;974508]It's not easy to obtain a laser that will engrave wood. You probably need about 25-30 watts; good luck finding someone to sell you one, and they're not cheap! Plus you'd have to set up the optics (lenses, mirrors) and need to move at very high speeds and acceleration. [QUOTE]

I wasn't serious....sorry

[QUOTE=louieatienza;974508]You can pretty much use any finish over shellac. Shellac comes on different "tints." You could spray oil based poly or lacquer over linseed oil, but if spraying lacquer over linseed oil you may run into adhesion problems if you wait too long.[QUOTE]

This is where some experimentation is needed (without much of a time window to do it).. But I plan to start playing with it all this weekend..

As far as "masking" I probably wouldn't put too much faith in it. It would probably be very difficult to prevevnt the mask from peeling when machining, or you'd have to use masking with such a strong adhesive that you'd have to sand it off anyways. And you'll muck up your bit with the adhesive from the masking.

We'll see.. The mask I bought is supposed to be intended for this purpose (CNC Machining).. It was recommended by others in the Vectric Forums.. Hope it works, because it certainly wasn't cheap..
:cheers:

[Mountaincraft]

Mountaincraft,

Vcarve Pro v6 can import dxf, dwg, eps, ai, pvc, v3d, and v3m files It can export to eps, dxf, and ai files. It can save crv files (the native file type). It generates and saves tool path gcode in many different ascii text formats for lots of CNC machine types. There are 8 versions just for use with Mach3. Metric, English, tool change, non-tool change, etc.

Mach 3 can load the gcode files created in Vcarve Pro and let you cut stuff with them.

For the price it is a power packed piece of software. Lots of capabilities built in. The next level up from Vectric is about 3.3 times the price.

CarveOne

Thanks C1.. I already have VCP.. What I'm trying to do, is get some Vectric Vector Art 3D files in STL format, so that they can be edited in my 3D app (Cinema 4D), and then still be imported into V Carve Pro..

I could buy the 3D files in V3M format, and use the free 3D Machinist to create toolpaths which can be imported into V Carve Pro for adding to an overall project, but they can't be edited or merged with other 3D art this way...

It looks like Cut 3D is the 'only' option that will allow me to do what I want (I want the app anyways), outside of Aspire (definitely out of my price range).. so that is what I'm gonna have to get...

I'm gonna take the weekend to think about it all, and exactly how to proceed, but it looks like I'll be having to come up with a way to get Cut 3D 'and' the files I want...

[CarveOne]

CamBam Plus beta can import stl files and generate gcode from it. Check it out. You get 40 trials for free. It will last pretty good if you don't open it a lot in one session. Keep it open all day while you're working on a project.

It can export to a dxf file. It can back-load a gcode file and re-create the CAD drawing within CamBam and save it in the native CamBam .cb file format.

CarveOne

[ger21]

I believe he wants to mix .stl files with V-Carve pro toolpaths. So CamBam wouldn't really help him

As for Shellac. If you'll be using it as a sealer, with another finish over it, make sure you use de-waxed shellac. Zinser sells it pre mixed, ready to use.
Any of the darker shellac colors contain wax, and really shouldn't be used under different finishes. (if you want them to stick to it. )

[Mountaincraft]

Hopefully, local sources carry 'dewaxed' shellac.. as that is the same advice that Tim Merril's guide to glazing recommends...

[Mountaincraft]

Picked up a couple quarts of Zinsser Seal Coat dewaxed shellac, a gallon of denatured alcohol, some water base clear base glaze, some soft brass brushes, some china type brushes, and some more colors of acrylic to add to my collection...

Gotta still pick up some fast dry spray paint for the engraved areas, and something to tint the glaze with..

[Mountaincraft]

Okay, so the router bits I bought off of ebay for this project arrived today...

I've got six 2' long pieces of poplar sanded shellac'd sanded again and shellac'd again ready to go.. I have a couple 'sample' files ready to run.. All I need is to figure out feeds and speeds for these bits in that wood..

I sent an e-mail off to whiteside, but I don't expect to hear from them tonite.. and I'd like to try a few practice pieces out.. Just to see how my planned technique works and see if I need to try a different approach...

The material is 3/8" poplar, the bits are whiteside UD2100 1/4" single flute compression bits...

I will be using these bits to cut the main profiles of the coasters...

Any idea of what I should try out in regards to feedrate, DOC, and router speed?

Besides poplar, the other materials for this project will be alder and sapele...

Thanks,
Mark
:cheers: