New 2x4 Saturn build

Just wanted to post a photo carve I just did. Thanks again for the inspiration Jack I used the new vcarve pro photo carve tool path. I really like the new feature on vcarve, it's not as cool as halftone machining, but way faster and I still like the look of it.

Nice job! What tooling did you use and how long did it take to cut?

David

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Originally Posted by difalkner

Nice job! What tooling did you use and how long did it take to cut?

David

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Thanks David, it was done with just a Whiteside 60degree 1/4" vbit and it was about 2.5 hrs. The material is just under 24"x36" Vcarve estimated time was 3 hrs, but Centroid is always faster than the estimated times I've noticed. That was the second one I've cut, here's a pic of the first one I did. This one is the hatch path the first one I posted was raster. I really like the new feature it's a bit of a pain doing the masking and paint, but I'm sure I will find a better way of doing it to make it more efficient with more practice.

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The material is just under 24"x36" Vcarve estimated time was 3 hrs, but Centroid is always faster than the estimated times I've noticed.

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Then Vcarve calculating the time incorrecly or the Centroid doing the feedrate incorrectly.
What the UCCNC laser plugin calculates for this kind of laser engraving jobs is always correct however it is the same software who makes and executes the code, no need for Vcarve.

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Originally Posted by Ntl

The material is just under 24"x36" Vcarve estimated time was 3 hrs, but Centroid is always faster than the estimated times I've noticed.

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Good evening Dan,

The discrepancy isn't attributable to Centroid. The same thing happens with Mach3 and Mach4.

Take another look at the VCarve time estimate screen. If it's like Aspire (what I use), it says, "Time estimates based on" "Rapid Rate" and "Scale Factor." Assuming you have your rapids set correctly, you need to play with the scale factor until you get an estimate that reflects the actual time. Hopefully, that will get you close the next time. For me, I don't care much about cutting taking less than the estimated time. Underestimating is another matter. If cutting was running long, I'd start adjusting the scale factor.

As I understand it, the scale factor is not linear, e.g., assuming the estimate was twice the actual cut time, cutting the scale factor in half won't necessarily get you there. Apparently, there are a number of things scale factor takes into consideration, like feed rate, so a simple algebraic equation doesn't work. At least that's what I've read. Fortunately, trial and error isn't that big a deal in this case. Just change the factor and rerun the estimate until you're happy with it.

Gary

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Originally Posted by OlfCNC

Then Vcarve calculating the time incorrecly or the Centroid doing the feedrate incorrectly.
What the UCCNC laser plugin calculates for this kind of laser engraving jobs is always correct however it is the same software who makes and executes the code, no need for Vcarve.

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It's not laser engraving it's done with a v bit and vcarve has some settings you enter to get the desired look you want. I'll take a close up photo so you can see that there is depth to the image. Thanks for the info

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Originally Posted by GME

Good evening Dan,

The discrepancy isn't attributable to Centroid. The same thing happens with Mach3 and Mach4.

Take another look at the VCarve time estimate screen. If it's like Aspire (what I use), it says, "Time estimates based on" "Rapid Rate" and "Scale Factor." Assuming you have your rapids set correctly, you need to play with the scale factor until you get an estimate that reflects the actual time. Hopefully, that will get you close the next time. For me, I don't care much about cutting taking less than the estimated time. Underestimating is another matter. If cutting was running long, I'd start adjusting the scale factor.

As I understand it, the scale factor is not linear, e.g., assuming the estimate was twice the actual cut time, cutting the scale factor in half won't necessarily get you there. Apparently, there are a number of things scale factor takes into consideration, like feed rate, so a simple algebraic equation doesn't work. At least that's what I've read. Fortunately, trial and error isn't that big a deal in this case. Just change the factor and rerun the estimate until you're happy with it.

Gary

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I'll play around with the settings, maybe I don't have the rapids set right in vcarve. How do you like the parts I posted? Wasn't really asking for any help with Vcarve but thanks for the info regardless.

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Originally Posted by Ntl

How do you like the parts I posted?

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The pieces are very nicely done.

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Originally Posted by GME

The pieces are very nicely done.

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Thanks

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Originally Posted by Ntl

Thanks

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Here's another one I just did, they are getting better I think. There's also a close up so you can see there's some depth to the machining.

Very nicely done. Getting ready for winter here in Iowa.

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Originally Posted by wmgeorge

Getting ready for winter here in Iowa.

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I thought you were headed south. Given up on moving to Florida?