Fun with celtic knots and cut3d

[jseiler]

I've been trying to come up with good 3d models for a fireplace mantle I'm working on. My search lead me to:

http://www.abbott.demon.co.uk/knots.html

This piece of freeware lets you design celtic knots of various forms, then save them as a 3d model. The models import nicely into cut3d (you have to select back/front as top side on the first screen) and make some pretty carvings very directly. Setting up to .01" stepover with an 1/8" roundover bit makes pretty nice carvings. I'm cutting one right now and it looks really nice. The one I cut at .02" step was pretty fuzzy.

For my machine, it seems like setting the raster so that it cuts across the grain instead of with it makes the relief sharper and requires less sanding. It might be different with different bits and faster machines.

I'll post a pic when its done.

John

[bill1]

I also seen another free software package that may be of some use. I will download it and play with it and see what it looks like. Link below.
http://www.opitw.com/CarvePic.htm
and here is the page for dithering.
http://www.opitw.com/dither.htm

[jseiler]

The heightmap function might be nice for someone who has vectric photocarve and wants to play with 3d. I'm not sure what to do with the dithering thing. Are there a lot of dithered pix out there?

Another program I really like is accutrans 3d.

http://www.micromouse.ca/

It allows one to take files in nearly any 3d format and convert between them. (It doesn't like gmax files though). It even includes the ability to take .sbp probe files (you may have to edit a little if your .sbp has the first two points on top of each other at 0,0-just delete one). It does well for taking probe files, draping a contour over them, outputting into a format programs like blender3d, gmax, etc like for editting.

It also will read dem map data from the us geological to make reliefs from maps.

At $20 its a steal.

John