Reversed 3D Carving

[mwpfeifer]

Need some help from the forum experts. I'm sure the fix is something simple but darned if I can figure it out. I carved the Vector Art 3d image# 58071U_B in a piece of white pine and the result is a negative image. What I mean is the parts that should be raised are in fact carved out. The carving is like a mold. What did I do wrong? I'm using Aspire 3.5 and imported the image from Vector Art. I have done the same thing many times using other Vector Art files and never had anything like this happen.:confused:

[rej]

look to see if the component came in as an add or subtract setting, then reverse it.

[myxpykalix]

Looking at that on their website it is a model that is "dished" meaning your relief carving of the moose should stick proud of the surface within this dish.
Maybe post a pic of your result and that will probably tell us all we need to know, because a picture is worth a thousand words.

[mwpfeifer]

Jack,
Your description is correct "dished and proud of the surface". I took a photo but it doesn't really show the result correctly, it's attached. I'm thinking I did something wrong in Aspire but I'm not very sharp with the 3D modeling part.

[mwpfeifer]

Robert,
When I imported the image and selected "Component Properties" in Aspire the default selection was "Merge lowest points with previous components" and I changed that to "Add to previous components" Also when I view from multiple angles in the 3D window the image appears raised above the dished surface as it should.

[Brady Watson]

What happens if you import it into a fresh Aspire session and create a toolpath from it? What happens then? Does it look the same?

If you put a vector circle around say the moose's head and use that as your machining boundary - can you do a test cut in some scrap? Does it cut correctly now?

-B

[gpinard]

This result is exactly what is needed for the 3D carvings in acrylic that are lit from below with LED lights. From what I have seen the face is smooth, the carving is done from the back in reverse.
I have been wondering how to that in V-carve, hoping it had the capability.
Is this a separate feature of Aspire that Michael has found?

[Brady Watson]

You can do this already with ANY 3D carving by changing the Z value from 1 to -1 on the yellow fill-in sheet you see when you start any part file. No fancy footwork in CAD/CAM to do. Toolpath it positive & then sign the Z proportion negative.

-B

[scottp55]

Michael, Slightly off topic, but have not bought any 3d at all but saw this one and wanted to buy my first one as it looks a little like my favorite mountain in Maine. Can I ask what the size is you made it and what size ballnose you used? From the pic it looks exactly like the "dished" preview.

[myxpykalix]

not sure about this program but you have to find "component properties" and there should be a symbol that look like a U and i think you change it to what looks like a upside down U because you want to make it a relief carving as opposed to a mold like carving.

[mwpfeifer]

Scott,
The size I made the carving was 8" tall and 14" wide. You can pretty much make them any size you want. I used a 1/4" for roughing and a 1/8" tapered ball with a 7% step over.

Jack,
Yes, that is what I changed it to from the default that it imported with, however, there are two different upside down U characters. One is "empty" and the other is "filled-in" if that makes any sense. It's identified as (merge highest points with previous components) as opposed to (Add to previous components) for the empty U. If this is the area that is associated with what happened then looks like I should be studying that part of Aspire. I just didn't think it was possible to turn one of these 3D files onto a "mold" like Brady indicated.

[myxpykalix]

My experience is with Artcam which i think is similar. I use Lightwave and other stuff but the only thing i can tell you is load it up and try either of those buttons and see what happens.:confused:

[scottp55]

Thanks Michael

[Brady Watson]

I just didn't think it was possible to turn one of these 3D files onto a "mold" like Brady indicated.

You can do this to any positive relief by making the component height negative. So if your relief is .5" positive, just sign it negative to: -0.5" and ta-da...it is inverted.

-B

[Joe Porter]

Michael, you might try going to the Vectric Forum. They would just jump all over something like this. I would try to help, but it seems like you know as much about this as I do. I would think it would be ready to carve right out of the box....Good luck...joe