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Help Needed!!

Discussion in 'CNC Mills/Routers' started by Mitchell J., Jul 17, 2016.

  1. Mitchell J.

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    I am new to CNC routers and recently purchased a machine that was built by an individual that got parts from Open Builds. I honestly have no clue if I even have everything hooked back up correctly as I have some wires that are not connected to anything. Is there anyone that could help with this if I could post some pics?

    Thanks and God Bless,
     
  2. MaryD

    MaryD OpenBuilds Team

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    Post some pics, you are bound to get some help here!
     
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  3. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    We'll get you going. Show us what gear you have.
     
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  4. Mitchell J.

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    I will be sure to tomorrow. I am a Firefighter and at the fire department tonight but will try to take some pics tomorrow. Thanks for the willingness to help!
     
  5. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    I'm also new but I find it strange that the OP never came back. I have a completed OpenBuild that I too bought from a member here and it does work. He gave me one gcode of a storm trooper, which I can run. But so far that is all I can do. It appears that you can do some limited things just with Bcnc, but I haven't found enough info on the web to actually try something. I know that I need to learn say, Fusion 360, which I have downloaded and will start that learning curve. I would just like to do anything simple like just "carve" my name into a "work piece". I dee the Text in tools but it ask for a font and I don't see any fonts listed, there, but in another part, it shows a couple of fonts.

    We are talking a complete newbie in CNC, but a willing and anxious student.

    Thanks
     
  6. MaryD

    MaryD OpenBuilds Team

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    Kyo likes this.
  7. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    F-Engrave
    Have you tried F- Engrave? It's no F360, but it's simple and good for doing text. You may have to clean up the gcode from time to time though. You can also insert black and white pictures.

    Joe
     
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  8. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    I'm willing to try anything. Cleaning up gcode at this time will be a stretch, but I taught myself HTML, Foxpro (old timers might remember) so I have no doubt that I will figure it out.
     
  9. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    Download and Install Sketchup Make 2016 "Link"
    Download and Install SktchuCAM "Link"

    Video tutorial for engraving with sketchup and sketchucam. ( Play with the settings to match your work size and endmill / material requirements. These are just quick demo settings to show the work flow )


    F-Engrave
    DeskEngrave
    NCplot Stickfont
    MicroTech online tool
    OutlineArt

    can all get the job done as well, Play with them and see what works best for you. :thumbsup:
     
    #9 Kyo, Sep 11, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2016
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  10. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Thanks KYO, I have Sketchup Make 2016, and I followed the link to the Sketchucam but it says download not available. Is there another option?
     
  11. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    No Problem, Sign in to openbuilds again on the sketchucam page and it will show the download.
     
  12. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Got it, thanks again
     
  13. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Ok, got going following your directions, all went well until, you changed the Depth to 5%. Nothing that I did would change it. EDIT I figured this out, I now have 5%



    Then when you hit the green arrow it went to CAMotics. When I hit the green arrow it went to save a file (gcode_out.cnc) which I did .

    I have CAMotics loaded and running.

    Obviously, I missed a couple of steps.

    I changed the preferences to mm, but Ucam stayed in inches. EDIT I got that dialed in
     
    #13 pitzerwm, Sep 11, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2016
  14. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    Awesome, Yeah I just hit tab key after selecting the tool then enter a depth % ( 5 in this example ) followed by hitting the enter key.. Say your materiel is 6.35mm (1/4") thick 5% would make your cut 0.3175mm deep.

    I already had camotics loaded and the file saved. I just switched my open windows as I did not need to save the file twice. Correct, The green arrow icon exports your G-code.

    One of the things I find really useful with SketchuCam is how it provides detailed descriptions of what each item/line/tool/ ect. does just by hovering over it. I find this helpful when I don't know what setting does what.
     
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  15. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Question: When it saves the file the its called in my case pitzer3d2.cnc there doesn't appear to be any other option. When I go into CAMotics its doesn't see that file. I renamed the file to .ngc But it doesn't come up like your demo.

    The gcode looks like this: So I am still missing something.

    %
    (Generated by SketchUcam V1.4b-8c2e)
    (File: pitzer3d2.skp)
    (Bit diameter: 3.200000mm)
    (Feed rate: 1000.000000mm/min)
    (Plunge Feed rate: 40.000000mm/min)
    (Material Thickness: 6.350000mm)
    (Material length: 300.000000mm X width: 300.00)
    (0000mm)
    (Overhead Gantry: true)
    (RAMPING at 4.0 degrees)
    (Plunge Depth first)
    (Optimization is ON)
    (www.PhlatBoyz.com)
    (Loaded profile DemoSettings)
    G90 G21 G49 G17 F40
    M3 S16000
    G00 Z5.000
    G00 X0 Y0 (home)
    M05
    M30
    %
     
  16. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    The Above G-code only seems to lower and raise your endmill once. Are you selecting the geometry to be cut as can be seen in the video at 1:16 ? Afterwards the lines should go from blue ( selected ) to green ( indicating a center line operation has been applied to that geometry ) .

    I tend to save my output from sketchup/cam as filename.gcode but .cnc / .nc They all seem to work. Camotics will open them all; You can use the drop down menu and select "all files" to get the .cnc extension files to show. They should all work just fine. It is just a text file. The G-code file should look something like this.

    Code:
    %
    (Generated by SketchUcam V1.4a-7e8d3)
    (Bit diameter: 3.175mm)
    (Feed rate: 1000.000mm/min)
    (Plunge Feed rate: 40.000mm/min)
    (Material Thickness: 6.350mm)
    (Material length: 300.000mm X width: 300.000mm)
    (Overhead Gantry: true)
    (RAMPING at 4.0 degrees)
    (Plunge Depth first)
    (Optimization is ON)
    (www.PhlatBoyz.com)
    (Demo Engraving File)
    G90 G21 G49  G17
    M3 S16000
    G00 Z5.000
    X7.502 Y15.004
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X20.005 Y15.004 Z-0.059 F40 
    X7.502 Y15.004 Z-0.318
    X20.005 F1000
    X20.943 Y15.191
    X21.755 Y15.754
    X22.318 Y16.567
    X22.506 Y17.504
    Y22.506
    X22.318 Y23.443
    X21.755 Y24.256
    X20.943 Y24.818
    X20.005 Y25.006
    X7.502
    Y15.004
    G00 Z5.000
    X20.005 Y10.002
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X7.502 Y10.002 Z-0.059 F40 
    X20.005 Y10.002 Z-0.318
    X7.502 F1000
    Y2.500
    X7.314 Y1.563
    X6.752 Y0.750
    X5.939 Y0.188
    X5.001 Y0.000
    X4.063 Y0.175
    X3.251 Y0.700
    X2.688 Y1.500
    X2.501 Y2.500
    Y27.507
    X2.688 Y28.444
    X3.251 Y29.257
    X4.063 Y29.820
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    X26.241 Y13.425
    X25.256 Y12.253
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    X22.818 Y10.565
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    X20.005 Y10.002
    G00 Z5.000
    X42.503
    G00 Z0.200
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    X42.503 Y10.002 Z-0.059
    X40.002 Y10.002 Z-0.188
    X42.503 Y10.002 Z-0.318
    X40.002 F1000
    X39.065 Y9.815
    X38.252 Y9.252
    X37.690 Y8.440
    X37.502 Y7.502
    X37.690 Y6.564
    X38.252 Y5.751
    X39.065 Y5.189
    X40.002 Y5.001
    X50.005
    X50.943 Y5.189
    X51.755 Y5.751
    X52.318 Y6.564
    X52.506 Y7.502
    X52.318 Y8.440
    X51.755 Y9.252
    X50.943 Y9.815
    X50.005 Y10.002
    X47.504
    Y27.507
    X47.317 Y28.444
    X46.754 Y29.257
    X45.941 Y29.820
    X45.004 Y30.007
    X40.002
    X39.065 Y29.820
    X38.252 Y29.257
    X37.690 Y28.444
    X37.502 Y27.507
    X37.690 Y26.569
    X38.252 Y25.756
    X39.065 Y25.194
    X40.002 Y25.006
    X42.503
    Y10.002
    G00 Z5.000
    X45.004 Y35.008
    G01 Z-0.318 F40 
    (ramplimit end, translated to plunge)
    X44.066 Y35.196 F1000
    X43.253 Y35.759
    X42.691 Y36.571
    X42.503 Y37.509
    X42.691 Y38.447
    X43.253 Y39.259
    X44.066 Y39.822
    X45.004 Y40.010
    X45.942 Y39.822
    X46.754 Y39.259
    X47.317 Y38.447
    X47.504 Y37.509
    X47.317 Y36.571
    X46.754 Y35.759
    X45.941 Y35.196
    X45.004 Y35.008
    G00 Z5.000
    X72.503 Y30.007
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X70.002 Y30.007 Z0.071 F40 
    X72.503 Y30.007 Z-0.059
    X70.002 Y30.007 Z-0.188
    X72.503 Y30.007 Z-0.318
    X70.002 F1000
    X69.065 Y29.820
    X68.252 Y29.257
    X67.690 Y28.444
    X67.502 Y27.507
    X67.690 Y26.569
    X68.252 Y25.756
    X69.065 Y25.194
    X70.002 Y25.006
    X72.503
    Y12.503
    X72.644 Y11.050
    X73.066 Y9.690
    X73.769 Y8.424
    X74.754 Y7.252
    X75.926 Y6.267
    X77.192 Y5.564
    X78.551 Y5.142
    X80.005 Y5.001
    X85.006
    X85.944 Y5.189
    X86.757 Y5.751
    X87.319 Y6.564
    X87.507 Y7.502
    X87.319 Y8.440
    X86.757 Y9.252
    X85.944 Y9.815
    X85.006 Y10.002
    X80.005
    X79.067 Y10.190
    X78.255 Y10.753
    X77.692 Y11.565
    X77.504 Y12.503
    Y25.006
    X85.006
    X85.944 Y25.194
    X86.757 Y25.756
    X87.319 Y26.569
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    X87.319 Y28.444
    X86.757 Y29.257
    X85.944 Y29.820
    X85.006 Y30.007
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    X75.942 Y39.822
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    X74.066 Y39.822
    X73.253 Y39.259
    X72.691 Y38.447
    X72.503 Y37.509
    Y30.007
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    X100.903 Y10.002
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X115.006 Y10.002 Z-0.059 F40 
    X100.903 Y10.002 Z-0.318
    X115.006 F1000
    X115.944 Y9.815
    X116.757 Y9.252
    X117.319 Y8.440
    X117.507 Y7.502
    X117.319 Y6.564
    X116.757 Y5.751
    X115.944 Y5.189
    X115.006 Y5.001
    X95.001
    X94.063 Y5.189
    X93.251 Y5.751
    X92.688 Y6.564
    X92.501 Y7.502
    X92.688 Y8.440
    X93.251 Y9.252
    X108.905 Y25.006
    X95.001
    X94.063 Y25.194
    X93.251 Y25.756
    X92.688 Y26.569
    X92.501 Y27.507
    X92.688 Y28.444
    X93.251 Y29.257
    X94.063 Y29.820
    X95.001 Y30.007
    X115.006
    X115.944 Y29.820
    X116.757 Y29.257
    X117.319 Y28.444
    X117.507 Y27.507
    X117.319 Y26.569
    X116.756 Y25.756
    X100.903 Y10.002
    G00 Z5.000
    X127.502 Y20.005
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X142.506 Y20.005 Z-0.059 F40 
    X127.502 Y20.005 Z-0.318
    X142.506 F1000
    Y22.506
    X142.318 Y23.443
    X141.755 Y24.256
    X140.943 Y24.818
    X140.005 Y25.006
    X130.002
    X129.065 Y24.818
    X128.252 Y24.256
    X127.690 Y23.443
    X127.502 Y22.506
    Y20.005
    G00 Z5.000
    X130.002 Y5.001
    G01 Z-0.318 F40 
    (ramplimit end, translated to plunge)
    X128.549 Y5.142 F1000
    X127.189 Y5.564
    X125.923 Y6.267
    X124.751 Y7.252
    X123.767 Y8.424
    X123.063 Y9.690
    X122.641 Y11.050
    X122.501 Y12.503
    Y22.506
    X122.641 Y23.959
    X123.063 Y25.319
    X123.767 Y26.584
    X124.751 Y27.757
    X125.923 Y28.741
    X127.189 Y29.445
    X128.549 Y29.867
    X130.002 Y30.007
    X140.005
    X141.458 Y29.867
    X142.818 Y29.445
    X144.084 Y28.741
    X145.256 Y27.757
    X146.241 Y26.584
    X146.944 Y25.319
    X147.366 Y23.959
    X147.507 Y22.506
    Y17.504
    X147.319 Y16.567
    X146.757 Y15.754
    X145.944 Y15.191
    X145.006 Y15.004
    X127.502
    Y12.503
    X127.690 Y11.565
    X128.252 Y10.753
    X129.065 Y10.190
    X130.002 Y10.002
    X140.005
    X140.943 Y9.815
    X141.755 Y9.252
    X142.318 Y8.440
    X142.506 Y7.502
    X142.318 Y6.564
    X141.755 Y5.751
    X140.943 Y5.189
    X140.005 Y5.001
    X130.002
    G00 Z5.000
    X162.503 Y25.006
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X162.503 Y7.502 Z-0.059 F40 
    X162.503 Y25.006 Z-0.318
    Y7.502 F1000
    X162.316 Y6.564
    X161.753 Y5.751
    X160.940 Y5.189
    X160.002 Y5.001
    X159.065 Y5.189
    X158.252 Y5.751
    X157.690 Y6.564
    X157.502 Y7.502
    Y27.507
    X157.690 Y28.444
    X158.252 Y29.257
    X159.065 Y29.820
    X160.002 Y30.007
    X170.005
    X171.458 Y29.867
    X172.818 Y29.445
    X174.084 Y28.741
    X175.256 Y27.757
    X176.241 Y26.584
    X176.944 Y25.319
    X177.366 Y23.959
    X177.507 Y22.506
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    X176.757 Y20.755
    X175.944 Y20.192
    X175.006 Y20.005
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    X173.256 Y20.755
    X172.693 Y21.568
    X172.506 Y22.506
    X172.318 Y23.443
    X171.755 Y24.256
    X170.943 Y24.818
    X170.005 Y25.006
    X162.503
    G00 Z5.000
    X200.005 Y5.001
    G01 Z-0.318 F40 
    (ramplimit end, translated to plunge)
    X198.551 Y5.142 F1000
    X197.192 Y5.564
    X195.926 Y6.267
    X194.754 Y7.252
    X193.800 Y6.267
    X192.691 Y5.564
    X191.425 Y5.142
    X190.002 Y5.001
    X188.549 Y5.142
    X187.189 Y5.564
    X185.923 Y6.267
    X184.751 Y7.252
    X183.767 Y8.424
    X183.063 Y9.690
    X182.641 Y11.050
    X182.501 Y12.503
    Y27.507
    X182.688 Y28.444
    X183.251 Y29.257
    X184.063 Y29.820
    X185.001 Y30.007
    X185.939 Y29.820
    X186.752 Y29.257
    X187.314 Y28.444
    X187.502 Y27.507
    Y12.503
    X187.690 Y11.565
    X188.252 Y10.753
    X189.065 Y10.190
    X190.002 Y10.002
    X190.940 Y10.190
    X191.753 Y10.753
    X192.316 Y11.565
    X192.503 Y12.503
    Y22.506
    X192.691 Y23.443
    X193.253 Y24.256
    X194.066 Y24.818
    X195.004 Y25.006
    X195.942 Y24.818
    X196.754 Y24.256
    X197.317 Y23.443
    X197.504 Y22.506
    Y12.503
    X197.692 Y11.565
    X198.255 Y10.753
    X199.067 Y10.190
    X200.005 Y10.002
    X200.943 Y10.190
    X201.755 Y10.753
    X202.318 Y11.565
    X202.506 Y12.503
    Y27.507
    X202.693 Y28.444
    X203.256 Y29.257
    X204.069 Y29.820
    X205.006 Y30.007
    X205.944 Y29.820
    X206.757 Y29.257
    X207.319 Y28.444
    X207.507 Y27.507
    Y12.503
    X207.366 Y11.050
    X206.944 Y9.690
    X206.241 Y8.424
    X205.256 Y7.252
    X204.084 Y6.267
    X202.818 Y5.564
    X201.458 Y5.142
    X200.005 Y5.001
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    X217.502 Y25.006
    G00 Z0.200
    G01 X217.502 Y7.502 Z-0.059 F40 
    X217.502 Y25.006 Z-0.318
    Y7.502 F1000
    X217.314 Y6.564
    X216.752 Y5.751
    X215.939 Y5.189
    X215.001 Y5.001
    X214.063 Y5.189
    X213.251 Y5.751
    X212.688 Y6.564
    X212.501 Y7.502
    Y27.507
    X212.688 Y28.444
    X213.251 Y29.257
    X214.063 Y29.820
    X215.001 Y30.007
    X220.002
    X221.456 Y29.867
    X222.816 Y29.445
    X224.082 Y28.741
    X225.254 Y27.757
    X226.207 Y28.741
    X227.317 Y29.445
    X228.583 Y29.867
    X230.005 Y30.007
    X231.458 Y29.867
    X232.818 Y29.445
    X234.084 Y28.741
    X235.256 Y27.757
    X236.241 Y26.584
    X236.944 Y25.319
    X237.366 Y23.959
    X237.507 Y22.506
    Y7.502
    X237.319 Y6.564
    X236.757 Y5.751
    X235.944 Y5.189
    X235.006 Y5.001
    X234.069 Y5.189
    X233.256 Y5.751
    X232.693 Y6.564
    X232.506 Y7.502
    Y22.506
    X232.318 Y23.443
    X231.755 Y24.256
    X230.943 Y24.818
    X230.005 Y25.006
    X229.067 Y24.818
    X228.255 Y24.256
    X227.692 Y23.443
    X227.504 Y22.506
    Y7.502
    X227.317 Y6.564
    X226.754 Y5.751
    X225.942 Y5.189
    X225.004 Y5.001
    X224.066 Y5.189
    X223.253 Y5.751
    X222.691 Y6.564
    X222.503 Y7.502
    Y22.506
    X222.316 Y23.443
    X221.753 Y24.256
    X220.940 Y24.818
    X220.002 Y25.006
    X217.502
    G00 Z5.000
    G00 X0 Y0 (home)
    M05
    M30
    %
    
     
  17. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Ok, I am missing something. I do the centerline button, go to the depth amount and change it to 5%, when I then click on the blue "name" it turns to black, not green.
     
  18. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    hmm, It is not supposed to do that. Going from blue to black means the geometry has been deselected. As long as I click on the selected geometry ( blue lines ) after choosing "center cut" and setting my depth. I have not had it deselect on me before.

    @David the swarfer is there a easier way to go from text to engraving ? Or any idea why his selected geometry deselects instead of applies a center cut?
     
  19. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Ok, I apparently, was clicking in the wrong spot. I now have the code like you have. When loaded into CAMotics I see the "work" and the tool is at 0,0.

    The question is other than seeing the simulation, what does CAMotics do for me. It's already in gcode and will run on my machine?

    I haven't done it yet, but I assume that I can take this/any ngc file put on a flashdrive and insert into the machine and Bcnc will execute it?
     
  20. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    Good deal, Glad to see you have it worked out. :thumbsup:

    Camotics is primarily a g-code viewer and simulator. This is very handy for reviewing your code prior to running it; particularly new g-code. Taking 5min to Simulate a run of a job in camotics is a whole lot cheaper then end mills / stock material.

    Once you have created your g-code you can then place it on your usb and run it with bcnc. I would advise against running any G-code not created your self! While using a cad file someone has provided does not pose a particular concern as you will do your own cam setup. Running someone else G-code can have disastrous effects. Even if the machines are 100% the same. A difference in material , endmill selection, work holding, speeds and feeds ect. can ruin a good day. Reviewing the top portion of a g-code file can minimize this as you can see from my above post. It provides details one could use to recreate my demo setup.
     
  21. David the swarfer

    David the swarfer OpenBuilds Team
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    did you explode the text? it must be exploded before you can set it to be a cut line with the CenterLine tool

    EDIT: nevermind, I see you got it sorted.
    Please Read the Help/Manual -> big blue question mark in the toolbar.
    and watch this...


    and maybe some of it's friends on my youtube channel.
     
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  22. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    I have been and will continue to watch You Tubes. There is a lot of good info, eventually it starts to make sense.
     
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  23. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    Here is a quick and dirty wrong way to make something you can carve with Fengrave:

    If you want text, type it in the font and size you want it in a Word, Word perfect, or Libre Office document. Print it out. Scan it as a bitmap. Load bitmap into F-engrave and choose the size you want it carved. Done. This is just something stupid I did as a joke for a friendly little salmon fishing trip a bunch of friends and I did at Dismal Nitch (Lewis and Clark were obviously sick of rain by the time they got there) on the Columbia river. It took all of about 5 minutes once I found the right clip art online. I set the page to landscape and dropped and sized the images into the Libre Office document. I may have used the "trace bitmap" function in Inkscape on the images first, but it is not necessary. I printed it out and scanned it as a bitmap. Then carved with F-engrave using the v-bit function.
    [​IMG]
    This is the v-carved version for the plaque.
    [​IMG]
     
  24. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    I duplicated Kyo's sample and tried it. While it worked, I realized that I need to pay attention to which tool is used and the depth that I tell it to cut. As well as the font and the font size and spacing. So like a lot of things, there is a learning curve.
     
  25. MaryD

    MaryD OpenBuilds Team

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    This would make a great beginner's project over in the Projects tab. Quick start and easy for a beginner.
     
  26. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    Adding, You can also type text directly in F-engrave and load black and white pictures.
     
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  27. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    I thought about that, but I got the two images from two seperate places and rather than having to adjust their respective canvas sizes to scale them to the size I wanted in the Gimp (or other photo software) to make one image, I did what seemed easiest to me at the time. I plan to try your suggestion on the next one I do since it is a single image.
     
  28. pitzerwm

    pitzerwm New
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    Being a TOTAL newbie and watching every youtube that I can find, one thing that pops up to me, its difficult for a wizard to make a beginner tutorial because, the wizard doesn't understand how beginner, a beginner really is. He subconsciously assumes that the beginner understands more than he can. So you wizards please force yourself to assume that we newbies are retarded, BUT we really want to learn, so be patience with us. :banghead:

    MaryD has it right the more beginner videos you have on the site the more beginners will feel that they can do it too. Which in the end results in them becoming wizards. :thumbsup:
     
  29. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    I figured you did this because of multiple images/sources. My comment was more for clarity to readers who haven't tried F Engrave rather than a direct response to you.
     
    Giarc and MaryD like this.

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