Tutorial 2 Getting Started

Transcription

1 Machining Lithophanes with Tutorial 2 Getting Started

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3 PhotoVCarve Disclaimer All CNC machines (routing, engraving, and milling) are potentially dangerous and because Vectric Ltd has no control over how the software described in this manual might be used. Vectric Ltd or any associated Resellers cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage to the work piece, machine or any individual, howsoever caused by misusing the software. Extreme care should always be taken and the output from the software thoroughly checked before sending it to a CNC machine. The information in this manual may be subject to change without any prior notice. The software described in this manual is supplied under the terms and conditions of the software license agreement and may only be used in accordance with the terms of this agreement. Vectric Ltd 26 Peterbrook Close Redditch B98 7YF UK info@vectric.com Phone +44 (0) Fax +44 (0)

4 Table of Contents What is a Lithophane?... 2 What file formats can be used?... 2 Watch the supporting tutorial videos... 3 Tutorial 1 Machining Lithophanes... 4 Introduction Opening Image Calculate a Roughing Toolpath Save the Toolpath... 8 Running the Toolpath Calculate a Finishing Toolpath Save the Toolpath Running the Toolpath... 10

5 Introduction This short tutorial explains how to convert a photograph into a Lithophane using PhotoVCarve. What is a Lithophane? Lithophanes are translucent pieces of material that look 3D when lit from the back. This is a very old technique that was originally used to make ceramic or porcelain products such as lamp shades, beer steins and window decoration. Materials that are suitable and commonly used for making lithophanes include Corian, Avenite, Plexi-glass, Perspex or any other translucent material allows light to pass through when it's only (2mm or 3 mm) thick. Important - The process will not work with totally transparent or solid materials such as metals It is possible to make a mold and cast Lithophanes from Ceramics to achieve the required effect. Back Lit Lithophane What file formats can be used? PhotoVCarve will open photographs that have been saved in the following formats. JPG, BMP, TIF, PNG, GIF 2

6 Watch the supporting tutorial videos This tutorial has an associated video file that will make learning to use this software more interesting and enjoyable. This file can be downloaded from the web site. Windows Media Player is required to view the video files. The video Tutorial shows how to calculate roughing and finishing toolpaths for machining the photograph of the Cute Puppies to make a Lithophane. If you experience problems or have any questions pleasevisit the Vectric web site, the User Forum or the Vectric Support Team, support@vectric.com 3

7 Tutorial 1 Machining Lithophanes We recommend that you watch the 5 minute Video for this Tutorial before proceeding. The video can be downloaded from the web site at Introduction This tutorial will show you how to calculate toolpaths to machine a Lithophane from a picture. The design is 8 x 6 wide and will be cut from 0.25 thick material (good materials include Corian, Avenite, Translucent Plexiglass) and the photograph below shows a lithophane cut into Avenite. We estimate that this tutorial should take you approximately 15 minutes to complete. Figure 1. The finished Lithophane Calculating the toolpaths for a Lithophane is very quick and easy and requires 6 key stages. 1. Open an image file 2. Specify the required size 3. Calculate the 3D Roughing toolpath 4. Save the Toolpath 5. Calculate the 3D Finishing toolpath 6. Save the Toolpath 4

8 1. Opening Image 1. Click the Load Image icon. 2. Select the file required and click the Open button PhotoVCarve will open photographs that have been saved in the following formats. JPG, BMP, TIF, PNG, GIF The photograph selected will now be displayed in the 2D window 5

9 2. Set the Material Size Click on the Set Image Size and complete the form as shown below 7. Enter the Height of the job and the Width will automatically be completed. 8. Enter the Material Thickness = 0.25 for this example Specify the Job size, XY & Z origins and Material thickness Click the Apply button to move onto Step 3. 6

10 3. Calculate a Roughing Toolpath Click Set Cutting Parameters and complete the form as shown below. 9. In this example we are using 1/8 diameter Ball nose cutter to rough machine the design. Carving Max Depth should be around 0.1 Line spacing of 50% as this is only roughing Cutting at 45 degrees reduces the load on the cutter for the first pass Always check the Invert Light / Dark option for Lithophanes Rapid clearance gap of 0.25 Notes A Roughing Toolpath is only required if the material being used is thicker than / 3mm. If the material is thicker than 0.25 / 6mm, the Roughing pass needs to be run on the machine at multiple Z levels to clear the excess material. 7

11 4. Save the Toolpath 9. The Estimated machining time is shown on the form 10. Select the Postprocessor for your CNC machine from the pull-down list. 11. Click the Save Toolpath button and give the Roughing toolpath a suitable file name. 12. The complete Lithophane design can be saved as a.pvc format. Running the Toolpath The Roughing toolpath is used to remove the excess material from the material and the Z0 origin needs to be setup / 2mm into the material as shown in the diagram below. 8

12 5. Calculate a Finishing Toolpath Return to Step 3 and Click Set Cutting Parameters and complete the form as show. 13. In this example we are using 0.04 diameter Ball nose cutter to finish machine the design. Carving Max Depth should be around 0.1 Line spacing of 15% to produce a good finish Cutting at 45 degrees reduces the load on the cutter for the first pass Always check the Invert Light / Dark option for Lithophanes Rapid clearance gap of 0.25 Note Conical Engraving cutters with a ball nose tip radius are excellent for this type of work as the tapered cutting angle is stronger than conventional parallel ball nose cutters 9

13 6. Save the Toolpath 15. The Estimated machining time is shown on the form 16. Select the Postprocessor for your CNC machine from the pull-down list. 17. Click the Save Toolpath button and give the Finishing toolpath a suitable file name. 18. The complete Lithophane design can be saved as a.pvc format. Running the Toolpath The Z0 origin for the Finishing toolpath needs to be setup / 2.5mm into the material as shown in the diagram below. 10