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Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 4:21 pm
by GollyRojer
I'm making a cut-out name with a base to hold the letters together. The material is 18" x 5" x .75". I tried drawing a straight line open vector across the bottom of the letters, but Aspire won't let me weld them together. Next I tried a rectangle that follows the three outer edges of the material and the bottom of the letters. I welded this to get one big vector (plus the little ones inside the o, e and so forth). I will cut this as an outer profile. What I want to do is tell the machine not to bother following the outer edges of the rectangle which match the edges of the material. How can I prevent the machine from wasting its time following the material's edges?
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 5:01 pm
by stanv77
Your first attempt is the right idea. You have to convert your text to a curve and then the weld function will work
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 7:22 pm
by Adrian
Convert the text to curves, then group it (otherwise you lose the centre of letters like P), select the text and the rectangle then weld.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 7:29 pm
by GollyRojer
I did that before posting, although I did not group the letters. Tried it with grouping, but I still get the same result: my straight line disappears when I click the Weld icon.
For what it's worth, I'm using Aspire 8.5. I wouldn't think that would matter, but it's worth saying.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 8:07 pm
by mtylerfl
Hi,
Please post your file. Will help us help you.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:39 pm
by GollyRojer
The working area is 5" x 18". At this point, the text has been converted to curves, the letters have all been positioned on or about Y 0.49, they've been grouped together, and a line has been drawn from 0,0.5 to 18,0.5. When I select the letters and the line and click "Weld Selected Vectors" the line disappears.
I also tried welding using a rectangle, which worked, and then using Node Edit to get rid of the left, right and bottom sides. That worked, but when it calculated a profile cut, it was all messed up.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:47 pm
by GollyRojer
Looks like I've got it. When I used the rectangle and then used delete span to get rid of the 3 sides, I was still using "Outside/Right" for the profile. Once I switched to "On" it appears to have done what I want. Although, I'm going to have to do some tinkering with the position of the letters on the line.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 12:18 am
by GollyRojer
I would like to read any comments you guys have, who downloaded the file. I still don't understand what's going on with welding the line.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 2:27 am
by highpockets
You can't weld the group to a line. Create a rectangle under the text and weld using weld selected vectors.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 12:58 pm
by martin54
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 1:09 pm
by LittleGreyMan
GollyRojer wrote:How can I prevent the machine from wasting its time following the material's edges?
Unless it is a repetitive job or you already have the appropriate jigs, you may waste much more time fixing your material in its exact right position on the machine bed and telling the CAM not to machine the border then let the machine cut the raw material.
Re: Don't Cut the Edge of the Material?
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:03 pm
by GollyRojer
Thanks, guys, much appreciated.