Not getting results

[jerrywi]

Hello Group;

I've been playing around with my photo-v-carve program for awhile, just getting use to using the software and watching the tutorials and looking at the group's projects, by the why they all look great.

So today I decided to warm up my DIY CNC and load a test picture of my son.

I used a piece of scrap oak ply wood.

I copied all the data that was used on the sample programs into my photo project.

Every thing seemed to be cutting okay.

After the project was done cutting, I cleaned it up a bit and to my disappointment I could barley make out the image (the cut area was 8" x 10"), The depth of cut .03.

I remembered that someone on the forum mentioned to lightly stain the wood and that would bring the image out. I did so and that made it worse.

I cut a second piece but this time I stained the board first and then cut. the same results.

The review area of photo v carve showed a great results of what the finish cut would look like but that's not what I got.

I hope I've given enough information so that you might figure out what I might be doing wrong, if not let me know.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanking everyone in advance

Jerry

[PaulRowntree]

Hi Jerry
A photo of the final product would help show what is going on. How accurately do you think Z=0 was set? Was it to the top of the material? V-carving is very sensitive to the accuracy of Z=0 at the top of the material, since the sub-millimeter cut depths can be lost so easily; the material surface could be less uniform than this. Some folks will machine the top of the material flat on the CNC first.
Cheers!

[tonydude919]

You would be better off using maple or a light colored hardwood. What are your line spacing settings? Every picture will have different settings. If you can post a photo that would help. Also what bit are you using?

Tony

[Rcnewcomb]

Use a scraper on the one you stained and lightly scrap the stained area. The image may begin to emerge.

[jerrywi]

Thank you all for the input and I'll try to get a file together and post it.

Went back with a 3rd attempt and didn't get too far. My z axis coupler came loose and the router and bit fell and went through my project board (@@##$%%%??!!!!)

So I think I will give it up for the night and Thanks again for the input

Jerry