How I make Oval lithophanes

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calgrdnr
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How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

I have been asked many times how I make Oval lithophanes.
So here is a PDF with how I go about creating oval lithophane.

Thanks Brad for use of pictures

Kent

I make better Lithophanes then tutorial :oops: I hope this helps someone :mrgreen:
Attachments
Litophane Oval with accent tutorial .pdf
(365.27 KiB) Downloaded 2568 times

Greolt
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by Greolt »

All this time I did not know that you could limit the toolpath area like that!!!! :)

Well done and thanks,

Greg

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Tony Mac
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by Tony Mac »

Hi Kent,

Very useful tutorial and thanks for taking the time to document this technique.

Not wishing to hi-jack your thread, but we did have a short video tutorial on the
web site showing this process but the link seems to have been lost at some point.

This video shows how to create the 'mask' using Corel Paint

Video Tutorial >

Top Tip is to save the image as a BMP file as this retains the solid colour making it easier
to mask out the background in PhotoVCarve. Saving as aJPG results in the boundary
colours being dithered and yo have to select multiple colours.

I hope this is useful and we'll get it linked back on the web site.

Tony

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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by NormanAlbert »

Hi Guys: Some photo programs even allow you to make other geometric shapes. On another note, I just finished a 12 X 12 vacuum box and used the rubbery drawer liner as an anti skid pad to keep the litho's from slipping. Works great. I used the kind that looks like it has interconnected beads about 1/32 inch thick. Used 3M's spray adhesive to stick it to the box. The "beads" form miniscule channels to get the vacuum spread all over. Norm

calgrdnr
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

Hey Norm ..

always wanted to say that ....

Think you could share picture of your vacuum box? I have been meaning to make one myself ..

so looking for a cheat :) .


I promise I won't sit on your stool no more :)


Cheers

Kent

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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by NormanAlbert »

Hi Kent: My vacuum table isn't fancy and it doesn't need to be. The base is 3/4 ply,maple in this case, and so are the sides. The top is 1/2 ply. One table has sides 1 3/4 inches high and the other is 2 1/2 inches. The sides are glued and nailed onto the 3/4 bottom and butt together at the corners. in the field I have blocks cut to the same height as the sides, mine are 3/4 X 1 1/2 inch, again glued to the bottom. I have 12 randomly placed somewhat equally. The top is then glued to everything and nailed. I then used the Mach 3 wizard " drill rectangular hole pattern" to drill 1/8 inch holes in the top and they are about 3/4 inch apart both ways. 15 in the x and 15 in the y. A small vacuum fabric wand was located on one end and the appropriate holes for it drilled by hand. When I do small litho's, I cover the remainder of the table with peices of corian. Best of all, nothing moves. Norm

calgrdnr
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

Thanks Norm , I have it pretty much figured out .... Just like to see how other approach it .


Kent

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ManitobaKeith
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by ManitobaKeith »

Kent,
You can do a search for vacuum.zip in the free files and you should get plans for a small table. If you can't find it, PM me & i will email it to you.
Keith
It is not only what we do,but also what we do not do,for which we are accountable-Jean Moliere

calgrdnr
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

Hello Keith ,

Is this it ? I did a search and could not find ... but I believe I have downloaded most everything from the free files I found this on my PC.


Thanks for the heads up I forgot about this one also .. Kent
Attachments
vac.jpg

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ManitobaKeith
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by ManitobaKeith »

Yes Kent,
That is it or very close to it.
It looks very easy to build. I think the hole layout might be cleaned up a tad using Arrays so the dowels don't land on a vacuum hole, but it is very nice & I thank who ever posted it. There is an instruction pdf with it.

Edit: I wonder if one surfaced both sides of some 3/4" MDF and put it on the top instead of the plywood, and sealed the edges, if there would be a need to even drill the holes.
Just a thought.
Keith
It is not only what we do,but also what we do not do,for which we are accountable-Jean Moliere

calgrdnr
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

Thanks Keith I have some .375 Lexan was thinking of making one out of this ... I will post if I make it :)

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Greasetattoo
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by Greasetattoo »

Kent,

Do you ever break any bits not using a roughing pass..

I have a 30 degree bit from Centurion, the tip broke off of mine.

I noticed to, you go .21 deep.
As the instruction manual from Vectric says go .1

I did one last nite, with a .031 ball nose.
I did use a roughing pass with a .125 ballnose.
I went .1 deep, like the Vectric manual says and it seems to thick.
Not enough light comes through..

I've made them before, but it has been a few years.
Kinda forgot the process..

I just don't want to break another 30 degree bit.
The bit I broke was a 1/4 shaft.
I did order a new one, from Beckwith this time, but it has a 1/2 shaft.
But triple the price from Centurion.

I just don't want to bust that tiny fragile tip.

Let me know your thoughts..
thanks
Grease

calgrdnr
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

Hello Grease,

Yeah, I have broken a few . Fortunately it is just the needle point
they still work great for the lithophanes.
I have same problem with the .5V30 also . So if you can change your order and get the
0.25V30 instead lot cheaper. The main thing is to cut at a 45 degree angle this way very few
cuts will be taking more then the 10% line spacing / stepover.
I cut mine at 315 degree still 45 degree just starts at x0y0 if that makes sense :)

I reread your message . The bit I think you ordered from Beckwith BDP005 $80 you won't break this tip.
works well with larger lithos ( did the Harley eagle with this bit) but for very fine detail
not so good. and make sure to check the tip. Mine was cut little off had to tune up the tip.
I also have a 1/8 tapered from them that has a bad tip.

I have learned an expensive lesson,
I unfortunately had mine quite a while before I used them and then found
out they were not up to the standards to do a good job.

Check your bits carefully to include measuring them i.e.
1/8 = .125 not .123 I have had that happen also ...

I have never done a litho using the vectric method. I started using the
Vbit 1 pass cut from the beginning and just figured out what looked best to me .
that is 0.21 for the 30 V-Bit I have cut some with .125 ball nose using same method
these I found looked better at .23 I have cut through a few pieces of Corian so make
sure your material is the thickness and is that way through out.

Well I hope I answered your questions, I have a cold so my brain is a little stuffed up :)

Kent

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Greasetattoo
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by Greasetattoo »

Kent,

Thanks for the quick reply...

I didn't know you could still use your broken tipped 30 degree bits.
Hmmmm.

I actually, just checked my broken one and it looks like more then the .031 is broken off.
I compared it to my .031 ballnose.
Also, the broken part is not even.

I do have a set of 60 degree and 90 degree bits.
How would they work?

If not, I may just stick with doing a roughing and finishing
with my ballnose's.

Tell I get my new 30 degrees bits.

Going .21 seems like it helped. (still cutting)
I also upped my contrast.

I will post pictures when I am done.

thanks again,
Grease

P.s. I can't believe you only have 500+ posts.
I could swear you post more then that!

calgrdnr
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Re: How I make Oval lithophanes

Post by calgrdnr »

P.s. I can't believe you only have 500+ posts.
I could swear you post more then that!
Nah...

Its kinda like commercials you hate to see, Seems like they are on all the time :lol:

I get lucky mine break just the tip little less then .03

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