PhotoVCarve problem
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- Vectric Wizard
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PhotoVCarve problem
So I sprung for the $90.00 and upgraded to Desktop V-10
The only reason I did so was for the photo V carve option.
I was excited.
I immediately started watching the tutorials.
Then I decided to import a picture of my granddaughter with her dog and try it.
It turned out quite well (maybe a little dark) but I was pleased and excited to get out to the shop.
First thing I did is try it on a piece of MDF.
Lesson learned, don’t use MDF as it has no strength for detail and chips out. (I should have known better)
Next I tried a piece of pine.
Same results. (Very poor)
Now I'm thinking that, yes in the tutorials they show you very good results on screen, but I have yet to see and actual finished project.
There is also no mention of what kind of wood to use.
I think that I have followed the instructions closely.
As much as I like the Vectric software, I cant help but wonder if I just pissed away $90.00.
Has anyone else tried it yet?
Can you post some pictures of the results?
Any critique is appreciated.
The only reason I did so was for the photo V carve option.
I was excited.
I immediately started watching the tutorials.
Then I decided to import a picture of my granddaughter with her dog and try it.
It turned out quite well (maybe a little dark) but I was pleased and excited to get out to the shop.
First thing I did is try it on a piece of MDF.
Lesson learned, don’t use MDF as it has no strength for detail and chips out. (I should have known better)
Next I tried a piece of pine.
Same results. (Very poor)
Now I'm thinking that, yes in the tutorials they show you very good results on screen, but I have yet to see and actual finished project.
There is also no mention of what kind of wood to use.
I think that I have followed the instructions closely.
As much as I like the Vectric software, I cant help but wonder if I just pissed away $90.00.
Has anyone else tried it yet?
Can you post some pictures of the results?
Any critique is appreciated.
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
- Adrian
- Vectric Archimage
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
Look in the PhotoVCarve section of the forum. There are loads of pictures of completed projects and tips on how to do them.
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
For the new toolpathing harder wood will probably give better results. I tried a picture in pine and it came out ok but I screwed up the finish on it.
I think both are cool, both versions need some fine tuning on my part.
I did the same picture in PVC a while back but with different settings that aren't currently available in the new integrated toolpathing.
I think both are cool, both versions need some fine tuning on my part.
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- Vectric Wizard
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- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2016 10:19 pm
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- Location: Columbus Ohio
Re: PhotoVCarve problem
Adrian,
Yeah, I looked there, but most of the posts are years old and appears to do with lithophanes.
I would like to get proficient in photo V carve before I tackle that.
Right now I'm not pleased with my results.
I'm going to try a piece of PVC next.
Yeah, I looked there, but most of the posts are years old and appears to do with lithophanes.
I would like to get proficient in photo V carve before I tackle that.
Right now I'm not pleased with my results.
I'm going to try a piece of PVC next.
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
Re: PhotoVCarve problem
I'll be watching this thread because I have the same results on my first try with pine. Although the preview looked like it was going to be acceptable, it carved chop suey and very bad results. I used the default settings that were there when I upgraded... so I will definitely back off the depth and perhaps slow it down a bit. But I hope things get better. Maybe I'll try Poplar next time.
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- Vectric Wizard
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- Location: Columbus Ohio
Re: PhotoVCarve problem
So, when I have problems like this, it wakes me up at 3:00 am. and I lay there thinking about it.
What I've come up with now is to change my depth of cut in the tool settings to .01"
While I realize the total machine time will be increased, I'm hoping this will reduce the stress of cutting.
Also, I'm going to try just a single raster instead of a cross hatch.
What I've come up with now is to change my depth of cut in the tool settings to .01"
While I realize the total machine time will be increased, I'm hoping this will reduce the stress of cutting.
Also, I'm going to try just a single raster instead of a cross hatch.
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
- Adrian
- Vectric Archimage
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
PhotoVCarve hasn't been updated for years so the age of the posts doesn't matter. The PhotoVCarve toolpath in VCarve can't do lithopanes currently.Jan.vanderlinden wrote:Adrian,
Yeah, I looked there, but most of the posts are years old and appears to do with lithophanes.
I would like to get proficient in photo V carve before I tackle that.
Right now I'm not pleased with my results.
I'm going to try a piece of PVC next.
There is a wealth of info on there. Back when I used to do PhotoVCarve stuff I learnt a lot from that forum section. I got my best results when using laminated plastic (colorcore, similar to the way the guy in the 2nd thread here has used melamine mdf). Using wood the key is to get the contrast between the uncut and cut areas so you don't see the real picture until you've completed the finishing.
http://forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=25025
http://forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=21756
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- Vectric Wizard
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
So I've been playing with the file this morning and found an interesting problem.
My total depth of the finished carve is set at .06"
My depth per pass was set a .02"
At this setting the total calculated carve time is 22 minutes.
So I thought I would change the depth per pass to .01"
Logic would tell you that the total carve time would increase.
But it didn't. It remained at 22 minutes.
Now in retrospect, When I was doing my carves that turned out so bad, I realize that the carve took only one pass to complete.
That means, my depth of cut was .06" and not what i had set it for.
If my setting of .02" per pass would have been calculated. then it should have taken 3 passes to complete and a total time of ~66 minutes.
My total depth of the finished carve is set at .06"
My depth per pass was set a .02"
At this setting the total calculated carve time is 22 minutes.
So I thought I would change the depth per pass to .01"
Logic would tell you that the total carve time would increase.
But it didn't. It remained at 22 minutes.
Now in retrospect, When I was doing my carves that turned out so bad, I realize that the carve took only one pass to complete.
That means, my depth of cut was .06" and not what i had set it for.
If my setting of .02" per pass would have been calculated. then it should have taken 3 passes to complete and a total time of ~66 minutes.
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
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- Vectric Wizard
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
Adrian.
Thank you.
Those are good reads.
Maybe I'm using the wrong material.
However, in the tutorials they do not mention what type of material to use.
I was really hoping to use some nice wood (red oak for instance)
I think it would be a much nicer gift than a piece of melamine.
But now I'm wondering if the problem that I posted above is a possible factor.
Thank you.
Those are good reads.
Maybe I'm using the wrong material.
However, in the tutorials they do not mention what type of material to use.
I was really hoping to use some nice wood (red oak for instance)
I think it would be a much nicer gift than a piece of melamine.
But now I'm wondering if the problem that I posted above is a possible factor.
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
- Rcnewcomb
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
Oak isn't a great choice for PhotoVCarve because of the open grain. Something like hard maple should work much better.I was really hoping to use some nice wood (red oak for instance)
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
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- Vectric Wizard
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
Thanks Randy.
I will try that.
However I still have the problem of the software not respecting my settings.
I just did a test with the depth of cut set to .01" and the total depth of .06"
It went straight to the total depth setting, made one pass and was done.
That's just not right.
It should have made 6 shallow passes.
I will try that.
However I still have the problem of the software not respecting my settings.
I just did a test with the depth of cut set to .01" and the total depth of .06"
It went straight to the total depth setting, made one pass and was done.
That's just not right.
It should have made 6 shallow passes.
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
Re: PhotoVCarve problem
All of these threads regarding the photovcarve toolpath have been confusing, but based on what I've read, why couldn't you do a lithopane? What is missing compared to PhotoVCarve (the program)?Adrian wrote: PhotoVCarve hasn't been updated for years so the age of the posts doesn't matter. The PhotoVCarve toolpath in VCarve can't do lithopanes currently.
- Adrian
- Vectric Archimage
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
You can't do a lithopane with the VCarve version. It doesn't support ball nose tools.BDM wrote:All of these threads regarding the photovcarve toolpath have been confusing, but based on what I've read, why couldn't you do a lithopane? What is missing compared to PhotoVCarve (the program)?Adrian wrote: PhotoVCarve hasn't been updated for years so the age of the posts doesn't matter. The PhotoVCarve toolpath in VCarve can't do lithopanes currently.
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- Vectric Wizard
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Re: PhotoVCarve problem
Adrian,'
What is your take on the fact that when I do a photo V carve, the cutter goes straight to the depth set in the "max depth" box.
And it ignores the fact that I set depth of cut in the tool set up window?
As an example. I did a test cut and set my depth per pass at .01"
However, the machine went straight to the max depth of .06" set in the photo V carve window
Did I explain that right?
What is your take on the fact that when I do a photo V carve, the cutter goes straight to the depth set in the "max depth" box.
And it ignores the fact that I set depth of cut in the tool set up window?
As an example. I did a test cut and set my depth per pass at .01"
However, the machine went straight to the max depth of .06" set in the photo V carve window
Did I explain that right?
“I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more”
- Adrian
- Vectric Archimage
- Posts: 14544
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
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- Location: Surrey, UK
Re: PhotoVCarve problem
I would guess it works the same way as a 3D finishing toolpath in that it cuts the depth it needs to regardless of the tool pass depth but I could be totally wrong on that. Whenever I've done one the pass depth of the tool has always been more than the cut depth.