Geometric pattern fading out accross plane/ face

[Ollie]

Hi everyone.

I realise this may be a subject already covered here but I can`t find it.

What I am trying to do is mill a geometric pattern onto a surface for the lid of a box or something. Simple enough really but what I would like to do is tilt the pattern so that it sort of fades out accross the surface. Full depth one end fading to nothing at the other end.
I am thinking of a tilt plane command on the pattern. Just maybe 5 degrees or something.
I am attempting to add a little dynamic interest to the pieces. Perhaps add coloured resin etc.

I cannot find a method for doing this other than physically setting the work at a slight angle on the bed of the machine. I suspect there is a simple answer and I hope someone can tell me.


I have vcarve desktop.


Thanks for your time.

Ollie

[gkas]

3D or 2D pattern?

[Ollie]

Hi gkas

A 2d pattern. To Vcarve into the flat stock.

Ollie

[dealguy11]

Easiest way is to tilt the work on the table. Set material thickness to the top of the tilted part.

[Ollie]

dealguy11

I have thought of this and will give it a try. My concern with this method is that I can`t see it before letting the machine loose on it. Especially with the last bit of fancy timber I have been saving !
I suppose I could do tests on lesser material.
It seems like it should be possible given Vcarves normal competence.

Thanks

Ollie

[martin54]

dealguy11

I have thought of this and will give it a try. My concern with this method is that I can`t see it before letting the machine loose on it. Especially with the last bit of fancy timber I have been saving !
I suppose I could do tests on lesser material.
It seems like it should be possible given Vcarves normal competence.

Thanks

Ollie

I've been on the forum for a few years & this is the first time anyone has asked about something like this as far as I can remember Sure if it was something that was asked about a lot then Vectric would look at how it could be achieved but a 2D vcarve toolpath works by cutting between 2 vectors so not sure how easy that would be to program.
Tilting the work piece was the only way I could think of doing it other than designing your pattern so the vectors gradually got closer together from one end of the design to the other but that is going to cause other problems as the pattern will also decrease in size across its width I would think.
Only thing with tilting the work piece is that the V bit will not be parallel to the work surface so may give some unusual results

I feel an experiment coming on

[Bob Jr]

"My concern with this method is that I can`t see it before letting the machine loose on it."

Ollie,
You can generate a tilted preview by using the moulding toolpath. Generate a sloped surface of the desired angle and project this contour along a drive rail on the preview screen.
You now have a sloped surface to try out your project before cutting. Try different angles until it looks the way you want.
The sloping toolpath would not be used on the actual project, it's just a way to preview the job. As stated above, shim the end of the board to the designed angle that you developed using your moulding setup. Then, carve...on a test piece.
Clear as mud?

Bob

[4DThinker]

Does Vcarve desktop have the "Project toolpath onto a 3D model" option?
Does it have the option to create a component from the toolpath preview?
Does it have the moulding toolpath?

If so you can make a slightly sloped surface using the moulding toolpath, then make a component out of it.
Draw your pattern over the component.
Profile ON the line to create a toolpath, and select "Project toolpath onto a 3D model".
That should ramp your toolpath so it matches the slope of the model. Now cut it but don't cut the 3D model. If too deep the try setting your Z slightly above the surface before trying again.
You'll have to play with the slope of the initial model, as well as the start depth and cut depth of your pattern to get a result you like.

4D

[gregk]

Although VCarve have both the "Project toolpath onto a 3D model" option and the moulding toolpath, it doesn't have ability to create a component from the toolpath preview.

However if you get a bit creative, you can use a zero plane and tilt to achieve similar effect. You can also combine two tilted zero-planes in multiply mode to produce curved surfaces.

Attached an example (VCarve Desktop V9.5):

FadingPattern.crv

(489.5 KiB) Downloaded 131 times

Hope that this helps,

Greg K

[scottp55]

THAT will be interesting to check out once I'm awake Greg.....never even considered that option
Thanks!!
scott

[Leo]

Greg - THANK YOU.

I just played with that a bit and that is SERIOUSLY cool.

Wicked cool - as we say here.

I set the tilt angle to .5 and it tilted my text nicely.

There are endless possibilities on that one.

again -- THANK YOU

[Ollie]

Thanks for all the replies.

4dthinker that is the sort of idea I was going for in your image. I really like islamic style geometric patterns and want to do some stuff with those.

Greg. That is interesting but confusing I will try to get my head around zero planes.

I will have a good try with all the suggestions. I am sure I can make it work.
I will report back how I get on with it.

Thanks

Ollie