Open Vectors In The Design Will Not Weld

[HandyAndyInMtAiryNC]

Hello Everyone,
I have been struggling with this for a while now. I was finally able to get the design that I want, or really close to it. But I cannot seem to weld the vectors. I am not sure if I am referring the name correctly. I want/need to join the vectors. Are the vectors required to be joined? But if anyone has advice that would be easier and correct. I am fully open to hear. I am very new to Cad/Cam, so please offer any advice that you may have.

I do need the vectors cross over other vectors. Unless there is a better way to do this. I would also like to learn how to make each section the same width. I drew the lines by hand, so some are slightly different from each other.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this that I may clarify.

Thank You in advance for your assistance
Andrew

[highpockets]

You can do this

just the way your file is now using the Profile Toolpath

[HandyAndyInMtAiryNC]

Thank You John,
I will give that a try.

Andrew

[HandyAndyInMtAiryNC]

John,
If you don't mind me asking. What bit did you use to cut that? It looks like you cut it. I could be mistaken and that is your software.

Thanks
Andrew

[martin54]

John,
If you don't mind me asking. What bit did you use to cut that? It looks like you cut it. I could be mistaken and that is your software.

Thanks
Andrew

That's the toolpath preview, John hasn't cut it, well he may have done but that screenshot is the preview
He has used a profile cut cutting on the line using a v bit, can't tell you what angle bit it was or what depth of cut John used though

[HandyAndyInMtAiryNC]

Thanks Marin,
That is what I setup to preview. I guess John's software is better than mine. His preview looks like a nice cut.

Andrew

[Adrian]

It's the preview in VCarve so what you see should be the same as Johns with the similar tooling. Maybe you don't have the quality set to the same level? Check the Preview Simulation Quality setting on the Toolpaths menu.

[martin54]

Thanks Marin,
That is what I setup to preview. I guess John's software is better than mine. His preview looks like a nice cut.

Andrew

Could be a couple of reasons for that but not the software
May be he used a different angled bit or his depth of cut was different or a combination of the 2, that's the great thing about the toolpath preview, it's very accurate so you can play about changing settings until you get the look you want without wasting any material

The other thing is that John may have his toolpath preview set on a higher resolution than you do & that makes it look better, to alter the toolpath preview resolution click on the toolpath tab at the top of the screen, one of the options on the drop down menu is preview simulation quality, you can change that to give a better preview resolution but be aware that the higher you set it the longer the preview will take to generate. Shouldn't be to much of a problem though if you have a decent computer

[highpockets]

Here are the setting I used.

[HandyAndyInMtAiryNC]

Thank You Everyone.
I do use VCarve Pro 10.5. I never thought about the settings. But it does look good.

Thank you again to everyone that commented. I know I will have more questions coming.

Andrew

[CarveOne]

If you do a Google search for the word Triquetra you will find hundreds of variations of this design and uses for it. It is a very popular version of the Celtic knots. It can be carved as a V-carve design using a 60 or 90 degree V-bit both as grooves in a flat surface or as a raised design with wood in the design openings and around the design pocketed deeper. With modifications to the vectors it can be made into a raised 2.5D model as well. In the case of the 2.5D model it will look like the knot segments flow over each other, and Aspire can adjust the amount of the overflow look it has.

[sharkcutup]

You can also find the model in the clipart tab> Weaves

Model Carved in Oak (Preview Simulation)

Sharkcutup

[CarveOne]

I just now created this example that shows the weave feature, and also has a cross section shape other than round. The triquetra and circle itself is a single closed vector. It was created by drawing three larger circles and one smaller circle. Then the three larger circles are cut at the crossings and joined. The excess arcs were deleted. The Create Shape by Extruding Along One Vector tool was used to create the model. The cross section shape is a separate open vector that is used during the Create Shape by Extruding tool.

This is created in Aspire. Fun stuff to learn ...

[HandyAndyInMtAiryNC]

I would like to pocket this set of vectors. But I want to keep the Triquentra raised on the material about 3/16"

I am not sure if I am to use a Pocketing toolpath or what.

Any advise?

Thank you in advance for all your help

Andrew

[FixitMike]

When you want a raised design, you have to think in terms of removing the material around the design, leaving the design raised. First thing you do is add a closed vector surrounding the area you want the design to sit on. If you are using VCarve, select the design and the closed vector and cut away the excess material.

This is the simple explanation. It can be considerably more complex, depending upon the effect you want.