I’ll be adding a weekly version of Freebie files. Enjoy
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18I1nEEeNZiVFEGLmP8Oypk-JTzdwRoiL/view?usp=sharing
This is for the people that see something on facebook and would like to create it. It is a great way to learn your software. This is done in aspire, but is the same for vcarve.
I’ll be stepping through how i made this, with a bit of detail and then give the files.
This was posted by Elvin Dalayon on the Shapeoko and Nomad Users Group.
I liked the design, so i saved the picture to my computer and opened aspire.
I started with a 20×10 workspace in job setup. set for single sided, width 20, height 10, thickness .75, with zero at work surface, lower left corner.
i started with a square, dragged to a reasonable size of 17.25 x 6.75. This does not have to be exact. I centered this on my workspace.
I try to design name / est signs to a size I like. This one is about 18″ x 8″ for my design.
draw a circle with center about 2 1/2 in from the left edge, centered up and down, drag to about 6 in diameter.
new clip the circle inside of the square. now to copy this to the other end.
select the piece of the circle and mirror to the other end, with create copy and flip about job center. Use flip Horizontal button. You should have the parts of the circles on both ends.
Now we are going to make the a circle with center at the bottom of the workpiece, 18.5 inch diameter.
now clip both parts of the circle inside the square. select the circle below and delete.
As before, we are going to mirror the top circle to the bottom. Select the upper circle, and mirror. With create copy and flip about center, click on flip vertical.
now select all(ctrl A) and weld.
now select the new object and offset vectors. with create shop corners, select inwards and .55 inches, change to .7 and offset again.
Now for text. I’m using Monotype Corsiva, 2.2 inches tall. for my demo, i’ll be using Anderson’s for last name. Center when text entered on page.
Add the text The in Times New Roman, 1 inch high 1/2 way between the Anderson’s text and the top boarder and center left – right.
Select away from the text and add EST. 1998 in Times New Roman, 1 inch high, 1/2 way between the Anderson’s text and the bottom border. Center left-right.
Select “The” and move selected objects button. The move relative in x direction 1.5 inches.
Now create square, .25″ x .25″. rotate it 45 degs, using rotate selected objects. center on page, using center both.
now select the square and move selection, relative -7.75 inches. Select diamond, and mirror selected objects. with create copy and flip about center selected, click flip horizontal.
Now the sign is ready to create toolpaths.
Switch to toolpaths.
Select all (ctrl A) , and with shift key down, select outer vector.
Select vcarve toolpath.
Select no flat depth, and 60 deg .5 inch vbit as tool. Calculate.
Select 2d view, select outer vector.
Select profile toolpath.
Set depth to z+.015 to make sure the cut is through.
Select tool .25 inch end mill, Outside cut, add ramps, spiral. on tool, edit and set feed rate to cutting tool rate, and plunge rate to the same. On spiral plunge, it will feed at plunge rate until it reaches the bottom depth and then change to feed rate. This will keep the tool from running too slow. It will be a gradual ramp, so you can run at full speed. On my machine, 100 ipm for feed and plunge. Calculate.
This is pretty simple sign that you can custom make in about 15 min on cnc. finishing on these are not too hard either. For easy carve, paint wood first, and then make the cuts, it will stand out with minimal work. Then poly over it to seal it up.