Another Beta...Finally got that Guilloche software going

[Burkhardt]

I had posted my original experiments with the guilloche generator in another thread but the software has morphed into something more complex over time. So, if somebody wants to play with the current Beta version, it is HERE (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillocheInstall.zip). Operates so far only in Demo mode until I have the license distribution method set up.

To give an idea about what it can do right now, see sample screen pics below. For any possible pattern, it can high resolution bitmap output for use in Vcarve (e.g. flat-bottom vcarve or inlays) or generate g-code directly to execute with a v-bit (direct vcarve only without flat bottom). I thought about dxf output but that would lose all depth information and does not look promising. For now it can do circular, spiral, linear and radial guilloche work. At some point I would like to do rotational indexer output but need to find a way to specify non-cylindrical shapes. Most columns or pens have conical or barrel type shapes, after all.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillochePics/Overview1.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillochePics/Overview2.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillochePics/Overview3.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillochePics/Overview4.jpg

[Burkhardt]

Few more pics:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillochePics/Overview5.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29562014/GuillochePics/Overview6.jpg

[scottp55]

Haven't even read the instructions/ NOT my favorite which got saved who knows where:)/only used the "save Bitmap" option/ and rushed through it after a 16 hour day......................BUT THIS IS NEAT!!!!!:) :)
Thanks Gert!!!

[tri4sale]

Very cool.

One thing I noticed that feels like a bug but may just be a design feature.

Running program, I use keyboard to move thru fields by hitting TAB. If I make any change to a value, the next time I hit tab, instead of going to next field, it jumps down to "Save Settings" I then either have to hit TAB a ton of times to get back to the next field or use the mouse to move to next field. I'm old school with keyboard use and can move thru a screen like that a lot faster with tab vs having to use the mouse to move to next field.

[Brady Watson]

Noble effort so far. If you had high quality vector output, as stand alone GUI or Vectric gadget, I'd probably buy it.

Bitmap output only is a deal breaker for me. No BMP to vector trace tool will match the quality of direct vector output.

-B

[JimmyD]

I am so pleased that you did this. I just downloaded and will be trying it out early next week as I'm just about to leave town. It looks great, I can't wait for the rotary indexer version.

Jim

[Burkhardt]

Very cool. One thing I noticed that feels like a bug but may just be a design feature. Running program, I use keyboard to move thru fields by hitting TAB. If I make any change to a value, the next time I hit tab, instead of going to next field, it jumps down to "Save Settings" I then either have to hit TAB a ton of times to get back to the next field or use the mouse to move to next field. I'm old school with keyboard use and can move thru a screen like that a lot faster with tab vs having to use the mouse to move to next field.

Ha...well, it is not a bug but not a desired behavior either. Normally you can Tab through the boxes and buttons reasonably sequentially. But the program checks for all edits of the boxes that change the graphics every 2 seconds and when such a change happens it writes back all values to the boxes for proper formatting. That resets the tab sequence. Got to think if I can improve that without losing convenient input.


Noble effort so far. If you had high quality vector output, as stand alone GUI or Vectric gadget, I'd probably buy it. Bitmap output only is a deal breaker for me. No BMP to vector trace tool will match the quality of direct vector output. -B

Brady, thanks for the input. That is a thing that has baffled me so far. It would be easy to generate a .dxf center trace vector and for constant width carving that would do the job. But some of the more interesting pattern use variable line width/carve depth and that creates very complex outlines when the traces overlap. Honestly, making vectors for the overlapping outlines exceeds my programming abilities. For now I worked around it with the bitmap output and I found when using resolutions of 2000+ pixels the tracing algorithm of VcarvePro gives results that look really good to me (small and mid-size applications). I have not tried very large carvings, which may need toolpath smoothing in VcarvePro.


I am so pleased that you did this. I just downloaded and will be trying it out early next week as I'm just about to leave town. It looks great, I can't wait for the rotary indexer version. Jim
While I want to do the indexer version I don't know where to start. Maybe a text file with a few diameter coordinates (along the axis and radius) ? The I could apply a B-Spline through the defined points. However, I guess I would need to generate a surfacing tool path first with a ballnose bit. Otherwise the likelihood to get the required accuracy for the pattern is small. Getting complicated but I will think about it.

[Joe Porter]

Well anyway....It looks good to me and I will buy it when it comes out...joe

[genek]

Mr. Burkhardt: These would make great designs for Trivets... You may want to tell your customers that they would make a beautiful trivet... Fast easy money.

[Burkhardt]

Mr. Burkhardt: These would make great designs for Trivets... You may want to tell your customers that they would make a beautiful trivet... Fast easy money.

Thanks, interesting application idea. While I am not in the production business, I will try that for demonstration (and because it is useful...).

[genek]

Thanks, interesting application idea. While I am not in the production business, I will try that for demonstration (and because it is useful...).

AT worst it will get you some brownie points with the wife.. lol... Those that cater to the foodie world can use this. That would make for a very different Trivet and would sale fast. Make one and post it. Think it might help your sales on this product. By the way when you do have all the bugs worked out and it is ready let me know... I want to use your patterns to Make some trivets my self.

[scottp55]

Just about to try this one for Dad in a few minutes in hard Maple kids 1.75" block G. :)
Button sized of course:D

[genek]

Just about to try this one for Dad in a few minutes in hard Maple kids 1.75" block G. :)
Button sized of course:D
make a trivet for your mom with that in it. That would make a great trivet.

[genek]

make a trivet for your mom with that in it. That would make a great trivet. do one about 5" x 5"

[scottp55]

Sorry Eugene...2 people here so button size it was.
Dialed in a brand new 30degree(.25"Kyocera) at same time, and no sanding(just stiff boar bristle and wood butter).
All from bitmap and traced loose with no editing whatsoever.
STILL haven't read instructions:)
Just going to see how it carved with NO final buttonhole design work.
Hard Maple 1.75" blocks with wild variations in size, so off-center.
Both Dad and Photographer(Kelly) wanted a block:)
Both LOVED the program G!
Kelly is bringing with her to a buyer tomorrow for opinion.
In 10 minutes..I saved 5 other bitmaps she wants to see carved:)
They said to say how much they appreciated this program and to thank you!!
Me too!!!
scott

[Burkhardt]

......Both LOVED the program G!
Kelly is bringing with her to a buyer tomorrow for opinion....They said to say how much they appreciated this program and to thank you!!....scott

Hey, cool! Maybe this program is useful, after all :rolleyes: I appreciate your support for my funky projects.

I tried another use for a sign for my shop (well, actually that would be a garage). Just to make sure I remember where I am. I am sure I violated all rules for sign making, sorry about that, I am just an amateur. But at 16Mbit resolution (4096x4096 pixels), the bitmap output does not really leave any vectorization artifacts

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fg_l7eefgmY/VW0fSFuvKnI/AAAAAAAAF0c/sO5JuIWpQzM/w1584-h722-no/DSC03124.JPG

I tried to paint the carvings but it was so ugly I won't post it here. Got to practice that. Fortunately I can do it over again.

[scottp55]

Nice one G. :)
Which sample was the starting point for that one?
Finally read instructions at 3AM and have a Slightly better grasp of it to play with today.
Always seem to get kicked out of program after about 10 new designs, error is something like "to many ***on line zero" I'll try to nail it down exactly and do a screensave of error later.
Going to scorch a block with torch and Carve through it today, like the black ones in pic.
Blue one is an "Optical Ball" file that comes with Shopbot as a starter project. Was thinking that method would be visually striking, but does cover the wood:(
Sure you've read all the methods of sealing before carving, but thought just in case to link the latest thread on Vectric...Poly isn't for me,but...
http://forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22536
Need to create a clear area for button holes in the center, and play with ovals like that one....Don't worry, I'll get it:)
At least you know idiots can use the program!!:)

Oh, On Vectric, someone was asking about fingerjoints and I thought to post link to FingerMaker, BUT all the pictures are gone? Looks way to commercial for Vectric Forum now. You going to post a picture section again?

[Burkhardt]

Nice one G. :)
Which sample was the starting point for that one? I believe it was the "weave" sample in the "circular" folder. Actually I kept it with same x and y diemensions to get a better screen image and stretched it to an oval after vectorizing in Vcarve. If you get me a screen shot of the error message I would appreciate that.


Oh, On Vectric, someone was asking about fingerjoints and I thought to post link to FingerMaker, BUT all the pictures are gone? Looks way to commercial for Vectric Forum now. You going to post a picture section again?
I need to talk with the Godaddy.com folks. The pictures are still there but I noticed it takes a ridiculous time to load.

[bleeth]

As a reminder for botters the spiral project Scott is showing is created with the SB spirograph (or I think it was).
Get it from the shopbot labs section of the website. (Credit to Bill Young)
http://www.shopbottools.com/LabFiles/sbograph.htm

[genek]

As a reminder for botters the spiral project Scott is showing is created with the SB spirograph (or I think it was).
Get it from the shopbot labs section of the website. (Credit to Bill Young)
http://www.shopbottools.com/LabFiles/sbograph.htm
What program ran that file

[scottp55]

Nope Dave,
That was G's program.
I can see why you thought so...didn't put much difference between min/max line thickness on that first one.
In the very first post...Look for the Blue link "It Is Here" to get the free Beta download.
Thanks G......Got sidetracked with 3D and Fluted trays.
Will post photo when I get playing again(sanding 60 buttons sold:)
Oh.. Eugene, Just running VCarvepro after bitmap tracing G's generated .bmp, NOT taking the G-code route at the moment so I can manipulate and try different bits in preview.

[Burkhardt]

Painted it all over, sanded and finished. Kind of O.K. for me but this made me aware there is more to making a good looking sign than just carving a pattern.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-psiNSsu8tY4/VW5lev0eM7I/AAAAAAAAF04/MUSbxulLa10/w1583-h736-no/DSC03128.JPG

[genek]

Painted it all over, sanded and finished. Kind of O.K. for me but this made me aware there is more to making a good looking sign than just carving a pattern.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-psiNSsu8tY4/VW5lev0eM7I/AAAAAAAAF04/MUSbxulLa10/w1583-h736-no/DSC03128.JPG

looks good..

[scottp55]

Came out nice G.
You self criticize your own work right along with the best of us:)
Which boundary function was used?
Stencil paint?

[Burkhardt]

Well, from the technical side it looks quite good. But from the design/aesthetic side I think it is not balanced. Way too much of the carved pattern compared with the text. But it will hang in my garage and I am the only one looking at it...

The boundary chamfer is made in Vcarve with an outside profile cut (v-bit) along a vector offset from the outermost pattern vector, followed by an endmill outside profile cut a little closer that cuts away the bottom of the chamfer v-groove.

For the paint I masked roughly the larger inside areas (to minimize paint sanding) and the perimeter and sprayed it with black-silver metallic texture paint. The texture hides the v-carving waterlines and a few rough tearout spots. Then after drying RO sanded clean to 80-220, thin Danish oil and acrylic clearcoat enamel. All done within 4 hours but it was warm last night and the paint dried quickly.

I had first hand painted the lettering with antique copper but for some reason that looked really tacky.

[scottp55]

Thanks G,
I was wondering if you had tried any of the "chain mail" types(especially the ones that look like interlocked crescent moons) for texturing?
Got two recessed trays to finish for photo props and thought it might look neat on one(Lousy wood to try on as it's flat grain Ash and might unattractively disappear in pored sections). May try several small samples on 1 board for a side by side.
Just thinking aloud.
What would be best approach to link a group together seamlessly do you think? Linear array with zero gap or in the full version, could you just specify an exact large area? Is there a limit on size output in your thinking, or would it become pixelated at some point?
Going out to play:)