Design Software

[wayne_webb]

I'm checking out Vcarve pro and Cut 3D but don't see how to design an actual 3d image with them; only create toolpaths for already existing files.

What program/s do I need to design 3d stuff....without having to mortgage my house

Thanks

[rick_woodward]

Wayne
your best option is to ask on the Vetric forum. The authors of this software are very helpful.

[gerald_martin]

Hi Wayne: I believe that your best bet for a software that can edit 3d reliefs and create toolpaths is ArtCAM Pro. $8500 sound good? or whatever the current price is. If you need it it's worth it.

Otherwise: Buy 3d models that are professionally done from www.vectorart3d.com (http://www.vectorart3d.com)

Or contact James Booth at www.carve3d.com (http://www.carve3d.com)
He has done design work for me and it's very well done. If you just need several models created this sure beats learning to use the software and developing a "3d eye".

Maybe Brady or someone with more 3d experience can chime in here.

Me? for now I'm outsourcing it, until: Vectric produces a product that rivals ArtCAM Pro for a fraction of the cost. Hear that, Brian and Tony? There is a market for this product. I'd jump for it and I think lots of other 'botters would too.

Gerald

[mitch_prest]

G'dat Wayne..
it would depend a lot on what kind of 3d image you are trying to make. There is a multitude of 3d programs that will do a lot of different things. Most of the cad programs can output 3d, but they might not make things you would cut on your bot.. ..so .. what are you looking to make

[tuck]

Hey Wayne this is O/T but I remember you from Letterville. Let me see if my memory serves me right: You live in Florida and you scored on a nice deal for a towable sandblast set-up last year on ebay, right? I gotta memory like a steel trap I tell ya!

Did you buy a ShopBot? And don't worry about mortgaging your house. Details,...details,...

[jseiler]

Depending on what you are trying to do, you might take a look at blender 3d. Its free and can do quite a lot, but its forte is more "artsy", not so much interlocking parts or things that require really tight tolerances (although I'm sure it can be done). Paco recommended blenderunderground's videos to me when I asked a similar question. They are really good and also free for download.

[wayne_webb]

Thanks for the help guys!!
You caught me, Mark, I am the culprit. Yes, I bought a Shopbot back in September and still haven't cranked it up. At the time I bought it, I had begun a sandblasted sign for a dentist's office, then came a couple of doctor's offices. While I was doing those, I sold a job off my website which consisted of 42 sandblasted signs for a development, one of which was 12' x 3'. All of these were HDU but I'm now making sandblasted redwood signs for two more doctor's offices and one of these will be goldleafed. In between all that, we printed 380 t-shirts and made a few 4x8 vinyl signs. Haven't had much time to even learn how to use the Shopbot.

I'm hoping to get out of the sandblasting side of the business eventually. Here's a pic of the sandblast pot. Scroll down to the fifth pic. http://www.letterville.com/steps/wayne/index.htm

[tuck]

Welcome to the Bot boards, Wayne. There are some very knowledgeable and clever guys in here that are always willing to help with CNC questions and problems. It's not nearly as active in here as Letterville, but it's CNC specific. If you can't find the info you need using the search function, just post your problem or question and somebody will help you out. That's been my experience.

What kind of Bot and what size did you get? Alpha? Standard? Router or spindle? Did you get or build a vacuum table? I remember when I bought my old Bot used. I barely knew how to turn on a computer much less command a CAD program, but I got all of the help I needed from right in here and a Shopbotter named Ron Varela.

Good luck and I hope you start making dust soon!

(p.s. -loved the comments with your pictures!
)

[gene]

Wayne,
What have you been doing in your spare time?? Get the bot cranked up and it can work with you.. Just Kidding , its always good to be buisy .

Gerald ,
I asked about vectric making a 3D design program about 2 yrs ago . Hopefully they will do something like that in the future , Yes i am intrested also , so lets all keep sending them Tony, and Brian e mails and bugging them until they make us an affordable artcam pro type program... Theres something wrong with having to bug people to make tons of money?

[gene]

What kind of software is there for doing things like taking a clipart of a dog and creating a 3d model that i can cut and slice to make a model from? This is for playing with and not for money generation so i just cant justify 8500. for artcam to myself. If anyone knows of any (must) be easy to learn and use . it does not have to get realistic details as i would like it to be more cartoon type characters . No deep details. Thank all of you, Gene

[mitch_prest]

if you were to change the outline to polylines.. you could then offset them inwards to create the different pieces.. this could be done on most cad programs.. not automatic but it would probably work

mitch

[jseiler]

You might look at this. It won't turn a black and white pic of a dog into old yeller, but it will give you some relief from flat pix. The process works reasonably well, but it too is not perfect.

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43622

[wayne_webb]

Thanks for the help guys!

Gene, we also play gigs on the weekends....bluegrass.

Mark, I think it's a 2002 model "PRT 96". It has a 48” X 96 table, proximity switches, emergency stop switch, zero plate, digitizer probe, Porter Cable 3 ¼ HP Router, dust collection hoses and shroud, a brand new 3-phase vacuum hold down system, $750 worth of brand new router bits, and a desktop computer. $5500.

[ljdm]

John -
Confusing site - what is the name of the program you used?

[jseiler]

You use gmax and some extension scripts for it. Gmax is free. Danny sells a tutorial for (I think) $20 that guides one through the process. Its a pretty good tutorial, really. About all you get it puffy 3d, but if all you want is some relief on a 2d image, the process works pretty well, overall.