How To CNC a Bowl in Vectric VCarve - Two Sided Bowl with Tabs!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- Hey CNC Woodworkers! In my last video I showed how to machine a bowl using a special jig in Fusion 360 ( • How to CNC a Bowl - Tw... ). I know a lot of people tend to use Vectric VCarve, so I spent quite a bit of time recreating this project in VCarve so other people can make this bowl. I wanted it to be easier to make, so I did the typical approach of using "tabs" instead of a jig. The jig is actually difficult to create in VCarve due to how it works, so the tabs are a good alternative for a project like this when you don't know how to use Fusion 360. I also wanted to compare the two pieces of CNC software and discuss some of the pros and cons of each.
/ corbincncwoodworking - Corbin's CNC Woodworking Group on Facebook!
I wrote up a complete set of directions (PDF) along with the Vectric VCarve 11.5 file and made it available:
Corbin's Workshop VCarve Version: www.corbinsworkshop.com/shop/...
Esty Vectric VCarve Version: www.etsy.com/CorbinsWorkshopS...
Buying the file helps support my videos and work, but I'm also happy to freely send the plain STL file to people who request it and want to do their own toolpaths for it. Just send me an email!
Bits / Materials:
* 1/4" spiral up cut (regular and ball nose) - from 2L
www.2linc.com/product/square-...
Part # PWE2-250-1C1.25
and Part # PWB2-250-1C1.125
* Finish: amzn.to/3X5hTPY
* Stock side: 9.5" x 9.5" x 2"
I'll have a few bowls available for sale on www.corbinsworkshop.com
Machine: Avid CNC Pro 4'x8' with an ATC / Automatic Tool Changer
Thanks everyone!
Corbin Dunn
www.corbinstreehouse.com // blog
www.corbinsworkshop.com // Products, CNC files (many are free)
** Some links are affiliate links...but I use these products myself! **
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:34 2-Sided Machining Concepts
0:50 Problems
1:55 Review of Fusion 360 Version
2:16 VCarve Solutions
3:00 Step 1: Stock Prep & Setup
3:39 Step 2: Machining Top/Inside
4:18 Step 2b: Machining the Bottom/Outside
5:06 Step 3: Finishing
5:56 Fusion 360 vs VCarve
7:58 What Do I Do?
8:21 What Should You Do?
8:52 Conclusion
9:12 Finished Shots
#cncwoodworking #cnc #woodworking - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Check the number of nodes in your tool path (Vectric). For smooth edges reduce the number of nodes and use "Fit Curves To Vectors" command, "Circular Arcs" selection, to reduce number of nodes. If you use any kind of bitmap or conversion, you need to have Vectric create a vector path along the outer edge. This is the fix for rough edges. If your following a bitmap edge, your edge will look terrible because bit is jumping left and right trying to follow the bitmap edge. Use "Toolpaths", "Simulation Quality", set to "Maximum 25X" preview, to check edge output. Nice bowls! Thanks for video!!!
Thanks! These are some good ideas! The things you are talking about work well for drawn vectors, but this is a 3D model STL that I designed in another program (Blender) and imported it into VCarve without any vectors. There isn't any way to fix it; it is a due to the way Vectric rasterizes the 3D model into pixels (or voxels). They do have two higher resolution settings when the project is made (extremely high - 20X slower and maximum -50X slower), and I bet this would reduce some of the jaggedness; I did some testing but only in simulations, and didn't find it all that better.
Some people *do* work around this by drawing a vector around their shape and slightly in-cutting the model. I think that is what you are also talking about with bitmaps (although, there are no bitmaps here - just 3D model STLs). This could work...but it could take a long time to generate a smooth and perfectly matched vector. It would also leave a slight flat edge on the side of the bowl, which would have to be sanded out. For a one sided carve this would be a good solution.
Fundamentally, this is really just a problem with Vectric; other CAM software keeps the original model data intact and work from it, and avoids issues such as these. I have a feeling that they ray cast on the Z-axis and through away any data that it doesn't hit, leaving being pixel based precision.
Great job
I have made 10 (!!!!) of these...I used V Carve Pro and a Shapeoko 5 Pro. I slowed down the speeds and feeds a bit, so it took a while on the machine. I did have a fair amount of sanding to do on the outer lip, the rest came out great.
Biggest lesson leaned was to raise the grain with a water mist before cutting the tabs, so I could redo the finish shaping again on the machine without sanding. The beautiful shape of the design makes sanding a b*tch otherwise.
Thanks for making the plans available. This was a great learning experience.
That's awesome! I'm glad you dialed in the speeds and feeds -- those area always machine dependent. I was thinking the profile could be done smoother if I added a vector curve around it; VCarve doesn't do well with edges on imported models like this one (I designed it in fusion 360). The "raise the grain" and re-finishing pass idea is great! I'll have to try that tip. Thanks!
Thanks very much for the helpful video.
Glad it was helpful!
These bowls are beautiful! For that burning issue, I like your idea to just add an offset! I my design I just made that vertical wall a little bit inclined from top to bottom. It helps with chip removals especially during the finishing process. I like your videos, subscribed, done!
Yeah, that is a good idea! In this bowl I used a basic 2D vector in VCarve, so I didn't have the option to make the wall slightly inclined like I could do in CAD or 3D model.
great piece.
Thanks!
I prefer Fusion 360 it just makes more sense to me. Can you do an updated video on surface to texture mapping in Fusion I cannot get it to work.
Yeah, I definitely prefer Fusion over VCarve for most things. Send me a message on Facebook about your texture issue -- maybe I can help figure it out. My old concepts should still work.
Interesting project... but after the first are you selling them? Cherry is a favorite wood of mine but I am guessing when all is said and done you have an hour labor in these plus 30 - 60 min on the CNC. My guess is Ikea or Target sell a "bamboo" one for $6.99.
Now less you think I am just a grumpy old man. I have a Onefinity Elite Foreman, being fitted with a CNC 3hp spindle & ATC. So making these are great fun, I just have a hard time with cash flow.
My goal is to make fun and unique projects, and share some knowledge on how to do it. I'm not really doing it to make a profit by selling these specific bowls made out of basic wood -- although, I do have a few listed for sale on my website ($50/each with shipping), which can nowhere come close to competing with something mass produced in China. I'd call BS on a lot of the guys who have TH-cam videos saying you can make a ton of money off a CNC machine by selling some things like this.
The area where you *could* make "some" money would be customizations: Adding custom engravings to the bottom of it for each order --- but even then, I still think it would be hard to make a decent wage at it. The other area is to make it more unique, where it can't be mass produced as easily. Specifically, check out this project : www.corbinsworkshop.com/portfolio/woodworking/bowls/epoxy-drip-bowls/ -- same basic bowl shape, but with epoxy "drips". This is something you can't go buy in any store, and would have a lot more value.
But people need a foundation to build upon, and I hope this video helps people get started with the basics before moving onto something more difficult. Scroll through my portfolio to get a better idea of the more unique things I like to create (for fun and for sale): www.corbinsworkshop.com/portfolio/ -- Woodworking, for me, is a hobby-business. I lose money on it each year.
@@CorbinDunn Chuckle, Exactly! The last piece I made was a $500 one .... at the end of it I added up my time and materials. I think I paid myself $3.10 an hr. Out local Mc D's pays over $15.... glad I am on social security now.
I had to laugh but not for the same reason the other individual commented that he “chuckled.”
I’m traditionally more of a machinist, welder and woodworker, but my bread and butter is e-commerce with products having nothing to do with these trades.
The thing about Ecom and online money.. it’s simply an entirely different Realm and learning curve. I personally know a guy who is the most talented and elite woodworker I’ve ever seen either online or in person; and he can’t sell his wood crafts online.
You’re right in the sense that most will fail. Probably 98%. Agreed. But what that 98% doesn’t know, is that they don’t even know what they don’t know.
The Ecom marketing world to someone who hasn’t studied it in depth for years is the equivalent of someone trying to write a program in Solidworks or Fusion with zero training. They will of course fail..
Marketing is marketing whether it’s a pair of salt and pepper shakers off of Alibaba or yet another cringe epoxy river table or charcuterie board.
CNC woodcraft isn’t any different.
A 65 year old retired guy who can cut the most flawless half blind dove tails on the planet by hand, but doesn’t concern himself with new generation marketing tactics isn’t going to be selling his Black Walnut inlay drink coasters online.
These are just examples of course..
Another good video but not being as familiar with Fusion 360 some of the differences are not intuitively obvious to me. I am much more familiar with vCarve. Appears you are very versed in both so that I would ask why can't you use the jigs and other Fusion 360 concepts with vCarve? I use jigs quite often in my vCarve process and change the X-Y zero to wherever I need it to be. Any insight on what I might be missing would help get me educated.
It would seem that you could use the jigs and offsets in vCarve similar to the Fusion 360 process.
I am sure I am missing some key point.
So yes - you could import the jig STL and machine it with VCarve. The problems: VCarve will always want to "carve" the flat surface of the jig, which is just unnecessary for something like this. The tool path generation isn't as powerful as Fusion (specifically, the ability to set angles on what to carve or not carve). The 1/4" alignment holes would also have to be put into the jig via a VCarve vector, and not from the STL itself.
Even so, let's say you do carve it out, but the next problem is the origin. VCarve can only have one STL imported at a time, so you'd have to have another project for the bowl STL, and ensure...somehow...that they are going to be exactly in the same spot. Given that it is all centered..it should be okay, but it might be slightly off. I bet it could be done...but I didn't want to try it.
I'm also thinking the Vectric way to do it would be to use Aspire. I haven't used Aspire, but I'm guessing it has a way to take the bowl shape and do a negative cut out of a square shape, leaving behind the jig. Then you could machine each out from the same file and ensure it would be 100% matched up correctly. This is how I made the jig shape in Fusion 360. But I don't know for sure, as I don't use Aspire.
@@CorbinDunn thank you for your thoughtful reply. I normally use Aspire but I may just need to force myself to learn fusion.
How are you liking your Hitech?
It's been working great with no problems. I think it is a little on the beefy and heavy side for the gantry, but I haven't had any cut issues that I can attribute to that. Probably not worth the extra cost compared to the S30C given most things I do.
Do you have the file for the fusion 360 and how to make the jig.
Thank you
Ed
PS I am a newbie with a CNC so I may as well cut my teeth on this..
Hi Ed - yes, I have general instructions on how to do it with Fusion 360. The files are available on my site: www.corbinsworkshop.com/category/cnc-files/ Let me know if you have any questions, thanks!
Also, be sure to watch the Fusion 360 version of the video: th-cam.com/video/Doy0JwG77Kk/w-d-xo.html