Can I do this?

[Alteredwoodworks]

OK... So I got my CW a few years ago. I have been doing very basic stuff since I got it. I do not have a lot of time to learn the methods of the CW... However I am wanting to make a few new projects. The first being a unique picture frame. The frame will have an outer edge that consists of many curves and tight patterns, similar to th photo attached. My question is... will I be able to create something like this with the CW. As I mentioned I do not have a lot of time to use my CW so what I need is for the CW to DO IT ALL! Cut out the outer shape, cut out the inner square or shape (where the photo will show) and rout the edges with a decorative bit. Will the CW do all of this? Please help a beginner accomplish this!!!46437

[dbfletcher]

Yep.. I dont see anything there that the CW would have any problem with.

Go ahead and start your project, and just post your questions and mpc when you get stuck.

[Alteredwoodworks]

will it do everything with one board and one design? how long would yo you estimate it would take to cut one? There is no carving involed. Just cutting out the outside shape, inside shape and routing the edges...

[dbfletcher]

That's a loaded question. It really depends on how you design it. Looking at the pic your posted, it looks like there are what could be called two carve regions... the inner one for the picture (rectangle) and an outer one that follows the contour of the outside edge. You can do this will all vector carve that will speed up the carve time... but with probably take considerably more design time. Or by using raster carve regions, the design time is faster, but will greatly increase the carve time.

I know MT just posted a tricks and tips recently on pocketing techniques. That will help you greatly if you review them before your start.

[Alteredwoodworks]

the inside rectangle would just be a cutting region not for routing. The way I invision it, the CW cuts the rectangle, then cuts the shape, then routs the outer edge. I'm hoping to use an 8 foot piece of MDF to cut out about 6 at a time... thoughts?

[dbfletcher]

the inside rectangle would just be a cutting region not for routing. The way I invision it, the CW cuts the rectangle, then cuts the shape, then routs the outer edge. I'm hoping to use an 8 foot piece of MDF to cut out about 6 at a time... thoughts?

I think you would be better off shortening the length of the board a bit. MDF inst exactly light, so you definitely will need several supports and you end up putting a lot of strain on the belt gears and motor having to move that much weight. Can you do it without shortening your board?? Probably, but in my experience with 1/2 mdf i like to keep the length to 4ft or shorter. You will also definitely need to use masking tape on the bottom edge for the tracking roller. MDF seems to be just to hard a slick to get consistent tracking if you dont use tape. And definately make sure you have a good dust collections system. MDF makes tons and tons of very fine dust (and hazardous). I use a 2 micron filter bag with mine.

[jaroot]

Well it actually will route the edge before it cuts the shape. and that works the machine pretty hard. Machine wise you would be better off to route the edge with a router table after the project is cut out.


the inside rectangle would just be a cutting region not for routing. The way I invision it, the CW cuts the rectangle, then cuts the shape, then routs the outer edge. I'm hoping to use an 8 foot piece of MDF to cut out about 6 at a time... thoughts?

[Alteredwoodworks]

so you think it will do it all at once? Meaning... if I was making an 8x10 frame similar to the one in the picture, and I put a 12x12 board in the CW it would do it all? How long do think it would take to make one?

[Alteredwoodworks]

I thought of doing that too jaroot... I'm just consrained by time. Nice to here from a fellow Utahn! even though I live in Nashville now. Born in Bountiful...

[dbfletcher]

so you think it will do it all at once? Meaning... if I was making an 8x10 frame similar to the one in the picture, and I put a 12x12 board in the CW it would do it all? How long do think it would take to make one?

Hmmm.. Your really stuck on the time arn't you. Based on "similar" things I've done in the past.. best guess is anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on design and quality settings. But don't forget your 7" rule... so if your frame was 8x10, you would really want a board at least 15x11 at a min. and yes.. you can do this all in one MPC file.

[Alteredwoodworks]

well ya know ... time is money... lol! thanks for all for your help guys! I'll be making atleast 5 frames this coming weekend. I'll post my results and how it all went...

[AskBud]

Use the Spline Tool and draw just over half of your perimeter (cross the center line). Finish by connecting the top and bottom as shown in my sample attachment.
46440
Next, make that drawing a Carve Region and then mirror it to the other side (in my case, mirror to the right). Both should now be carve regions.
Now, Highlight both and apply an Outline. Assign your Ogee Bit, and your cut-out.

Leave the splines in place in case you wish to slightly alter your perimeter. All you need to do is delete the original outline and redo it after you tweak your spline.
AskBud

[Alteredwoodworks]

ok, so I'm having trouble... what I am attempting to do is import an image and the get the CW to cut out the outline of the image. The image that I am importing is similar to the image I origanally posted. Any help???? I am very new to this and the software. Also I am not the most tech savvy so I kinda need a CW for dummies...

[Pratyeka]

importing images will allow you to generate a pattern for carving only. You want to create a cutpath, which is either done by hand in designer or done in a cad and converted to DXF, then inported into designer if you have the DXF inmporter.

[liquidguitars]

You can also generate paths from images.

[Alteredwoodworks]

Ok, first off thank you all for your responses and help. I have the images created in a way that I can cut out the shape of the image. Like say a sillolette of a sunflower. I have the design, cut-out and carve all figured out. Now my big question is how do I get the CW to rout around the sillolette of the sunflower??? Using a 1/2" classical or another bit like a roman ogee... I have the sunflower outlined and have set a cut path, if I select edge rout it rout the entire edge of the board. Any advice on how to do this will be greatly appreciated!!! It would be like cutting out a circle on the CW and then routing around the edge of the circle...

[AskBud]

Ok, first off thank you all for your responses and help. I have the images created in a way that I can cut out the shape of the image. Like say a sillolette of a sunflower. I have the design, cut-out and carve all figured out. Now my big question is how do I get the CW to rout around the sillolette of the sunflower??? Using a 1/2" classical or another bit like a roman ogee... I have the sunflower outlined and have set a cut path, if I select edge rout it rout the entire edge of the board. Any advice on how to do this will be greatly appreciated!!! It would be like cutting out a circle on the CW and then routing around the edge of the circle...Just as you assigned the cut-out to your outline, you may assign a fancy bit to the same , or any other, outline.
AskBud

[Alteredwoodworks]

How? Do I need to do something other than edge rout?

[fwharris]

With your outline of the sunflower selected, use the bit tool to assign the bit, depth and any inset. You can also have the route done in multi pass. Select the option box and input the depth of cut for the pass.

[AskBud]

How? Do I need to do something other than edge rout?I'm sending you a private message.
AskBud

[bergerud]

You need two copies of the outline. One for the router bit and one for the cut path. Just copy and paste to get a copy of the outline. Change the pasted outline to be a bit path with the fancy bit. The CW will do the router first and then cut it out. I think this is what you want.