Splitting an image

[carrothers]

I am trying to split an 30 inch wide image into six pieces (five inches wide) that I am going to carve onto some 5 and a half inch wide fence pickets. I can get the first one lined up but then when I tried to move the pattern up and set up the second picket I can't get the pattern to move. I thought maybe I had the vertical lock on but that doesn't seem to be the issue. Any help would be appreciated. 84640

[DianMayfield]

"remove attachment" on the top center .25 measurement (right click on it)

[SteveNelson46]

You also have it centered horizontally. As Dian said, remove the attachment by right clicking on the yellow text. Then, right click on the path or on the object on the screen and select "Center, Horizontal".

[DianMayfield]

I can see the horizontal, to keep it aligned across the pickets ;)

[SteveNelson46]

Dian is right. If you want to maintain horizontal alignment of all of the segments then leave the center constraint set.

[carrothers]

Ok, I can de seled the .25 but then when I click on the pattern (in order to move it up 5 inches) it comes back and I still can't move it vertically.

[DianMayfield]

You may have already planned this, so forgive me for presuming!

You would replace the .25 with .25+the actual width of that first board... If they are cedar pickets, I have found them to be from 5.2 to 5.37. Would make a huge difference in the way they line up in the finished project..

And change the board width to the actual size of the new picket.

[SteveNelson46]

Right click on the yellow .25 and select "remove attachment". You also could use the attachment feature to position the pattern but you will have to remove the attachment first and then re-attach. If you just change the value by editing it you will stretch or shrink the pattern.

[DianMayfield]

Thanks Steve..good to know! (I happen to be designing a gate this weekend, so the timing is right!!)

[carrothers]

That makes sense....just add 5.5 to the original .25 for my second slide and then 5.5 to the new total for the 3rd board etc until I get all six panels set up. That should start my subsequent carves .25 from the upper edge and hopefully leave me .25 on the lower edge. both of which I would rip off to get alignment. These pickets are all 5.5 in width. I tried this technique and my computer GUI stopped executing so it may be outside the limits of my machine.

[DianMayfield]

You can also do this in the DXF import window. Tell it that you are using 5.5 in boards, and keep adding boards. It will make you 6 project files.

Let me make up a screen shot. Be right back.

[SteveNelson46]

Just save often.

[DianMayfield]

When you set the board size, remove the margins.
Then add the board (#1), then Clone it (#2)
You can shift the image around within the boards

PS...did not notice it was a carve region not a vector drawing!! Sorry!

[carrothers]

I tried carved one of the fence panels after I split it and had issues with the fact that the carving went all the way to the edge and there wasn't enough side width for the rollers. It would appear that the only way to slice it and put it inside the width restraints is to use DXF Importer which is another $199 add on. I searched all of the tutorials to see if there was anything on splitting a pattern but couldn't find anything. Surely there is a step by step process for splitting that doesn't require buying some more software?

[DianMayfield]

I am trying to picture what the issue is. When you say width, and mention the rollers, I imagine the length of the board.
Do you have a picture?
How did you tell the machine to place on board? Did it carve from side to side (the 5.5" dimension) correctly?
Did you use a sled?

When you are able, I would highly recommend the DXF importer for this type of project. If you can send the file, I can import it and send you the mpc. Send me a PM. I would also need to know which version you are running.

[bergerud]

Make the board in Designer 5 inches instead of 5.5. Choose center on board and you will get the 1/4" boarders on each side of the real 5.5" board. The machine will only carve a 5 inch part of the pattern. (Any pattern off of the Designer board is ignored.)

[DianMayfield]

Dan, he is creating a fence and the image crosses 6 boards, so I believe he wants it to go edge to edge.

[DickB]

Use a sled, or temporarily attach 1" wide boards to the sides of your stock for carving.

[bergerud]

Dan, he is creating a fence and the image crosses 6 boards, so I believe he wants it to go edge to edge.



That should start my subsequent carves .25 from the upper edge and hopefully leave me .25 on the lower edge. both of which I would rip off to get alignment.

He is carving on 5.5 which will be ripped to 5 ?

[DianMayfield]

Dan, I read it as the last board would have 1/4" as he stated adding 5.5 to each calc. But I really could be wrong :)

[carrothers]

I wassn't too clear...when I say width I meant the 5.5 inch on the picket. I like the idea of making the virtual board 5 inches so it won't carve on the last quarter of an inch on either edge. I will rip that off when I glue up the six pickets onto a backing. Here is the mpc

84646

[bergerud]

This is what I would do. Using the snap to grid at 5", select all and move up and down to line up on each rectangle on the board. Upload each to the card to carve as you go.

[DianMayfield]

Dan, an excellent solution for any split board projects. Certainly a "duh" moment on my end!

[carrothers]

Thanks to several of you for helping me with the design, and the slicing...here is a picture of the six boards that will form one of the two gate panels....six pickets at 5inches each with a 3in boarder will give me a 36 inch gate...two of these panels will give me a 72 width to get a mower in and out of the back yard. Joe at CW was the inspiration for this....you can see his demo
on the CW site under Explore, then click on Build Blogs and then scroll down to his gate project.84654

[Dale]

Looks great! I've been meaning to do something like that. You just gave me the inspiration to get started.

[mikemi]

That came out really nice. My wife has been after me to do something like that for our fence, maybe I will have to surprise her one of these days.

Mike

[DianMayfield]

Great Job! Turned out super :) Will you mirror it for the other half of the gate?

[SharonB]

I know you've put a lot of hard work into your project and it shows. Look forward seeing pictures of the gate when finished.

[cestout]

Very nice and really ambitious.
Clint