scgrout
07-08-2007, 11:30 PM
Forum Members,
Below are some hints and links to free/cheap SW to use in creating carvings.
1. How about a $20 3D sanner project? This one is clever, interesting and cheap.
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/?section=Manual&subsection=camera_calibration
2. Excellent freeware gradient maker for creating frames, borders and patterns
http://www.wolfiesden.com/downloads/images/gradient.asp
hint, the SW creates messed up BMP file names, so use file manager to rename the created file to a proper "file.bmp" format
3. Excellent free 2D CAD package for designing cutouts. I did a clock project with lots of gears in 1/4 plexi this weekend using this package. Very nice.
http://www.ugs.com/products/velocity/solidedge/free2d/
hint on cutouts - fill the 2D part designed in solid black, export to PNG file, then load into Carvewrite, outline, delete orig and use outlines for cutouts. Very smooth "parts" are produced with good fit.
4. Excellent free 3D CAD package.
http://www.alibre.com
Export into STL file and will need programs below to create "depth maps" to read into Carvewrite
5 and 6. Quick3D to import .STL 3D file
http://www.quick3d.org/
Does a fair job of creating "depth maps" needed to drive Carvewright. But, if you export from Quick3D to a 3DS format and then load into this program, it does much better creating "depth maps."
http://www.aolej.com/stereo/
7. Impactplus 4 looks to maybe be a cheap ($10) 3D CAD package that can write "depth maps" directly and is also more "organic" in the types of drawings it can do.
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/3dplus/impactplus.asp
These are a few of the packages and techniques I found over the last 2 days while my wife and kids were out of town. Back to work on Monday and I likely won't get onto the forum often so likely would not get any questions you might have. I just wanted to give you a heads up to some inexpensive/free ways to create content for your saws.
Thanks,
Scott
Below are some hints and links to free/cheap SW to use in creating carvings.
1. How about a $20 3D sanner project? This one is clever, interesting and cheap.
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/?section=Manual&subsection=camera_calibration
2. Excellent freeware gradient maker for creating frames, borders and patterns
http://www.wolfiesden.com/downloads/images/gradient.asp
hint, the SW creates messed up BMP file names, so use file manager to rename the created file to a proper "file.bmp" format
3. Excellent free 2D CAD package for designing cutouts. I did a clock project with lots of gears in 1/4 plexi this weekend using this package. Very nice.
http://www.ugs.com/products/velocity/solidedge/free2d/
hint on cutouts - fill the 2D part designed in solid black, export to PNG file, then load into Carvewrite, outline, delete orig and use outlines for cutouts. Very smooth "parts" are produced with good fit.
4. Excellent free 3D CAD package.
http://www.alibre.com
Export into STL file and will need programs below to create "depth maps" to read into Carvewrite
5 and 6. Quick3D to import .STL 3D file
http://www.quick3d.org/
Does a fair job of creating "depth maps" needed to drive Carvewright. But, if you export from Quick3D to a 3DS format and then load into this program, it does much better creating "depth maps."
http://www.aolej.com/stereo/
7. Impactplus 4 looks to maybe be a cheap ($10) 3D CAD package that can write "depth maps" directly and is also more "organic" in the types of drawings it can do.
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/3dplus/impactplus.asp
These are a few of the packages and techniques I found over the last 2 days while my wife and kids were out of town. Back to work on Monday and I likely won't get onto the forum often so likely would not get any questions you might have. I just wanted to give you a heads up to some inexpensive/free ways to create content for your saws.
Thanks,
Scott