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Thread: A new user here! I can't seem to find any info on best settings to use.

  1. Smile A new user here! I can't seem to find any info on best settings to use.

    I have ordered a CarveWright machine from Amazon and should get it in a week or so. I am getting the machine because I like the software that I have been playing with via the free 30 day trial. I like the fact that I can create bitmapped graphics and import them as 3D by asigning the various shades as depth. Being a graphic designer who is familiar with Photoshop I find it amasing that the Carvewright Software can be used in that way.

    I have a design ready to go once I get my machine. The only problem I have is that I can't figure out what the best settings would be for my projects. Does anybody know where I can find information on the best bits and settings to use for different materials and depths and designs? I can experiment but I wish I could get info to develope a starting point.

    Also I don't understand how to use this forum. I try to search for things but it always says that the words I use are too common and therefore will not give me any results. I should be able to search for (: Best bit to use) and get some links to forum threads.

    Thanks; Alan

  2. #2

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    Search is iffy but works better if you use few words and put in quotes. You can only select a quality setting when you upload to the card and then you have the choices of -draft-normal-best-optimal. The harder and closer grained wood the better. There is plenty to read here.
    The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

    Do it on a Mac.
    Vietnam Vet '65-'66

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    Quote Originally Posted by pkunk View Post
    There is plenty to read here.
    Thanks for the advice about fewer words. I bet there is plenty to read her if I could find it. I still have not found it. I'd like to figure out what bit may work the 1/16 or the 1/8 for various jobs too. Any help is welcome.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Northern Colorado
    Posts
    7,962

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    Alan,

    For raster (pattern) carvings the default bit is the 1/16" carving bit. It is the only bit you should use for pattern carvings to get the best detail. You should also set your "bit optimization" to "best" the get the best results. The depth and height settings it will depend on what your patterns are and the detail they have. To find out the best way is to change setting and view them in the designer project. Tilt and zoom in on the detail to get a good look.. basicly what you see on the design board is what you will get when carved. When you upload the project to the card select either best or optimal for the best carving detail..

    Forum search: put "quote marks" around the word or words you are searching for the get the results.
    RingNeckBlues
    My patterns on the Depot
    DC-INSERT It Just Sucks!

    Proven to out perform all others!
    Buy CarveWright
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    All patterns and projects that I share on the CarveWright forum are for your personal carving purpose. They are not to be shared, sold or posted on any other web site without permission from RingNeckBlues Designs.

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    For your first project......
    You will use the 1/16 bit for ALL CARVING. The 1/8 bit is only for cut outs. As stated earlier place your pattern on the virtual board, play with the depth and height settings to see what looks best on the computer. It will probably also look the best on your project. Click on your pattern and then click on "Bit optimization" and set to best. Carve it, see how it turns out and make adjustmaents from there. It's not as hard as you are anticipating!

    Enjoy it, a couple of hundred folks will help if you need it.

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    Yes, I will use the 1/16 carving bit for all raster 3D carvings. Not knowing anything yet I just figured that there would be info somewhere about the subject of Bit optimization and upload settings. I have a good understanding of the depth and thickness. I am able to draw graphics with predetermined depths based on the greyscale pixel color. And then set the depth in the carvewright program to match.

    The one thing I am really interested in is the best setting for the uploaded file to usb card. You see it seems to me that if I were to carve into pine the settting might need to be lower because it's soft wood and can get tear out or maybe if I were to carve red oak which is a little harder than regular oak I may want to use the best setting so that the bit is not put under to much stress from having to tear out more wood faster thus resulting in the bit wearing out faster. You see I have not seen the machine work yet and I am not sure if the output best setting actually makes shorter passes thus putting less stress on the bit or not. More stress on the spindle and stuff like that is what I'm thinking. I want my machine to last a long time and I don't mind going in and touching up the carve a little by hand once in a while before finishing. I have not looked into the maintenance and service documents on the carvewright site yet but maybe they have info there. I will check later.

    I am looking forward to using this machine when I get it and I'm sure I will experiment a lot too. Thanks for your support.

    Alan

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    You will have a blast playing with your new machine. There is a steep learning curve for many people as there is so much to read about. But most times, if people have problems with the machine, it's because they didn't heed the advice of those who learned the hard way. If you want your machine to last a long time, don't treat it like a power tool. It is a robot and requires constant attention. Follow these points and you will get hundreds of hours of trouble free carving:

    1. If your machine is the old model with the Quick Change chuck, don't even bother wasting your time trying get that chuck to work. While some claim not to have had problems with it, most agree that it was a serious design flaw and replaced it with a "Rock Chuck" which you can get here: http://www.cw-parts.com/page2.html

    2. The machine produces an incredible amount of dust and debris which will get into every nook and cranny of your machine in short order and gum up the works and create a world of pain and disappointment for you VERY quickly. Don't even think of carving anything until you have put a good dust collector on the unit. There are a couple available for sale from forum members and a couple of free plans to make one yourself. They all work reasonably good and it doesn't really matter which one you go with as long as you get one and use it right away. Skip this step and I guarantee you will be whining on the forum about what a piece of crap the machine is. Keeping the machine clean and lubricated is probably the most important thing you can do to make it last longer.

    3. Never use a shop vac to collect dust or to clean out the machine. The static electricity of dust vacs can easily fry the electronics of the machine. Use compressed air instead to blow out any dust that the dust collector doesn't get.

    4. There is a ton of useful information available here: http://www.carvewright.com/2010CWweb/maintenance.htm Learn about how your machine works and you will be miles ahead of those who just plug it in out of the box.

    5. This forum is populated with wise, savvy, educated and intelligent Gurus who amazingly take their time to help us all. This is the best support system you will ever find for any product.

    6. Once you get the hang of it, the machine can be addicting. Soon you will be giving back to the community because that is what this really is. This is the primary thing that keeps everyone's machine running smoothly.

    We will be looking forward anxiously to see your first carving. Why not post a screen shot of the design you have made? We all love to see new talent!
    Frederick Potter
    Editions by Frederick
    http://www.editionsbyfrederick.com

    Keep 98% of the dust out of your machine with this free dust collector:
    http://forum.carvewright.com/showthr...e-final-answer

  8. Smile Is this attachment viewable?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	MyFirstProj2.jpg 
Views:	68 
Size:	181.5 KB 
ID:	42816Well this is the design I have made. It's going to be a picture frame. I plan on gluing it to another board below it and manually rounding the edges. And Miter the corners to fit together. It is about .5" deep and then the edges dip down to about .8" depth.

    Thanks for the last post from Frederic_P I will have to save those links for future reference.



    Attachment 42797

    Alan
    Last edited by Alan Malmstrom; 03-06-2011 at 06:22 PM. Reason: To try and get the attachment to work

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Snellville, GA
    Posts
    1,475

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    Sorry Alan but it shows up as an invalid attachment.
    Fair winds,

    Capt Bruce
    Kinney deSigns http://kinneydesigns.us
    CarveWright START U Team Member.

    30 year USN SEABEE, the original Weapons of Mass Construction.
    Designer Ver 1.187 and 2.007, Ver.3.001 One 2009 B CW w ROCK and a 5th Year Anniversary C CW
    Rotary Jig, 2D and 3D, Tracing Probe, DFX and STL Importers

    .

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    The Great Texas Gulf Coast
    Posts
    5,314

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    If not the Rock Chuck, then there is also LHR's own CarveTight.

    Thought I needed to put that out there, since after all, it is...
    CarveWright CX Packaged System - starting at $2000
    CarversClub 1 Year Subscription - $150.00/year
    Adv. Support w/out CC membership - $25.00/issue
    CarveWright Community Forum - PRICELESS!

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