I guess there's several ways to do it and whatever is easier or more comfortable for you to remember. Personally, when I design a project (in Designer).... I know that I'm going to have to add inches to the actual board when it comes time to carve it. ... Hence, if I design a 12" board (in Designer), when I go out to the shop I get a 19" board to allow for the 3.5 on each side. Actually, about 1 yr ago I followed someone's advice on the forum and actually use a 4" space for each side of the board. This way I can't go wrong at all. All that being said.... this is what I do and have gotten used to. There are other ways to do it and that is to add that 3.5" to your project while creating it in Designer. This way it's done and you just prep a board to those exact dimensions that your CW pad asks for. Now..... others use a sled and that can actually be made much longer (like a standard 30" or what ever you decide). With this method you place your (12" board) in the center of the sled (make sure it's fixed so it doesn't move) and just center your project as you're going thru the process in getting ready to carve. You'll need to pay attention as the CW will let you know that your board is longer than what is needed for the 12" carve and will ask if you want to "cut to size" of which you would say NO. What would be important in this particular case is to make sure that you have it CENTER the project which would make sure it carves on the 12" board located in the center of the sled. Like I said, there's different methods to do it and some are better (or maybe easier) than others, but to me it's about whatever is easier for you (even if it means a few more steps in the process).
Thinking about all this as I'm putting this down it brings back one of those times (a few years ago) that I really was impressed with a way of sharing information on this forum. Years ago Jason Allen conducted a "Webinar" one evening after posting invites in the forum here for a few weeks. He said he did it all for free (setting it up) and about 5-6 of us (including ZZTop/Ringneck/Floyd Da Man!) met one evening on the web (of course different time zones since we were all in different places in the U.S). Some had PC cameras and some only had chat capability (me). Anyway Jason led the lesson for that evening and it was just a simple set up of a project using "arc" and carving region and a few other things. It was very cool because he was sharing his desk top with us as he did this in Designer and talked thru what he was doing. Almost like the tutorials that AskBud (God Bless him) did, but this was interactive where we could stop Jason and ask a question via chat or audio/camera and then continue on. To me this was another one of the many best things that I've seen happen on the forum here just because it was interactive and LIVE. I personally don't have the savvy to put something together like that, but I know the technology is there with all of our PCs and think if someone was to start something up like that again, it would benefit many many people... at the same time. LOL Imagine someone setting that back up again and for one event asking brother Tom Watson up in WA to step in and explain how he does "finishing techniques" or SharonB showing some "painting techniques" or others showing "blender techniques" or others in the way they do carvings, pattern creations, etc. We could create a something like a "Nationwide User Group" webinar. Maybe once a month having a "Maintenance/Troubleshooting" webinar sponsored by Obiewood Kanobie... Al WHO or others! Maybe have Joe or Chris or Lynn drop by to pass on some latest and greatest info on the CW. These Webinars might even be able to be recorded and saved so others could view them that are not able to attend a particular webinar. Hey, we have the technology we just need to make it happen and I'm sure many will jump on board. ... Maybe set up a survey here on the forum to see who wants it and who knows how to set it up? Again, just thinking out loud........... Nuff Said
Last edited by chebytrk; 11-06-2013 at 09:06 AM.
JerryB:.
CarveWright START U Team Member
Using 1.187, Conform, PE/Probe, Centerline.
"Let's start sharing PTNs instead of MPCs so ALL SW versions can view & share"