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Thread: Unwrapped Rotary Patterns???

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Sonora, CA
    Posts
    175

    Default Unwrapped Rotary Patterns???

    I'm hoping this is a dumb question. I have the new rotary jig and software, 3.0 designer, 3d modeling, pattern sculpture and more...How does one take a 3d model (like Ed Lamb's Madonna post on 3/25/14) and "unwrap" it to make a rotary carve project? I've reviewed the software tutorials and past posts on the forum and although it's mentioned I haven't found any information on how that's done.

    I'm assuming it takes other software programs or 3d model files to generate the 3d model to begin with....but how it's made into an "unwrapped" design that the rotary software can carve is the question...

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Springtown, TX
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    676

    Default

    If you have stl importer the software will unwrap it when you save it as a pattern.
    Brent

    A,B machines, PE,probe,conforming vectors, centerline, 2d,3d,stl and dfx imprt, rotary , 3.xx, Pattern Sculptor
    OS X Yosemite

    Woodwork is what I do to pay for my tool addiction.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Vancouver Island
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    8,193

    Default

    Do you have the STL importer? It is the software which unwraps the 3d objects.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Springtown, TX
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    Default

    If you have meshlab i think you can unwrap with it also. there are probably others as well. I don't know how to on any that I have. Stl importer does it for me so I don't need to.
    Brent

    A,B machines, PE,probe,conforming vectors, centerline, 2d,3d,stl and dfx imprt, rotary , 3.xx, Pattern Sculptor
    OS X Yosemite

    Woodwork is what I do to pay for my tool addiction.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    New Windsor, MD
    Posts
    688

    Default

    have you watched the rotary tutorials?
    https://www.carvewright.com/support-...jig-tutorials/
    I think they will answer your question.

    dave

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Sonora, CA
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    Default

    Un fortunately...I think I've got it...although I have Designer 3.0, rotary software, 3D Modeling, Pattern Sculptor, etc...I don't have the STL importer...

    So Pattern Sculptor will import STL files to convert them to a relief style map, but does not "unwrap" them or convert to the CW rotary style carving?

    Looks like another $200 mistake on my part.

  7. #7
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    Nov 2008
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    Vancouver Island
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    8,193

    Default

    Unfortunately, it is expensive to get all the rotary bells and whistles. The STL importer may have been better for you than Sculptor.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Sonora, CA
    Posts
    175

    Default I Learned a Lesson

    I bought the STL Importer. After playing with it for an afternoon I think I finally get it. The STL importer is necessary to get 3D models set up to carve on the CW rotary system. The Pattern Sculptor imports 3D models and "flattens" them to carve on the CW system on a flat board. Two different things altogether.

    As far as I can tell the descriptions on the CW site don't clarify this much. The importance of the STL Importer to be able to use the rotary carving jig and software doesn't come thru at all. The rotary jig and software it comes with allows you to make nice spindles with patterns pasted on to them, but to do any 3D work you have to have the STL Importer to "unwrap" the 3D model so it can be carved (or edited) with the rotary jig and software. As far as I've found, the "unwraping" is necessary to do any editing of the carving for the rotary carver as it treats it as a "flat" carve.

    So maybe the Pattern Sculptor and/or the Pattern Modeling Suite 3D Advanced can be used to edit the "unwraped" pattern...I haven't tried yet...

    I just noticed the word "relief" in the Pattern Sculptor banner...so beware...the Pattern Sculptor is a flat relief editor with the capability to read a 3D model in as a STL file and use it to flatten it into a relief pattern. It does not edit a 3D model or have anything to do with the rotary carving preparation.

    Part of the problem in this mis-communication may be the perception or definition of 3D modeling/carving. A flat carve with relief can be described as 3D. There is an X, Y and Z feature. So technically it's 3D. A ball or a sculptor of a bust for example is a 3D object. So the two items, a flat relief carving of a face and a carving of the whole head are both "3D" but very different.

    CW Rotary carving might be 3.1D. Four axis milling is X, Y, Z translation and one rotary axis...so it's 4 axis milling. The CW rotary carving system uses the X translation to effect rotary motion so it's not 4 axis milling. Hence 3.1D maybe.

    Just my mistake.

    Ron Boley

    CW late B Machine, Carve Tight, Rubber Belts, Home Made DC
    Probe with Pattern Editor
    Rotary Jig & Software
    1/16" Carving Bit
    1/8" Long Carving Bit
    1.187 Designer
    3.01 Designer
    Vector Drawing Suite 2D Advanced
    Conforming Vectors
    Pattern Modeling Suite 3D Advanced
    Pattern Sculptor
    STL Importer

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Northern Colorado
    Posts
    7,962

    Default

    The flat 3D is really a 2.5D.
    RingNeckBlues
    My patterns on the Depot
    DC-INSERT It Just Sucks!

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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.

  10. #10

    Default

    I really need to remember to log in before trying to post. I digress..
    A second attempt at saying thanks for posting your "mistake" Ron. I have been trying to figure this out so that I could decide which way to go next in terms of software/hardware. It's difficult to even ask the correct questions without the proper background and knowledge. I agree there isn't a good resource for understanding the similarities and differences between the add on's. I guess the opposite is also true in that with the proper knowledge there is more than one way to "skin (carvewright) a cat." In any case, the post was helpful.

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