Help carving square plate with image

[BurlSource]

I am attempting my first project based on this ceramic plate we got at an art show a few years ago.


I think I am doing the basic plate shape correctly using the sweep tool.
Right now the thickness of the plate walls is at 1/4" and the bottom at 3/8" allowing 1/8" to be carved away when the salmon is carved.

Questions:
#1 Should I just use a 10" x 10" board on a sled? Or use a longer board and cut off the ends?
#2 is 1/4" too thin for the plate walls?
#3 Am I carving the basic plate shape correctly?
#4 For the bottom where I want to carve the salmon should I make a carve region the size of the bottom square with an 1/8" cut depth and set the pattern on the surface?

I really don't know enough yet to be able to ask intelligent questions so any guidance will be graciously welcomed.
I hope I am attaching the mpc file correctly.
10squareplate.mpc

[bergerud]

That is an ambitious first project. I think it should be cut out of a bigger board so that the whole board can be flipped. Note that double sided projects carve the back first and so the bottom of the plate should be on the front.

Take a look at what I would do. (I put a dog in the plate just as an example.) (This is Designer 3)

[BurlSource]

That is an ambitious first project. I think it should be cut out of a bigger board so that the whole board can be flipped. Note that double sided projects carve the back first and so the bottom of the plate should be on the front.
Take a look at what I would do. (I put a dog in the plate just as an example.) (This is Designer 3)

Thank You Bergerud.
I will change the front to back like you mentioned and use a larger board. It makes sense.

another question....how do I attach thumbnails and files to my post like you have done in your post?

[fwharris]

Thank You Bergerud.
I will change the front to back like you mentioned and use a larger board. It makes sense.

another question....how do I attach thumbnails and files to my post like you have done in your post?

To attached files to your post use the "go advanced" tab at the bottom right of the post.. use the "manage attachments" tab. A window will open up to upload images..

[BurlSource]

I made some changes and decided to just carve the plate without the salmon.
But when I try to upload the project to the flash drive it uploads about 80% and then I get an error message that says flash is damaged or can not be written.
Any ideas?

[BurlSource]

When I click on the flash manager I get another error message.
I am wondering if my usb ports are too old and loose.

[fwharris]

Do you get this on all usb ports?

[BurlSource]

Do you get this on all usb ports?

I have tried all 4 ports. Furthest I have gotten was 80% with the upload.
It goes along uploading then stalls for a moment before the error message.
I have 2 flash drives and cards and it happens with both of them.

I am wondering if I should uninstall designer and then reinstall it?

[BurlSource]

Here is one of the error codes I get before upload.

[fwharris]

Will flash manager let you reformat the card?