3D Relief work

[Neale]

Not quite sure what you are looking to do, but PhotoVCarve from Vectric will take pictures and produce "relief" toolpaths. You need to look at the website to see what it can do. Commercial product (i.e. it costs) but free trial available.

I have used 123D Catch to convert a set of photographs of an object to a 3S STL model, then used a freeware programme to turn it into a toolpath. 123D Catch is a free online "service" where you upload your photographs and some time later download a model. I found it difficult to use, but it did work and I took a series of images of an object right through to a machined piece. I think I used Pycam for the 3D toolpath generation although I'm not sure about that now; these days I use the Vectric Cut3D programme (but that one costs as well).

[petesos]

Hi Bud
I have the Cut 3d program and the Vectric 3D but it does not convert a photo to a 3d relief does it ?
Pete

Not quite sure what you are looking to do, but PhotoVCarve from Vectric will take pictures and produce "relief" toolpaths. You need to look at the website to see what it can do. Commercial product (i.e. it costs) but free trial available.

I have used 123D Catch to convert a set of photographs of an object to a 3S STL model, then used a freeware programme to turn it into a toolpath. 123D Catch is a free online "service" where you upload your photographs and some time later download a model. I found it difficult to use, but it did work and I took a series of images of an object right through to a machined piece. I think I used Pycam for the 3D toolpath generation although I'm not sure about that now; these days I use the Vectric Cut3D programme (but that one costs as well).

[phill05]

Have a look at Vectric PhotoVcarve will do all you want.

Phill

[petesos]

Have a look at Vectric PhotoVcarve will do all you want.

Phill

Will have a look

[petesos]

Have a look at Vectric PhotoVcarve will do all you want.

Phill

Had a look at this program yes it does photos but I have a 80 watt Laser that does my photos far better quality than a cnc but the customer wants the Lancaster Bomber to look as though it is flying out of the wall
Pete

[phill05]

Had a look at this program yes it does photos but I have a 80 watt Laser that does my photos far better quality than a cnc but the customer wants the Lancaster Bomber to look as though it is flying out of the wall
Pete

But your question was about getting an image through to cnc!! To get the best out of photoVcarve Use the highest resolution photos you have, first run through an Image edditing program & increase the contrast, then convert them to black and white (not gray scale).

If you want to make a part of the image stand out more then you are going have to put some work into it to raise or lower said part, then you are looking at using another program such as Vertric ASPIRE in which you import an image work on it and take it through to produce the toolpaths for cutting on a cnc or laser, but going this route is expencive but rewarding in the finished piece.



Phill

[petesos]

But your question was about getting an image through to cnc!! To get the best out of photoVcarve Use the highest resolution photos you have, first run through an Image edditing program & increase the contrast, then convert them to black and white (not gray scale).

If you want to make a part of the image stand out more then you are going have to put some work into it to raise or lower said part, then you are looking at using another program such as Vertric ASPIRE in which you import an image work on it and take it through to produce the toolpaths for cutting on a cnc or laser, but going this route is expencive but rewarding in the finished piece.



Phill

Right Phill, I am going to have another go with it and do what you have said ,,,worth a try and will post the outcome Bud
Pete

[Neale]

From what you are saying, you might be looking to turn a picture into a 3D model, rather than the light-and-shade conversion that PhotoVCarve does. This is something I did a while back - I can't pretend that it's good, but it's better than I expected. It's part of a project to make a nameplate for my house. I used 123D Catch to turn a bunch of digital photographs of the badger model into an STL model which I then hacked around a bit, and used Cut3D to turn into a toolpath. It was all done when I was new to the software and the whole CNC thing, so it's not done very well, but it illustrates the art of the possible, maybe. I could imagine using this technique to get an impression of an aircraft emerging from a flat plate.
Original model:

Machined model:

The grooving effect is because I didn't use an appropriate step-over for the ballnose cutter used for finishing. As I say, it's not good but even to achieve this was a lot of work. I guess you might be able to find someone with 3D scanning capability, given an aircraft model as a starting point.

[Neale]

Hi Bud
I have the Cut 3d program and the Vectric 3D but it does not convert a photo to a 3d relief does it ?
Pete

No - that's what PhotoVCarve does. I had suggested a couple of ideas but they do very different things. Sorry if my post was confusing.

[petesos]

No - that's what PhotoVCarve does. I had suggested a couple of ideas but they do very different things. Sorry if my post was confusing.

Cheers bud I will go and have a look at that and see where it leads me
Pete