Eric Baxter

[Eric Baxter]

Marius, Thanks for explaining the tiling. Yes it doesmake sense that for the scarfing one would need to do that as a Go To subroutine that you stored as a part file and inserted maybe as a 2D offset (a feature of the shopbot machine program that allows you to call up a program and zero the machine to any x and y coordinate for purposes of running that program (subroutine)). It would be real nice if someone could motivate the Vectrix people to include a stepscarf in their tiling feature with parameters to be filled in in a dialog box, just like one fills in the overlap value.

[Eric Baxter]

Marius, That’s the name of it- V carve Pro 6. I have the previous version. Isn’t there a way that you could use the tile feature then go back and add the longitudinal distance lost due to each scarf joint. Maybe that’s what you meant by “manually”. Actually the tiling ability , which itself can be done manually in the previous versions of Partworks/ v Carve Pro ( they are as I understand exactly the same), is the main reason I was thinking of upgrading ($150) to the latest version (6). Is this worth it ? Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Marius, try http://www.shopbottools.com; when sold with their tool its called Partworks, but the software creator is Vectrix (or maybe Vetrix ?) and they wiill sell it to you under their tradename. You can google them or ask shopbot for the contact info, or next trip home I will try to remember to look it up. Just got clobbered by hurricane Irene, prop[erty was 6 feet under water, no land for 10 miles at one point. Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Dida, I have a Shopbot 4′ x 8′ bed cnc machine which comes with a 2D and a 2.5D (carving) program (Partworks by Vectrix). You import the delftship generated 2D dxf file, that you have exported from delftship (onto your hard drive), into Partworks you then generate a toolpath file for the cnc machine, specifying such thins as inside /outside cuts, machine allowances (tolerances) cut depth, bit, tabs etc. Then connect your laptop to cnc machine, bring up the machine control program, home zero the tool in x,y,z axes and press start. The latest version of partworks includes an automatic tiling feature that allows you to program just once for objects (boat parts) that are larger than one sheet of plywood. the machine also does great plywood scarf joints ( stepped and with 2 D profiles that key into each other for perfect joints). You can also do “jigsaw puzzle joints. Shopbots come with much larger tables for more $, but if as I am you are using 4’x8′ marine ply (or even the slightly larger metric plywood) (and scarfing it) that size machine works well for about $20,000. Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Thanks Marven for claification and as always very fast. Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Hi Mike, As I am desiring to post as correct a version of “Delftship for Dummies(like me)” help manual as posible I would really like to clear this up. I have the pro version in english without extensions. The word “merge” only shows up twice in my whole program: 1) “collapsing an edge by MERGING the two unconnected faces into one new face” button does the same thing as Edit-Edge-collapse, and 2) ” MERGE two selected edges by removing their common control point” button does the same thing as Edit-point-collapse. A third button: ” Copy values to other points” puts point(s) on top of each other, as I said,. It does not truely merge them. If you select that point in the future (without having first addressed the leak point /extra face issue-see leak points tutorial) and drag it you will separate the two “merged” points. Maybe we need Marven as an umpire here to prevent an internet fist fight. Its an awesome program; I am just trying to elucidate some of the quirks and fine points. Any comments in english or auf deutsch are welcome. Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Thank you Marvin. Iknew it had to do something good. You are awesome! I am cataloging every thing I’m learning about delftship, and if you want me to would like to post a “Delftship for Dummies (like me)” manual once I feel I have reached the suitable level of proficiency. Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Don’t you mean “remove top superfluous edge of keel by “collapsing” edges, not “merging” – which just puts two points on top of each other and leads to a “leak point” problem? Eric

[Eric Baxter]

You can access the delftship file that it is exported to and print it out or you can import it into separate software and work with it there- for example you can calculate a toolpath for cutting frames out with a cnc machine. Eric

[Eric Baxter]

Thanks Otaku, thought of that myself. Another question: I recently acquired Punch VIA Cad Pro and am wanting to use it with delftship pro. I want to design the hull and deck in delftship then export it to Punch and put the frames, stringers and perhaps other structures in then export them to my CNC machine toolpathing software , then CNC cut the boat “Kit” from plywood. I need help with Punch though. My email address is :alligatordoctor@centurylink.net Could you advise me on Punch? Eric

[Author]

Posts