Cutting & Joining Vectors Using Nodes [Vectric Vcarve & Aspire] - Garrett Fromme

[@haphhhazard]

Thanks for all the helpful videos Garrett. I'm a new CNC owner, and I purchased mine to keep me busy after retirement. I'm new to it all, including Vectric and Mach4, and as if that weren't enough, I'm not a big fan of software as a whole. So, imagine the headaches to follow. I have successfully used my CNC to flatten large surfaces, and also as a joiner, to cut the long edges for joining hardwood slabs together. I have successfully designed and cut out my dust collection boots as well as the female section of an inlay I'm going to try, thanks to one of your other helpful videos. But that leads to my next project which is giving me nothing but fits so far. I am trying to create a wall art piece that is basically a version of art called "Tangle". It is essentially shapes with many lines drawn into the shapes. It takes a long time to create these shapes using a software that I like and am very familiar with. To create the same thing using Vectric would take forever. I have created the Tangle piece in TurboCad, which I am then able to save as a DXF file, which allows me to then open it in Adobe Illustrator. From there, I can take my line art and keep the thickness of the originally created lines or expand them. I have also figured out how to then save the AI file as an SVG which allows me to then open it in Vectric. All my initial attempts opened in vectric as vectors that represent the valleys or pockets between the lines. I have managed to get Vectric to open it in a way that has the vectors where the lines physically are, but it then seems to have issues with overlap, and won't let me fix it. I tried your recommendation of hitting the "N" and then deleting some nodes but that didn't get it to go either. Is there a way to Vector to accept overlaps or fix them? Essentially, what I am trying to do is have Vectric use my lines as work paths. I want it to cut exactly along my lines, to a certain depth with a 60 degree vee bit.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Haphhazard, thanks for reaching out and sharing a little bit about yourself and your journey into cnc. It sounds like you are definitely on the right track. I'm sorry brother this one is a little too trick to answer thoroughly over comments. I recommend joining Kate and I for our weekly live sessions we host every Wednesday night at 8PM EST and we should be able to help walk you through it and give you some tips and tricks!

[@haphhhazard]

@@IDCWoodcraft Thanks for getting back to me. I was able to figure a few things out. I like taking on the tougher stuff; sink or swim sorta thing. The file that I was bringing over from AI was chuck full of issues that I was able to clean up in Vectric and it also served as a good learning experience for cleaning up files. I also figured out how to get Vectric to do what I wanted, whether the file came over as vectors representing the pockets between the lines, or the lines themselves. I'm absolutely certain I will run across more problems, and I will be watching a lot of your videos, including the live ones. Thanks, Gary

[@judylong4059]

Thank you Garrett. I appreciate your help with this and others comments. Glad we can share with others for them to learn as well.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

My pleasure! It wasn' the best video, unfirtunately. I hope it helped you

[@onlyychevys]

Hey Garrett, I have been on vacation from the internet for a while but now I'm back to bug you! I love how we all pitch in to help each other in this field. Thanks for your video's.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

CHEVY!!! I missed you. I'm glad everyone is pitching in on this one. II admit I missed some things here and everyone else chipped in to pick up the missing pieces. Like you said, everyone is helping everyone. That's what makes this channel so special.

[@terryhealy7826]

I learned several things that will help a lot with a bitmap import I have been struggling with. But you kind of left us hanging at the end I feel. Really would like to see the tool paths and cut of this one.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Terry, that's a great idea. Sorry to disappoint you on that one. I didn't want to make the video too long my friend!

[@michaelzock8332]

That's a hard one. Learned about the vector validator in this video. Its great to learn multiple new things in each of your videos.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi Mike. I'm glad to hear this. Vector validator will help you out a lot

[@andreww6738]

Sorry, Michael's last name is spelled Mezalick, not what I did. Awesome channel he has!

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Michaels videos are awesome and great for doing some seriously cool projects!

[@damienmcnally7385]

Hey Garrett. Thanks for all your videos. They are an immense help.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Damien, you're so welcome!

[@mohammadlateef7543]

Nice job Mr. Garrett, 1 little trick to stop drawing the line simply click the right bottom of the mouse instead the space bar

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Mohammadlateef, that is a good idea brother! Thanks for the tip.

[@joehamblin3297]

Excellent Video. Very helpful. I had run into this and was stuck Tks !

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Joe, you're so welcome! I'm glad you found the video at the perfect time brother!

[@hareshpandya7864]

Thanks Garret - Watching this presentation, I learned so many things. You are a good teacher. Only problem I have is that I have to graduate from Carbide create to Vcarve.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi Haresh. The principles are the same. Just do it.

[@jimhatch5873]

Interesting project. I agree that how they want to machine it (raised or lowered letters) is really something to consider. I would have approached it from the negative space instead of dealing with the letters. So instead of joining all the lines to form the letters, I would join the engraved out spaces (like the hole in the D for instance). That would require joining the vectors from the C and "reactions" to create the vector that will result in pockets around the letters with the added pockets for the D, etc. That would let them have raised letters or pocketed letters. If they wanted different heights for the J and D, they could do that too since the letters would be separate vectors that could be pathed separately.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Thanks Jim. Yeah, I was not comfortable with how I created this video. Afterthoughts put me in your court.

[@fehmarnkay1853]

Hi Gerrett. Thanks for the video. It helped me. Nice greetings from Germany

[@IDCWoodcraft]

hallo aus den usa! Freut mich, dass es geholfen hat, mein Freund

[@dieterjaehn8886]

Donnerwetter! Sie sprechen Deutsch auch? Ein tag mussen wir uns treffen.

[@fehmarnkay1853]

@@dieterjaehn8886 Hallo, ich glaube das wird schwer. Ich spreche nicht nur Deutsch sondern ich lebe auch in Deutschland und das ist doch eine ziemliche Entfernung zu den USA. Gegen ein Treffen hätte ich aber nichts gehabt, leider zu weit entfernt😢

[@jeffholmes9483]

Garrett, great Job as usual.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hey Jeff. Thanls. Honestly, I didn;t feel so good about this video. Felt like there could have been better solutions.

[@jeffholmes9483]

@@IDCWoodcraft The over and under technique with the J is difficult. I liked the approach you took and since watching this video tried it a few other ways, all of which are equally complicated. I find myself wondering if generating the logo as a 3d model and doing a relief carving wouldn't be easier. Yes, you would have to have something like Aspire or use Fusion 360 to do that. I do like how you made them all different vectors that can be manipulated individually. This is truly some advanced work.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

@@jeffholmes9483 the problem was I want clear on their objective.

[@rufustoad1]

Nice, Im purchasing VCarve Pro next week and I am looking forward to learning!!

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi Todd. Make sure you let me know when you ordered it!

[@garyrichardson5164]

Garrett...you you explain the difference between joining the vectors as you did here and welding vectors? Why choose one over the other. (Yep, newby)

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi Gary. Weld and joining are 2 very different tools. It really depends on the application. Hard to explain here in a text type message.

[@donalexander6534]

How do you seem to know what I am dealing with? Had this issue a couple of days ago. You always make it seem simple but do enough repetition so that I can remember it. Thanks for the great videos.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hee Hee...I'm tuned into your mind. I hope you got it resolved.

[@zinozskateboarding7576]

I did this and it does work with letters but I want to have pictures overlapping instead of letters but I don't want to see the part of each image that is behind the other one. IF a have a hat, mittens, and a glove lets say and they are in a row but overlapping so I can carve them so the unit of the three picture in all one, how do I get it to NOT carve what is overlapping in Aspire 10.5 I have been working for days morning till night and I can't figure it out or any videos to help. PLEASE can you direct me where to find this information on how to learn what I assumed should be easy but has really got me frustrated to the max! thanks for any help.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Zinoz, what I show you will work with only vectors. You need to convert your pictures that you imported into vectors before you can trim them. Here is a link brother: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rF7Koo2kgN6rmJo

[@johnmcdaniel1411]

Nice . Thanks Garrett!

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hey John. Thanks.

[@jameswhiting7469]

Thanks Garrett, I was wondering if you did each layer tool path would that help with the vector validator issue. If it did then you would just have to figure out your depth of cut for each layer and what order to cut them, or is my thought process incorrect?

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi James. In this case, velctor validator is simply giving us a warning. We could still cut the project. Yes, you're right though. It would work better that way.

[@jpm_nt_i9308]

So will a given CNC machine still produce the desired outcome? Or do you get double machining marks!

[@IDCWoodcraft]

JP, please rephrase the question.

[@michael-m-de1ck]

Hi Garrett, Great video, but also spooky, because I had a very similar concern, but with a coffee cup and saucer that I drew in V-Carve, using circles and elliptical shapes and had great difficulty in joining the cup, saucer, and cup handle together. If I send you a file of the coffee cup and saucer that I put together, Would you please kindly have a look at it for me? Thank you

[@IDCWoodcraft]

michaelmoore-de1ck, I recommend joining Kate and I for our live sessions we host every Wednesday evening at 8PM EST. We should be able to help walk you through any of the project troubles you're having then brother!

[@michael-m-de1ck]

Cool Bananas, Thank you @@IDCWoodcraft

[@michael-m-de1ck]

Hi Garrett, Okay, I will make the effort to get on KZbin with you and Kate, Thank you @@IDCWoodcraft

[@jerryjcsouthernwooddesign7086]

Hey Judy, Look up Mark Lindsay CNC and search his playlist for Stacked Text. Is that what you are trying to accomplish?

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Thanks for adding this comment Jerry. I feel like I missed some things in this video.

[@andreww6738]

Hi Garrett, great video as usual, Thank u. I think another approach would have been to use "Text to curves" , of course that will only work if the letters are in their natural state, meaning that the letters can't be welded. The steps of joining 5he nodes I ... think would then have been already in edit stage. I stand to be corrected. The machine is definitely an interesting issue where that "J" is over and under. I think, and I'm only guessing here is that you have to transform the 2D into a 3D format so you can cut high then low. Not sure if that makes sense or not? The only other way I think is to create "one" line vectors at those junctures...do a shallow variety to separate the two letters from one another, this would be an illusion only to make them look overplayed and then underlayed. Hope that makes sense. You could ask Michael Mezerick. I think I just butched his last name...SORRY Michael. He would know exactly how to deal with that issue. Andrew

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi Andrew. Seeing as we have already emailed, I guess I can leave this comment without a response. thank you for sharing.

[@ytbb123]

Good video again!

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Thanks Bruutt. I definitely felt I could have done better on this one.

[@ytbb123]

@@IDCWoodcraft We learn every day 🤓 and that's okay. Your YT channel is very helpfull to many people, i'm sure 👌

[@dieterjaehn8886]

Ok .. so couple things here. Any one can answer but....(don't even know the software yet as a precursor) 1. Looking at the nodes / layers. Same methodology as vector art in Adobe? Layers and objects? 2. From a machining aspect. If the top of the j overlaps the d and the bottom of the d overlaps the j. Then..... The machine routs the j part with a positive or neutral start at the top and machines down ( in this example) to less of a height or negative travel in the z. The d would be the opposite. Starts at a positive or neutral at the bottom and machines upward in a negative movement in the z. That way the top of the j is higher than the top of the d and the bottom of the j is lower than the bottom of the d. From a side view each letter would start as a positive value on the z at the far ends, meet at the middle and continue in the negative toward to the other end, this giving the overlay effect. Different in embroidery digitizing became one shape would be yellow and the other blue and never the two would meet. 2 different ribbon colors and travel paths.... This would be the same, just that the z axis is what causes the effect vs a 2d in embroidery where the colors (or the stitch direction) would show the overlap. Right??

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hey Dieter. This project has many possibilities. the video really only addressed the joining of lines problem. However, yes, you can taper the Z across the letter to give the effect of the letters truly overlapping. I do not use Adobe for any drawing so do not know what features it has that may correllate to the vectric design software.

[@dieterjaehn8886]

@@IDCWoodcraft Thanks Garrett. I spent some time looking at the other vcurve posts you have. Looks just like adobe. Actually works a lot like it as well. What do you suggest to start, v curve or v curve pro. I know I will want to include people photos if possible, and I mean headshots etc. If I do military plaques for pilot achievements they would want those on there. At least some.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

@@dieterjaehn8886 I think carving images of military pilots next to their plans and such isn't excellent, excellent idea. You would want to use the add-on that Vectric has for images. I think it works best with Vcarve pro if I I'm correct

[@dieterjaehn8886]

It isn't or is? I will show you what I mean when we meet this week. I have sketches of what I am considering. There are folks out there that do award plaques and recognition, but I am thinking of taking it to a new level.

[@mezalick]

Why not use "Join with the Straight Vector" Option only?. No need to draw a separate vector.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

I didn't think through this video well. There were other ways I could have done this. I could have simply joined vectors.

[@mezalick]

@@IDCWoodcraft Correct. I believe there are three answers to every question. Showing the other options would be a good video. The more option we know as a user the better we will be to correct future problems.

[@judylong4059]

@@IDCWoodcraft I guess that is what I was trying to do but couldn't get it to work. I am not an expert at all, actually I am a newby with this software.

[@MattMadeIt123]

I think if you would have chosen the J and D separately then ran vector validator on each it would have come out clean.

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hey Matt. I think you're right. This was not one of my better videos, as I didn;t practice with it before shooting. I probably would have found better ways like the one you suggested.

[@IH1940HAY]

Why not just select snap then grab the line utility and make a line across the gap. Sorry don’t understand all the other steps. Thanks

[@IDCWoodcraft]

Hi HH. I could have done that. However, then people might not understand why it works. I should have included that in the video, so I'm glad you mentioned it here.