Hello All
Hi My name is Jimmy, Been working with CNC machines since 1996. Started on a Gerber then Cyber Then Multicam 3000.
Also have small CNC Router parts build. Have used the old Artcam build briefly. Then went to Enroute 4. Also use Vetrics Aspire.
For work we are thinking of dropping Enroute 4 for CarveCo. I am evaluating it now.
The one issue I have with it is I cant seem to group things together and nest.
The reason for doing this is files I get that have a bunch of different tool paths.
In Enroute I just add the tool paths and group them together then Nest.
In Aspire you nest first then add tool paths.
But when I try and do this in CarveCo doesn't matter if I group the parts it breaks them up.
I could nest manually but that takes to much time.
. Thank you for time and help. Jimmy
Comments
Hi again Jimmy,
Have you asked for help directly from support or just on the forum? I have never used nesting but there are those who use it all the time. Too bad this forum is so lacking in active members that you may not get timely help here thus my suggestion that you go directly to the source.
I haven't tried to nest in Carveco yet, until today, mainly because you asked the question.
Would you mind stating your process or the way in which you are nesting?
I had good success, the way I did it was to group every outside vector with it's inside vector. after each set of parts were grouped individually (outside part with an set of inside holes). went to nest said I would want 3 parts each using a .124 endmill heres a photo (screenshot for you).
mike
Hi Jimmy, welcome to the community.
Here is a video explaining the nesting tool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0OktJmuKw
Although this is done using ArtCAM 2018, it will be exactly the same. You are correct in thinking that it works like Aspire, you nest first and then create the toolpath.
I have to agree with Michael, i also had great success using the nest feature.
240 parts with a minimum of 5 slots and holes per part. Nested over 3 sheets with no issues, although adding the toolpaths after that was a bit of a pain.
A tip when doing the toolpaths. Assign everything to layers before nesting and then you can machine the layers rather than having to select all of the vectors.
There clearly are more active members here than I thought, glad to see you guys here and helping out. I thought it was essentially Mike and myself.
I have literally just got round to using the trial today but have some issues printing to a pdf which i will need to look at tomorrow, ended up having a nosy on here to see what people are saying about the software, at present we have the very outdated artcam insignia 2008 and looking to upgrade
Dean,
I have been using artcam since 2008 myself, man I wouldn't wait 5 minutes to get this stuff, Carveco is faster than 2015 using windows 7, there are so many pluses to it I am sort of flabbergasted by the people who snub their nose at it. Granted there doesn't seem to be a laid out plan to it (as far as upgrades are concerned) but neither is there to Rhino, 3ds max, your sort of left out in the dark, but this stuff is smooth, yea it's a shorten copy of 2018, not as bloated as far as I can tell, and there really is an excitement (on my side anyway) as to what may come about with new enhancements, upgrades, I will wait and see what may, might come for us who have it.
mike
I wish i had been using artcam since then, i would feel more experienced and confident in what im doing, its the 2008 version we are using and i dont think it was ever updated lol.
I started as a CNC router operator 5 years ago, as i got used to using the machine i got more interested in the capabilities of it, i decided to have a look into how the programs were made for the machine with a few ideas i had which went in my favour.
It is now my job to do the programming for the machines which i have only really done the past month or so. I feel with better software we can get better products, carveco seems to be the option for that.
Set Model Size? When you want to change the model size or plate size. Why doesn't it give you an option to change it non- uniformly? I must be missing something here. When you start a new model it does that but you cant change it Non-uniformly? Thank you
James,
When you add a boarder? Here if you uncheck symmetrical you can.
When using cookie cutter, wait a minute you talking about bringing in a photo?? Or the transform vector tool (that you use with the cookie cutter?) so many choices so umm which one? all that I can see is you can (but the bitmap thing) if you uncheck a box.
A little more help like a screenshot or which tool.
mike
HI Mike, When you start a new Model in CarveCo you set Model Size.
Lets say 24" wide by 48" Tall. Bottom left corner. Resolution whatever you want.
Then you draw something and add toolpaths.
Then you realize the material you have is lets say 20"wide by 40"high
you go back to model size but it only wants to change the size proportionately.
I know I must be missing something here but I don't know where.
I don't see a Symmetry check box?
Thank you
Model Size dialog box picture.
James,
Thanks, in truth I never use that feature, I always start a new model, if I need more space to model something I just add a boarder and go on from there, but I do see what you are asking about, you might try and ask for this in new features, would be an improvement (I think) to fix some redundancy (I think).
I forgot to tell you what you need to do is use the 4 th Icon over from set model size "add boarder" to help you with what you need, tried to do a video on this but for some strange reason I seem to be loosing all sort of power in my head today, might be the 3 and 4 hours sleep been getting lately.
mike
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