Thread: cam software

Is there any cadcam software that allows you to download a picture, and trace it with useable geometry? I'd like to do some artistic work.

ArtCam, BobCad Art, VisualArt\RhinoArt these will take the photo\artwork and give you the 2d and then it can also puff the photo\artwork to give a 3d mesh you can cut.

have used the BobcadArt and then save the geom to dwg\dxf to bring into SolidWorks for a logo. work better than the ones below.

or Adobe Ill, Correl Draw to get you dwg\dxf files to bring into your existing CAM.

Here is a quick video link on using BobART

Image Tracing - adepoalo's library

Vectorize - adepoalo's library

The Bobart looks like it's exactly what I'm looking for. From the cost standpoint, I am curious if there are any videos showing how the Artcam, Adobe Ill, and Correl Draw (or others you'd recomend) work so I can compare.

I have a copy of Auto Desk's QuickCAD. It will allow me to import graphic images. This will likely work with other CADs too. I just import an image, scale it to the size I need, set Snap to end points, use the line tools to trace out the image, delete the image, and export the line work to a .dxf file.

Ken

beeks81,

where are you at in Wisconsin?

Green Bay area.

From Cedarburg, went to NWTC GB for the Model Building program 1983-85 and worked at Fleet Farm on Mason and 41.

I'm actually from Kaukauna. Most people don't know where that is, but you probably could have smelled Kaukauna from Fleet Farm!

Do you know any of the Verhagen's? Ken or Jay both machinist, Ken is back there and Jay is down here in Tempe.

You bet-cha. I work with Ken. Don't know Jay though. Next time you talk to Ken you'll have to ask him if he has that Cub wired up yet. I've been bugging him about it a little.

Mastercam Art does it nicely. I would stay away from "Bob" anything. It is cheap and inefficient and really amounts to simply a glorified editor.

Originally Posted by len_1962

have used the BobcadArt and then save the geom to dwg\dxf to bring into SolidWorks for a logo.

Hi Len,
did you see the newer BobArt (v24-up) or did you see a past one? I would say nothing much about vectorization is different, but they did add a sweep command for geometry creation and also a basic sculpting command. If you wanted to get artistic, then sculpting can let you go for organic stuff. If someone had some artistc background, they could make some cool stuff for embossing.

Here's a quick sweep and sculpt:

BobArt Sculpting - YouTube

Beeks81: How artistic did you mean? Can you draw art?

tell Ken,


lenny says YO!

Originally Posted by Burr

Beeks81: How artistic did you mean? Can you draw art?

Me, I'm no artist. I have a buddy that is a fantastic caricature artist. His skills with my cnc machine could team up for some interesting projects.


Here's one of his earlier works. His newer stuff tends to have too much detail for milling it into a part.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...05900364_n.jpg

Has anyone used vetric cam photo v-carve?

31966 - Photo Vcarve

Originally Posted by beeks81

Me, I'm no artist. I have a buddy that is a fantastic caricature artist. His skills with my cnc machine could team up for some interesting projects.


Here's one of his earlier works. His newer stuff tends to have too much detail for milling it into a part.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...05900364_n.jpg

Yeah, me either.. Thats a really cool picture from your buddy. If you want to do the real detail stuff on the machine, you could look at extracting out the base of the drawing as the model, then re-applying the entire drawing as a texture. It would make it a full 3d toolpath, but you would be amazed at bringing his drawings to life... Does he do the sketching on Computer as well?

Originally Posted by Burr

If you want to do the real detail stuff on the machine, you could look at extracting out the base of the drawing as the model, then re-applying the entire drawing as a texture. It would make it a full 3d toolpath, but you would be amazed at bringing his drawings to life...

Burr,
That sounds cool, but could you translate it into english? I like the outcome of what you are suggesting, but extracting and re-applying really don't mean much to me. I'm pretty new to the cadcam stuff. I just started learning Esprit at work, but I'm sure the price tag on that is way out of my league.

Originally Posted by beeks81

but could you translate it into english? I like the outcome of what you are suggesting, but extracting and re-applying really don't mean much to me.

Sure beeks,
Basically "stacking" in your emboss software. Most of them should do it. So you have seen the basic "image emboss" that makes a single level "greyscale" heightmap" of your image? You can "stack" that ontop of some better defined 3d geometry for more of a 3d look.

(Here is a very simplified version)

So here is your buddies image:

Attachment 54927

You can do a more simplified sketch of the image to get some greater defined "overall" geometry. Here is just the bird guy outline.

Attachment 54928

In the embossing software, I can make a fairly large "puff" from that to "create a body"

Attachment 54929

Then if I do the regular "image emboss" ontop of that, it kindof brings that detail more to life on a figure.

Attachment 54930

Of course, something really nice would need some time and effort put in, but a simple understanding of the "stacking" thing would get you going..

So, "hard to model great detail", but, "model the base structure" is easier, then "image emboss" the detail as a texture.

Does that make sense?