Brian,

I'll second Martin's comments. Firstly, I use MOI for virtually all of my modelling. I too use Vectric products (VCarve, after upgrading from Cut 2D, and Cut 3D) for all of my tool paths. I only use Cut 3D (STL exports from MOI) for true 3D shapes. If I have a 3D object (think acoustic guitar bridge) that requires holes, I'll export an .AI or PDF (MOI Ver 3 requires PDF I believe) with that data to VCarve and cut those tool paths after the 3D paths, usually. Just use silhouette to extract an outline of your object and use the same origin point that you used when you generated your 3D tool paths when you create your 2D paths and everything should line up. Things like pockets that don't go all the way through your work piece are trickier (use boolean difference to bisect the feature you're trying to cut, assuming it has a flat bottom, to get its depth measured from the top of your machine table), but I've found that the improved cut results are worth the effort. Also, sometimes my 3D final profile cut out results are kind of ugly when I run the tool paths in Cut 3D. I've learned to scale up my model by ~1/32" when possible then use the original silhouette to create the final cutout in VCarve and the edges are nice and crisp. Hope that helps, and good luck with the limit switches. They are still on my to do list.

Bob

A couple of low-resolution pictures of routed brackets and light base.
The masonite brackets were test cuts, due to the rudimentary and incomplete state of the CNC.
(Still need dust shoe, clamps, z-zero, xy corner zero, etc.) The double back carpet tape was a temporary method.

For these very simple shapes, using a MoI pdf of the 2d curves, to import the vectors into Aspire IS easier than importing the 3d model.

- Brian

Looks like things are coming along well Brian, thanks for posting the pics!

- Michael

In order to ease the selection of the proper set of vectors in Aspire, so as to create two different toolpaths, it is helpful to save two different PDF versions from one MoI drawing.

The CNC spoilboards are attached by 48 bolts, with 1/4 inch holes, and 5/8 inch diameter countersinks.
The curve vectors for the 1/4 inch holes are circles in MoI, with style set to Blue.
The curve vectors for the 5/8 inch countersinks are also circles in MoI, with style set to Red.

Using Top View in MoI:
Hide the Red circles, and save the Blue circles to BlueHoleVectors.PDF.
Hide the Blue circles, then unHide and save the Red circles to RedCountersinkVectors.PDF

In Aspire:
Import the BlueHoleVectors.PDF into Aspire to one Layer.
Import the RedCountersinkVectors.PDF into Aspire to another Layer.
Hide the Red Layer, then select the Blue circles with a mouse selection box, and create the DrillBlueHoles toolpath.
Hide the Blue Layer, then unHide the Red Layer, select the Red circles with a mouse selection box, and create the PocketRedCountersinks toolpath.

This method avoids having to individually select 96 curves by clicking on them.

- Brian

@ Brian -

Those parts turned out really nice.

Off topic question:

I have a CNC Mill, but with only 2" of X travel. It's for jewelry only and very precise. With a rotary table occupying the X table I can't use it for other purposes.

Are you open to fabricating one-off small 2D pieces in plexiglass or Delrin if the MoI drawing is provided?

If so we can connect offline for details. I'm near Seattle.

Ed

Sorry Ed, I'm not in the business, just a hobbyist :-)

- Brian