need help with veterans memorial

[deth502]

let me start out by saying i konw NOTHING of CNC programing. i have a manual metal lathe and mill but nothing computerized.

i was refered to this site by someone on the HSM BBS, i HAVE NO IDEA where to post this but i thought programing and design might be a start so:

me and a few people i know are working to rebuild our locar war veterans honor roll, its all painted steel and rusting pretty badly at this point (im 30 and it was erected long before i was born).

there is a shet metal cutout of an eagle on top of it. its pretty blocky looking and as a part of the reconditioning i was trying to get it replaced.

the local vo-tech recently got a new cnc plasma cutter, and they told me that if i could get the g-code for it they would gladly cut it for me and donate the materials.

therin lies my problem- i have no source to get a g-code program. i get the feeling that noone there really know the operation process of the machine other than pulling up one of the pre-programed shapes to cut.i was also told (by someone on a diffrent bbs)that there would be "lead-ins" and what not that would have to be written for them to be able to even use a 3.5"disk with the g-code on it if i were to get it.

can anyone here provide me with a g-code program for an eagle???
i was thinking something dignified, like this:



(not 3d, of course, but that profile)

also is there any other programing that would be needed to run it????


i beleive their machine is an essab- if that helps


any help i could receive would be GREATLY appreciated

[Cammotion]

Deth, could you give a rough size for this? For example, if I drew a rectangle around the Eagle that touched the top and bottom, and the sides, what size would it be?

[High Seas]

It seems like you might be open to several options - as long as it looks realyy appropriate and fitting for the memorial. One of the members posted this a long while back and you can see how good it looks in a 3D skeleton...
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...92356#poststop

The dxf - or other code (maybe the guys at the shop can sort that out for you ) is on the first page of that threat.

jimini posted it - search on eagle.zip or eagle.dxf try this link:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...51995#poststop

Hope thats helpful for you - Thanks for caring -
Jim

[deth502]

the one thats there now is 5' wide but its only about 2' tall.

i dont want to ask them (vo-tech)for too much steel, but i dont want to make it too much smaller than what it was.

i cropped my posted image in photoshop and found it was around 1-1/3:1 size ratio, so if it was 3' wide, that would make it around 2'3" high. i think that would be sufficent. 4' w x 3' high might be better, but thats alot more steel, i dont know if this donation is "on the books" so i dont want to ask for too much.

ill take a pic tomorrow of the current monument and post it when i get a chance.

[deth502]

it dosent look very large from the roadway. i was supprised when i actualy measured it and it was a full 5' from tip to tip.

thought it was kinda' funky lookin'

would like something a little nicer like the flag topper in my pic.

plus, that could be done in two basic colors (brn + white for the head ) as one of us is an auto painter and is going to base/clear it so it will hopefully hold up alot longer with little maint.

[deth502]

anyone??

[doanwannapickle]

Ok Deth, here's a start.

The attached DXF file contains your original jpg on one layer, an outline of the jpg on another and an outline that has been scaled up on a third. There are a couple of other layers but they are empty at the moment.

You will need to obtain a program (preferably CAD) to able to open the file. There are a several good free ones out there or you can get together with the votec guys.

Once this is done, post again and we'll make changes and go to the next step.

Regards,
Walt

[mcnerney]

Deth

How about using something like this, maybe add some wording on the banner.

[deth502]

sorry, doanwannapickle wasnt ignoring you, have 2 cad's on the computer in the garage, but i couldnt get the file to it as the drive was down, and i couldnt find the program disks to put them on this computer, finally exchanged the disk drive on the junk garage computer.


didnt/couldnt go through the layers as im not used to working drawings in that format, but i replaced the "feet" with an arc for the tail and that would be perfect for what im looking for.

i dont know if the lines are connected or not, i did this in deltacad, im used to using quickcad but it was having trouble loading, but its a gneral idea of what im looking for.

hope i attached it right?!?

now what??

PS., mcnerney, that would look great there, but im looking for something as easy and low maint as possible, so, hopefully, it dosent ever again get as bad as it is. i think the extra field with another color and the lettering would be counterproductive to this as it would require more effort in painting and touchup, and its hard enough the way it is to get people to voulenteer for anything.


thanks all-SZ

[doanwannapickle]

Originally Posted by deth502 im used to using quickcad but it was having trouble loading, but its a gneral idea of what im looking for.

Well, I use QuickCad as well and it didn't like your dxf. It can be picky that way but it should work out for the better since now I can send you a file in native format and it will be easier to work with.

Walt

Oops, I just noticed that it's not a valid extension to attach so I'll zip it. Let me know once you get it to load.

Another thing I just noticed, your original jpg image is still embedded in the file which is probably part of the reason your other programs were having a bit of difficulty with it. Quickcad will load it fine and you'll be able to see exactly how I did it.

[deth502]

ok, doanwannapickle, like i said, i was having trouble getting quick cad to load, messed around with it for a while and finaly got it to run, but couldnt open the file ( 1/3 of the files that i WROTE WITH IT wouldnt laod either!!) so i went through photoshop and made a b&w tracing of the final shape. does this help??



THANKS A TON!, sz