New Machine - New lithos

[sirkossorg]

Just finished my second machine, and I tested it out with a couple of lithos.

Yay Meshcam. I love this software.

[LouF]

That looks great can you tell what type of machine you are using I really like them great work.

Lou

[robgrz]

Those look great. Thanks for posting photos- I rarely get to see what people are making with MeshCAM.

-Robert

[sirkossorg]

That looks great can you tell what type of machine you are using I really like them great work.

Lou

Thanks for the compliment. The machine is my second DIY.

[sirkossorg]

Milled out the mounts for my new DeWalt router using a Sketchup drawing imported into Meshcam (the last heroic act of my old Black and Decker). I didn't even have to sand it or anything. The piece came out exactly sized per the drawing. Probably not a big deal to you experts out there, but I think it's pretty cool.

Also, here's a nativity scene that I cut with the new router.

[DeadTom]

sirkossorg,
I have a question regarding image preparation for you lithographs. So, what do you do to the image to get a nice litho?
Thanks for sharing,
Tom

edit: also what tooling and stepover are you using.....if you don't mind me asking.

[sirkossorg]

sirkossorg,
I have a question regarding image preparation for you lithographs. So, what do you do to the image to get a nice litho?
Thanks for sharing,
Tom

edit: also what tooling and stepover are you using.....if you don't mind me asking.

Tom,

I use GIMP (a free image manipulation program that has lots of tools and works with layers). The balloon litho is a mash of about three different pictures. If the background isn't important I like to remove it entirely. I have found that if I use an ellipse with a gradient as the background, the picture gets cut into a bowl of sorts, which gives it a darkening effect going towards the outside. I usually spend more time with the source image than it takes to cut it, but that's mostly because I'm a hack with graphic art stuff.

Also, you want to use your graphics program to scale your image to ~200ppi at the cutting size. It will save time and give you good quality.

For most of my lithos, I use a 1/8" upcutting two-flute router bit for roughing. On the finish pass I have been using a 1/32" two-flute endmill with a .007 stepover.

Hope this helps...


Still loving the Meshcam.

[DeadTom]

Thanks for your time; I have GIMP and PhotoImpact Pro, but since I am a hack at the graphics stuff also I am always on the look out for any quicker method to get at the end product. Thanks for the tip about the 200 ppi.
Cheers and thanks again for sharing,
Tom

[LouF]

Yes thanks for the tip some great work..

[sirkossorg]

So I was thinking that a Stargate would make a pretty cool clock face, and in my searching, came across this pic. Now, I know I'm outing myself as a complete geek, but I just had to carve this out.

The reason I post this is that it literally took 5 minutes from download to g-code generation. With the right image, Meshcam is really tough to beat.

[robgrz]

You're a brave man to out yourself as not only a geek but a geek who would carve out a SG image! The image looks great though; I'm always amazed at how well lithopanes come out when they are done correctly.

I'm ashamed to say that I've been working on MeshCAM for about 7-8 years and I've never actually tried to machine a lithopane even though I have a small pile of corian sitting here for that purpose. I'll get to it eventually...

-Robert

[sirkossorg]

You're a brave man to out yourself as not only a geek but a geek who would carve out a SG image! The image looks great though; I'm always amazed at how well lithopanes come out when they are done correctly.

I'm ashamed to say that I've been working on MeshCAM for about 7-8 years and I've never actually tried to machine a lithopane even though I have a small pile of corian sitting here for that purpose. I'll get to it eventually...

-Robert

Hey! Easy now. At the very least, you are enabling me.

.......and for the record, I don't live in my parents' basement.