Engraving a curved surface?

[wyobmf]

How do you do this with Rhino 4 and Rhino cam?
Does rhino art make this easy?
Thanks

[chmillman]

What are you trying to engrave? If it's just following curves on a surface, you can use the Engraving function, if you are trying to pocket out outline letters, you can use the 3D pocketing function (Pro only).

RhinoArt is more for creating 3D relief models from flat art (which can then be machined in RhinoCAM), but I suppose you could use it for creating a 3D bas relief and then machining that with the normal 3D machining functions. --ch

[wyobmf]

I am trying to engrave reliefs and 3d leters on moose paddles. They are dished shaped curved in the X and Y axis.
How would I go about doing that?
Thanks

[spoiledbrat]

I think what you are trying to do can be done using the project command.

Select your curves (letters, lines, etc, and make sure that the "TOP" view is active.

Select Curves_____From Objects_____Project.

Your curves will then be projected onto whatever 3d surface you select.

If you are using RhinoCam, you will then raise/lower that curve to the cut depth you want. When I do this, I use the 2 1/2 axis engraving command, and set the parameters to "On Condition", rather than "To Condition". Leave the depth of cut field blank, and your toolpath created will follow the contour of the surface at the height you set the curve to.

Hope this helps.

[wyobmf]

Thanks,
I will give that a shot.

[spoiledbrat]

did it work?

[spoiledbrat]

A moment of silence for our friend...

[wyobmf]

I have played around with it some. I am still learning rhino so I have not got it to work yet. Your help is greatly apreciated.
Thanks

[spoiledbrat]

Perhaps this will help. Pictures are titled to give a description of what is happening.

If you do not want your curves to follow the surface exactly, you can try this.

After projecting the curves to the surface, select the curves again.
Edit...Control Points....Control points on.

Then, select the points individually, and move them vertically. By using the ortho feature, and turning the Snap function off, your curves can be warped in a very controllable way. Alternatively, you can select the points in the perspective view, and by holding the control key, "Elevator Mode" is active, and the selected point can be dragged vertically.