Celtic Modelling Project 2

8/10/2019 Celtic Modelling Project 2

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ArtCAM Pro User Group 2004

Celtic Design from Image to

ToolpathsIntroductionCeltic designs are very popular in many types of 3D carving applications, from Jewellery to

Wood carving. Within ArtCAM the Celtic weave tool makes standard knots simple, ut many

Celtic designs comine the knots with other shapes. !his e"ample shows how to create a

design which has a comination of these features in it. !he starting point will e an image

which was taken from a copyright free clipart collection #ought at a standard ook store$.

%ectors will e fitted to the image as a starting point and then the process of prepping those to

use for modelling will e worked through. !he various component parts will e modelled androught together. &inally toolpaths will e created for the design. !his part was actually uilt

for the ArtCAM trade show ooth as part of the display, an image of the finished piece is

shown elow'

All the files for this pro(ect are under the Thursdaypresentations in the, 3 Celtic Design

folder calledDemo Files

.

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User Group 2004 ArtCAM Pro

Importing and Fixing the Artwork

!his section will show how to import a !if file, fit vectors to it and then fi" and prolems

which there may e with the vectors. !he !if file has een slightly altered from the original

data and has een reduced in resolution using Microsoft )ffice *icture Manger, this process

also introduced some additional greys into the image.

Open the file Celtic.Tif(remember to set Files of Tpe to Tif)

Set the size to be !"inch #idth, datum in the lower left hand corner

From the $odeltab use the %educe Colours, enter a &ew max no.of '

Select (lackas the primary colour

Pick (itmap to )ectors

*eep lines longer than !+, Tolerance , -ixel, hit *

From the 'D )iewmenu un-draw the (itmap laer

Actiate the )ector Doctor, enter Tolerancesof +.++,, hit Identif !nder the Fix -ro/lemsarea, check %emo0e 0ector loops, enter a 1 of

0ector area to keep loopof +.,(they are ery small loops, so too hi"h aalue will not work), uncheck keep originals, hit Fix -ro/lems

After it has finished, hit Identifa"ain to see if the problems hae been

fi#ed

!he prolems should have all een fi"ed now and the vectors will e loop free at least to a

tolerance of +.++. !he actual part needed to e vertically oriented rather than hori-ontal so

the model needs to e rotated'

From the model tab select %otate $odel 2+ degrees counter3clockwise

At this point for a simple part the vectors could e used to create %carving toolpaths or you

could flood fill them to create a simple raised round model. /ither of these would look )0

for a simple pro(ect, perhaps where the customer wanted the cheap option1 !o correctly re

create the weaves and other detail though, more time would need to e put into the pro(ect.

!he ne"t stage will detail how to prep the artwork to create a more detailed model.

%educing4 rganising and -reparing the Data for $odelling

&or the trade show ooth display there was a particular area and position that the Celtic

design needed to fit into ased on the panel si-e. 2o the vectors were taken and pasted into a

new session of ArtCAM *ro and slightly stretched and manipulated to fit the correct area.

!his file is saved and is called 1 Clean Vectors.artthis should e loaded and worked from

to ensure the rest of the docs line up with the artwork.

!he design is roughly symmetrical and is certainly worth only working on half then using

that to make the duplicate side. !here is also a doule line which was fitted to each side of

itmap, the outline of each section can e removed as the inner part will e used to do the

modelling. With regard to the shapes, the data will need to e cleaned up and divided onto

different layers to simplify the modelling process. 2ome of the modelling will e done with

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the weave wi-ard, which will only need a single e"trusion line and some will e done with

raised rounded shapes, the vectors need to e uilt in such a way that this can e done.

Deletethe outline ector (ima"e below left)

$ow bo# select all the ectors in the ri"ht half of the model and delete

them (ima"e below middle)

%arefully "o around the model and deletethe outline ectors leain" only

the inner ectors which are part of the desi"n (ima"e below ri"ht)

!he part is saved at this stage and is called 2 Half Vectors.art. !he ne"t stage is to

simplify working with the design is to move vectors onto different layers. !he est way to do

this is to think aout how est to organise the design ased on its component pieces and

create layers for those components. !hen move the relevant data onto each layer. 2ometimes

you may need a vector on two layers as it is shared y components #or is a dividing line$, toachieve this (ust make a copy to put on the other layer. n this case the following areas were

identified, the areas which would use the ea!e "i#ardto create them, each head, each foot

area and each "ing.

!he key techni4ue with this design is to separate the parts to e modelled with the weave

wi-ard from the areas which will e modelled with the other tools. !hey need to e modelled

separately ut then the ends must closely match up.

!his was achieved y taking the areas where the weave would (oin the rest of the design and

cutting the vectors, then using the close vectors with a curve option to create an overlapping

area for each part.



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Work out the areas where the weave wi-ard will e used. !hese are areas with parts which

intertwine. !he image elow left shows the appro"imate positions where the divides should

e made with red lines.

5oomin to the area of the heads, below ri"ht (a"ain places to diide the

model are shown in red)

As an e"ample of how to produce these overlapping areas, the lower head will e split on its

neck area.

6electthe ector which represents the lower of the two heads

&it &to "o into &ode 7ditingmode

Put the cursor where you want to diide the ector on the top part of the

neck (this does not hae to be on a node) and hit C to cut the ector atthat point

'o to the other side of that strand of the neck and do this a"ain, youshould see somethin" like the ima"e below left



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!se the Close )ector with a cur0eicon to close the "ap, the part should

look like the ima"e aboe middle

Select the other side of the diided ector and use the Close )ector with acur0e, this should produce an oerlappin" area as in the ima"e aboe ri"ht

!his type of overlap is what is needed at every intersection where the weave wi-ard will e

used and where other modelling techni4ues will e used. !his will make a close match when

the parts are modelled and merged. )nce divided the different parts should e put onto

different layers.

!sin" the 6hift key select the ectors which will be used to model the

two win"s

%ight $ouse Clickand select $o0e to 8aer, &ew 8aerfrom the menu On the 8aerstab double click 8aer 'and chan"e the name to #ings

to accept this hit the 9reen check markto the ri"ht of the name (this isimportant otherwise the name will not be updated)

*epeat the aboe process for one of the feet (8aername Foot ,), the

other foot (Foot ') and then each of the heads (:ead, and :ead'), leaethe beaks they are part of the weae, the ectors for the weae can be lefton the Default 8aer

!he model is saved at this stage and is called 3 Fully $re%%ed Vectors.art. /ach part will

now e worked through and saved as a separate file to create each component.

$odelling the #ea0e

+oad the file ! Full -repped )ectors.art

Switch off all the layers e#cept the Default 8aer

!he vectors which are currently here are not usale for the ea!e i#ardas it re4uires (ust

a single line to e"trude along and a cross section. !hese vectors will now e created.

%reate a &ew 8aercalled 6pines



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%han"e the layers colour by clickin" on the circle ne#t to the layer name

and select rangefrom the menu, hit *

!se the ector -ollinetool to sketch the appro#imate centrelines of the

weae path "nore the "aps and make sure the lines are continuous for

each part that needs to "o under or oer another portion, a close up of thesketched (oran"e) spines are shown in the ima"e below

Sketch a Circleappro#imately the width of one of the weae portions (use

the double line width ectors to help you) !se the &ode 7ditingmode to remoe the bottom portion of the circle to

make the cross section for the weae

+oad the file ; #ea0e3no model.art


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the correct shape. !he end of the eak for instance needs to e cut and the other two ends

needs to have some data added to them to finish the weave shape.

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Switch back to the 'D )iewand actiate the new 9rescale 0iewso the

"reyscale of the model is isible

Switch on the 5ero )ectors8aer

0hese ectors were sketched to trim the ends of the weae to make the

correct beak shape (from the ori"inal ima"e) Select the two ectors and hit F,'4then hit 5erofrom the 6hape 7ditor

menu, this will trim the ends of the beak weae (ima"e below)

Switch off the 5ero )ectors laer and switch on the 7nds laer

!hese vectors will e used to uild up a shape to lend into the weave, to see how high they

need to e the cursor can e hovered over the relief in the 7D view and the 8 coordinate#depth$ of the relief at that point will e displayed in the ottom of the ArtCAM interface.

!he shape editor can e used to uild the shape up to roughly match.

&oer the cursor oer the end of the ector to the ri"ht of the beak area

that was 1ust trimmed a 2 alue of appro# 3456 should be seen

Select the ector and hit F,'

Pick a %ound profile, Angle @+, 6cale to :eight +.,>, hit $erge :igh

9ou should see a shape uilt which closely lends into the end of the weave #image elow$

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&oer the cursor oer the end of the ector to the left of the beak area that

was trimmed a 2 alue of appro# 3476 should be seen

Select the ector and hit F,'

Pick a %oundprofile, Angle @+, 6cale to :eight +.,;, hit $erge :igh

8ou should see a shape built which closely blends into the end of the

weae (ima"e aboe)

Sae the file with a new name (6a0e As) or you can use the one proided

t is not crucial that these match perfectly as they can e cleaned up during the sculpting stage

later in the modelling process. !his part is saved at this stage and is called & ea!e.art

$odelling the #ings

!his section will deal with modelling the Wings of the irds, there will need to e some

alteration to the vectors to get the effect re4uired and then a comination of shapes used to

finish the design.


Switch off all the layers e#cept the 8aer #ings

!he shape that was re4uired for the wings was to model the outer edge up to the same level as

the weave portions. !he inner rounded areas #feathers$ will e sloped upwards to give the

effect of some overlap and will lend into the lines running across. !o do this the vectors

needed to e altered to make sure they overlapped, this was actually eneficial ecause some

of the vectors were not very smooth so the Artwork was ale to e edited. :elow is an image

of how the vectors for each wing were edited for the modelling.

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All the feather vectors were cleaned up and overlapped with the edges of the wings and the

lines across. !his was (ust to ensure the feathers and wing lines (oined and created a closed

shape. !he file at this stage is saved as ' ings(no model.art.

!he feathers for the wings will e modelled y creating a ramp, pasting it into the correct

places to make the strips of feathers and then -eroing outside of the feather shapes.

%reate a ector %ectangleappro#imately lar"e enou"h to oerlap a line of

feathers ( x ,.'>)

!nder %elief 7ditingselect Create Angled -laneicon

&it 6tart

Pick the upper left point on the bo#

Pick the lower left point on the bo#

For the first point on plane enter a alue of+

For the second point on planeenter a alue of +.,>

Select Com/ine $ode of Addand hit Create

A plane will e created that slopes from -ero at the top of the o" to a height of +.; at the

ottom of the o"

9ake sure the ector is still selected

From %elief 7ditingon the Assistanttab pick %elief 7n0elope Distortion

:eep the default settin"s and check Displa grescale in 'D 0iew

%elief 5 :eightshould be set to *eep current 5, Com/ineto :ighest

!se the mouse to moe the bo# and distort the nodes as re;uired to makethe slope fit oer the end feather on the bottom win", once positioned hit-aste(8ou should see somethin" similar to the ima"e below left)

*epeat this process for all the lines of feathers on the lower win"

.efore startin" on the upper win", switch to the 0ransform


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!he part is saved at this stage and is called ' ings(slo%es.art. !he ne"t stage is to -ero

the areas outside the feather outlines.

!sin" the 6hiftkey select all the indiidual feather shapes

&it F,'and select 5ero %estfrom the shape editor menu, the slopes

should be trimmed so they are only in the areas of the feathers

Deletethe outline bo#es left from the plane pastin" operation

Select the ori"inal an"led plane bo#, hit F,'and select 5ero, then

deletethe ector to "et rid of that as well as it is no lon"er needed

!sin" the 6hiftkey select all the ector lines which coer the bottom ofthe feathers

&it F,'

Pick a %oundshape an Angleof !+and 6tart :eightof +.+>inches

&it $erge :igh

Select the ector which surrounds the lower win" and the two ectors

(inner and outer) that surround the upper win"

&it F,'

Pick a %oundshape an Angleof "+and 6tart :eightof +.+>inches and

8imit to :eight+.,(combined depth 346) &it $erge :igh

9ou should now have a relief which looks like the image elow this stage of the file is saved

as ' "ings.art.



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/nsure the file is saved #or you can use the one which is already saved$ so that it can e

comined later with the rest of the component reliefs.



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$odelling the Feet

!his section will deal with modelling the &eet of the irds, there will need to e some


finish the design.


Switch off all the layers e#cept the 8aer Foot,

=otice that there is another area on the feet that is actually going to use the Weave wi-ard

#where the part on the left loops around the foot$. 2o again the vectors need to e edited as

they were around the heads to e ale to make this correctly. :elow left are the vectors as

they are from the itmap, right are the vectors after they have een prepared for modelling.

=ote that not only has a vector een created for the weave path and also the weave cross

section, ut in order to get a etter looking lend etween the parts of the foot the vectors

have een edited to overlap slightly. !he prepared vectors are saved as ) Foot 1(no

model.art. 9ou can edit the vectors yourself or open the file to work from here.



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+oad the file " Foot ,3no model.art

Select with 6hiftheld the spines for the foot weae and the cross section

last as in the ima"e below left

n the #ea0e #i=ardenter alues as follows/ 8ength of Crosso0er !,

Depth >+, :eight '+, Corner 6hape 6?uare, Addand hit *

Switch to the !D )iewto see the result of this

%heck the ori"inal ima"e to check the correct areas are raised and lowered

as in the ima"e aboe ri"ht, if not undo and reerse the order of selectin"the spines

Pick the two shapes to the left, the small shape at the end of the weaeand the main foot shape as in the ima"e below left and hit F,'

Pick a %oundshape an Angleof "+and 8imit to :eight +.,>

&it $erge :igh, you should see a relief like the ima"e below ri"ht



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Select the ectors which represent the talons (claws) as in the ima"e below

left and hit F,'

Pick a %oundshape an Angleof ;> and 6tart :eight +.+>

&it $erge :igh, you should see a relief like the ima"e below ri"ht

Sae the file at this sta"e or you can use the one which has been saed for

you

!he file is saved at this stage and is called ) Foot 1.art.!o model the other foot the

method will e e"actly the same'

+oad the file Foot '3no model.art

Switch off all the layers e#cept the 8aer Foot'

9ou will notice the vectors have een edited in the same way they were for the first foot to

allow for the production of the weave and lending that with the other elements. &ollow the

directions for &oot using the same values. /nsure that the spine vectors for the weave are

selected in the correct order to make sure the correct parts go under and over. f you follow

the same process and values of foot you should end up with a relief that looks like the

image elow>

!he finished file is saved and is called * Foot 2. art.



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$odelling the :eads

!his section will deal with modelling the heads of the irds, there will need to e some


finish the design.


Switch off all the layers e#cept the 8aers :ead,and :ead'

t is crucial that these line up well with the vectors from the weave to minimise the amount of

sculpting that will e necessary, to see how the vectors look it is worth loading in the relief of

the weave and using the greyscale view to see how they match up.

From the %elieftab select 8oad %elief, select ; #ea0e.artand check

%eplaceand hit *

Switch on the new 9rescale 0iew

9ou will see that the neck vectors do not match up very well with the ends of the weave

coming into the lower head and in on the edge of the upper head. !o ensure a etter match up

it will e worth editing the vectors to match etter as is shown in the image elow left. )nce

the vectors have een edited the ?elief can e reset in preparation to model the heads.

!his file is saved at this stage and is called + Heads(no model.art

Select the head outlines and the other > ectors (one at the top and one to

the ri"ht) as in the ima"e aboe ri"ht

&it F,'

Pick a%oundshape an Angleof "+ and 8imit to :eight +.'

&it $erge :igh, you should see a relief like the ima"e below left



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Select the outline ector for both eyes, hit F,'4select a %oundprofile,

enter an an"le of ;>de"rees and 8imit to :eight of +.,, hit 6u/tract

For both eyes select the ne#t inner ectors, hit F,'4select a %ound

profile, enter an an"le of !>de"rees hit Add For both eyes select the inner ectors, hit F,'4select a %oundprofile,

enter an Angleof ;> de"rees hit 6u/tract

'o into the !D 0iewand you should see a relief like the ima"e aboe ri"ht

Sae the file at this sta"e or you can use the one which has been saed for

you

!he file is saved at this stage and is called + Heads.art.

Com/ining the %eliefs4 6culpting and $irroring the part!his section will deal with comining all the 3D models we have created so far. !he half

model will then e edited to sculpt some of the (oins and finally the part oriented correctly

and mirrored to create the right hand side.

Switch on the grescale 0iewso you can see the parts as you load them

+oad the file ; #ea0e.art

From the %elieftab select 8oad %elief

Select> #ings.art and hit pen

%heck $erge :ighestand hit * From the %elief tab select 8oad %elief

Select " Foot ,.artand hit pen

%heck $erge :ighestand hit *


Select Foot '.artand hit pen



Select@ :eads.art and hit pen


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!he part is saved at this stage and is called , Full(Half(-nscul%ted.art

!he sculpting is very much an iterative process and will mainly use the smoothing tool and

the smudge tool. Work around the design concentrating on areas where models should have a

smooth (oin, particularly etween parts of the weave and the other models. t is est to sculpt

with a view down the 8 a"is. 2tart y smoothingusing a cursor si#eof aout 1'andstrengthof 1', gently ru across (oins to lend them. f there is large step then use the

smudgetool set to diameter 3/ strength 2'and drag along the part in over the (oin in oth

directions to lend the (oin. !hese values are (ust a guide and you should e"periment with

them to see how you can produce smooth looking lends. Work around the model until you

are happy with the finished half. ?ememer to 0%%lythe cul%ting at each stage you are

happy with what you have done as that acts like an internal save command.

Once you hae finished sculptin" you can sae the model (or you can use

the one proided)

!he file is saved at this stage as , Full(Half(cul%ted.art.

'o into the 'D )iewand actiate the grescale 0iew

?ra" a 9uidelinefrom the rule to the left of the 'D 0iewto the ri"ht side of

the 7? relief

9ou will see y doing this that the relief is slightly tilted to the right #this is from the original

artwork or scan$, if it was mirrored as it is then it would have an uneven gap down the middle

of the design. !his can e corrected y pasting the model into a new file to rotate it slightly to

straighten it' also it can e positioned to make it easy to create a mirror copy.

9ake a note of the model size @ #idth '>4 :eight ;'

Closethe current model

Create a &ew $odel, :eight ;',#idth '>(resolution suitable for your

P%, the e#ample uses ,;"' x ';>")

?ra" a 9uidelinefrom the rule to the left of the 'D )iewto the middle of

the part

0o ensure it is e#actly in the middle %ight clickon the guideline, type in a

&ew -ositionalue of ,'.>, %heck8ockedand hit Appland *

From the %elieftab, hit 8oad %elief Select 2 Full3:alf36culpted.artand hit pen

%heck -astingand hit *

!se the !D Clipart menuto rotate and moe it to line up with the line

(e#act alues are %otate 3+.@ degreeand $o0e B 3+.,) Appland hit-asteand Close

6a0ethe file (it is saed at this sta"e called 2 Full3:alf3

6traightened.art)

From the $odeltab select $irror $odel :ori=ontall

From the %elief tab, &it 8oad %elief Select 2 Full3:alf36traightened.artand hit pen

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From the $odeltab select $irror $odel )erticall(it was at this point

decided wanted the birds faces to be the ri"ht way up)

From the %elief 7ditingtab select 6mooth reliefand Appl 'passes

!his should result in a model that looks like the one elow. !his is saved at this stage and is

called 1 Finished odel.art.

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At this stage the model is finished and is ready for machining.



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$achining the -art

n this section the method used to machine the model for the Delcam display will e covered.

&or different applications this part could easily e scaled and could even e changed to fit

different models using the relief envelope distortion tools. &or this e"ample the part is eing

machined at the @ 9 si-e it was actually made at, ut needs to e scaled up in 8 to get more

definition.

Start by loadin" ,+ Finished $odel.art

From the %elief 7ditingtab select 6cale %elief :eight

%heck #hole %eliefand enter a &ew :eightof +.!>, hit *

Switch off the new grescale 0iew(if you hae it on)

Deleteall the ectors in the 'D 0iew

From the $odeltab select the 9rescale from %elieficon Select yellow as the primary colour

From the )ectortab select (itmap to 0ector

*eep lines longer than ,> pixels, Tolerance , -ixel

Select the ector around the ery outside of the work area (the rectan"le)

and delete it

*eselect all the other ectors

Actiate the )ector Doctor, enter Tolerances of +.++,, hit Identif

!nder the Fix -ro/lemsarea, check %emo0e 0ector loops, enter a 1 of

0ector area to keep loop of +., (they are ery small loops, so too hi"h aalue will not work), uncheck keep ori"inals, hit Fix -ro/lems

After it has finished, hit Identifa"ain to see if the problems are fi#ed

f there are any outstandin" problems then use the &ode 7ditingmode to

fi# them

.o# Select all the ectors in the 'D )iew

%ight $ouse Clickand select $o0e to 8aer, &ew 8aerfrom the menu

All the ectors will be put onto 8aer '

On the 8aerstab hit Createto create 8aer !, make sure 8aer !is

selected Select all the ectors in the 'D )iew

From the )ectortab select ffset 0ectors


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outer one and let it run across the flats. !his is personal preference though. ?ememer if you

use a toolchanger to alter the !ool =umers as you go.



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!his part is going eventually to e cut out, at present there are two distinct halves to the

design. ?ather than trim and (oin the order vectors it is easy to create a (oined outline y

offsetting the outer vector outwards then ack inwards.

!n-draw all the 8aerse#cept 8aer '

9ake sure 8aer 'is selected

Select all the ectors in the 'D 0iew

From the )ectortab select ffset )ectors

On the tool list hit Add, Select a ,E; inch end milland ,E@ end millfrom

the #oodE-lasticsection of the Tool Data/ase

For the inchtool set a stepdownof +.;and strate"y of ffset

For the ,E@ inchtool a step downof +.'and strate"y of ffset

&it Calculate &ow

Closethe Area Clearmenu

6imulatethe toolpath (standard simulation resolution) @ this should look

like the ima"e below



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!n-draw all the8aerse#cept 8aer !

Select all the ectors in the 'D 0iew

From the Toolpaths tab select the $achine %elieficon from the !Dtoolpaths section

%heck 6elected )ector, %aster, Tolerance +.++,, 6afe 5and :ome

-osition 5 +.'>

For the Toolpick the ,E@ /all nosefrom the #oodE-lasticsection of the

Tool Data/ase

&it Calculate &ow

Closethe $achine %eliefmenu

6imulatethe toolpath @ this should look like the ima"e below

!n-draw all the 8aerse#cept 8aer '

Select only the outer ector

From the Toolpathtab select the -rofile toolpath (for the real 1ob this wasactually inlaid)



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0ake the default alues e#cept Finish Depth +.>, Allowance 3+.!(this will

cut the part sli"htly smaller but will "ie a nice outside ed"e and no lip),Tolerance +.++,

Profile 0ool Inch end mill@ edit thestepdownto be +.'>

Calculate &ow 6imulatethe toolpath to see the finished part

0he toolpaths can now be Post-processed and mahined

!his concludes this e"ample' the part is saved at this stage and is called 11 achining.art.

Celtic Modelling Project 2

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Transcript of Celtic Modelling Project 2