X-Carve: Example Geometry

This tutorial will guide a new user through the basic steps of using the X-Carve Router. The project will be a small round tuit out of multi-color HDPE plastic.

Start A New Project

See also: X-Carve: Easel

1. If you haven't already, create an Easel account by following the steps on X-Carve: Easel page.
   1. Make sure to set up the Spark X-Carve in the new account
2. Go to https://easel.inventables.com/users/sign_in and sign in
3. Start a new project using the green button in the upper right of the Easel Start Screen
4. Easel will bring you to the Easel Main Screen

Define Project Material

See also: X-Carve: Easel - Materials

Step 1:		The first step is to define the workpiece material. Start by clicking on the Materials button in the upper right corner of the Easel window.
Step 2:		Use the dropdown menu to select 2-Color HDPE. If preferred, you can also match the color to the class workpiece using the second dropdown menu to the right, but it will not affect the cut settings. This example uses red and white for contrast; the class colors will vary. Set the Width (X) and Length (Y) to 5.75 inches, and the Thickness (Z) to 0.25 inches Set the outer layer thickness in field A to 0.063 inches. The inner layer thickness value infield B will be automatically calculated Click the Material button again, or outside the popup window, to close the Material popup window.

Set Project Cutting Bit

See also: X-Carve: Easel - Cutters

Step 1:		Once the material has been defined, the next step is to define the cutting tool, or "cutter", which may also called "bit", as Easel does. Start defining the cutting bit by clicking on the Bit button in the upper right corner of the Easel Window.
Step 2:		Choose the 1/16 Fishtail Spiral bit from the list. If the correct bit is not shown on the list, follow the steps on the cutter page to add it. Click the Bit button again, or outside the popup window, to close the Bit popup window.

Set Project Feeds and Speed

See also: X-Carve: Easel - Depths and Speeds

Step 1:		This class will use the default settings for cutting feed rate and spindle speeds, which Easel will set automatically based on the material and cutter choices. Click on the Cut Settings button in the upper right corner of the Easel window.
Step 2:		Ensure that the Automatic option is highlighted blue by clicking on it. Feed settings should be similar to the ones shown at left

Define Project Geometry and Features

See also: X-Carve: Easel - Geometry, X-Carve: Easel - Features

Each project is built out of a series of gometric shapes, which are used to define the cutting features. Easel uses the terms Shape for geometry, and Cut for features. Easel allows three types of features: profiles, pockets, and drilled holes.

There are three steps in creating the round tuit, and each step uses a different feature.

Profile: Create Outside Circle

Step 1:		Start with defining the geometry of the outer shape of the tuit. On the left side of the Easel window, find the Geometry toolbar The tool bar may be hidden. Click the grey box with two chevrons in it, in the upper left corner of the Easel window, to show the toolbar. Click the top Shapes box to expand the selection of default shapes Choose the Circle option, and Easel will insert a circle in your CAM workspace
Step 2:		Once the circle is placed, it can be manipulated using the mouse or using the Shape tab in the pop-up window. Use the Shape tab to set the circle: Find the Position control which looks like you rolled a 5 on a die. Click the lower left corner button Set the X Position to 0.250 inches Set the Y Position to 0.250 inches Set the Width to 2.000 inches Set the Height to 2.000 inches Set the Angle of rotation to zero degrees Click the Lock logo at the bottom to lock the circle in position. This will prevent it from being accidently moved as you work on other parts of the project.
Step 3:		Now that the Geometry is set, you need to define the feature which will be cut. The default feature is a shallow pocket, as is visible in the simulation portion of the Easel window. Because this is the outside surface of the tuit, you will need to set the feature as a profile cut all the way through the part. With the circle geometry selected, click on the Cut tab in the popup window Use the Cut tab to set the the profile feature: Set the depth to 0.250 inches This can be done either by using the slider, or by typing into into the Depth box The Cut Path area currently reads "Cut out a pocket". Click on it, and choose Cut outside shape pocket Because Easel now knows you're cutting your project out of the rest of the workpiece, it will automatically add the Use Tabs box to the bottom of the popup window. Ensure the Use Tabs box is checked (it should be on by default) The default options for tab Length of 0.250 inches and tab Height of 0.080 inches will work fine Set the tab Quantity down to 3 The tabs are visible in the CAM workspace as yellow bars on the black circle. They can be moved with the mouse by clicking and dragging. Tabs will not be shown in the Simulation portion of the Easel window, though they will be present in the tool paths.

Pocket: Text

Step 1:		It's now time to define the text of the tuit. Start by choosing the T (for Text)button on the Geometry toolbar The available fonts are shown. For this example, choose CODE PRO from the pop-up window TEXT will show up on your screen. Don't worry about the size right now. Choose the test, delete the exiting letters, and type TUIT in the text box
Step 2:		The text is too large to fit within the outline of the tuit. Start the resizing process by clicking on the text to select it, then click the Link button in the Shape tab of the pop-up window The link button ensures that the current ratio of height to width is maintained. Changing either the height or the width will automatically change the other to maintain the same proportions Change the Width of the text to 1.75 inches to fit within the 2-inch circle of the tuit. The Height will change You can try changing the width to 1.25 inches, and noting the effect on the simulation portion on the right of the Easel window. When the text is this small, the currently defined cutting bit can't fit into inside the letters, except for in a few locations. While the text is still visible in the CAM portion of the window on the left, it's gone from the simulation portion on the right Return the Width value to 1.75 inches, and the text will reappear in the simulation portion of the window
Step 3:		To center the text, select the text box (if not already selected) by clicking on it Hold the Shift key on the keyboard, and select the circle by clicking on it The two items may also be selected by dragging a highlight box around all or part of the geometries with the mouse The highlight box will select everything it touches, which can result in unintentionally selecting geometries in a crowded area. Use with care!
Step 4:		The Geometry Alignment toolbar will appear on the top of the CAM portion of the Easel window. Clicking the Center Horizontally and Center Vertically buttons will place the text in the center of the circle In this case, you previously locked the circle in place, so only the text moved. If the circle position had not been locked, both geometries may have moved to allow the alignment
Step 5:		Ensure that only the text is selected. Click on the Cut tab of the pop up window Changes to feature definitions made in the Cut tab will affect all selected geometries Set the Depth to 0.1 inches The exact depth value is not very important, but it should be deeper than the topmost layer of plastic. The resulting color contrast between the top and middle layers is important for legibility The border between the layers is shown on the slider above the depth box, identified by a red arrow in the image to the left The Cut Path should be Clear out a pocket by default. If it's not, use the Cut Path dropdown to choose the correct option

Drill: Hanging Hole

Step 1:		Now you'll drill a hole in the top of the tuit to hang it on a keychain, wall, or workbench *The machine will use same cutter to drill the hole as cut pockets and profiles, so it is important the bit be center cutting. The bit chosen at the start of this example is a center cutting bit Click the Drill button on the Geometry toolbar. A drill hole geometry will appear in the CAM portion of the Easel window
Step 2:		Use the skills you've learned to move the drill hole in an appropriate place on the tuit You can click and drag the drill hole anywhere on the tuit You can choose the position shown to the left, like you did in Step 2 of defining the outside circle You can align the hole to the centerline of the tuit at any height, like you did in Steps 3 and 4 of defining the text
Step 3:		Once the hole is in the right location, check the Cut tab of the popup window Confirm that the hole is being drilled the full depth of the workpiece, or 0.25 inches

Checking Toolpaths

Step 1:		Easel automatically creates toolpaths from the features you've previously defined. This is easy, which is good, but it also means you, as the user, have limited control of the process In the Simulation portion of the Easel window, find and click the Simulate button in the lower right corner
Step 2:		Easel will automatically calculate the paths the cutting tool needs to take in order to form the features you've defined. In the image on the left, the color of the workpiece has been changed to more clearly show the toolpath lines Red lines are movements of the X-Carve in rapid mode. Rapid movements are done when the cutting tool is clear of the workpiece, and are relatively high speed Note that the red lines start at the 0, 0 origin of the part (lower left corner), and return there at the end of the cutting operations. Keep this in mind when positing clamps on your workpiece The rapid speed of the machine can be set by the user, but for the X-Carve, the default is fine Blue lines are cutting movements. These are the values set by the Feeds and Speeds settings, which in this example are automatically calculated by Easel based on the size of the cutting bit and the workpiece material There are three useful items on the bottom of the screen The first item is the Play button. Pressing this button will play through the movements of the machine to cut the tuit The second item is is a block of simulation playback controls. Trying the various settings is the fastest way to learn how to use them. They won't affect any of the features, geometry, or cut settings of the tuit, just the simulation The third item is a time estimate for cutting your project. In this example, Easel expects the cutting time for the tuit to be about three minutes