Advanced Modeling

This lesson will outline some of the more advanced modeling techniques in ArtCAM Premium.

Note: All files can be found at the bottom of each lesson. Feel free to save the files to your own directory.

Step 1: Tea Releaf Tutorial

• Open Tea Releaf.art

• Shape Editor - text Tea Releaf - Round Shape – 45º

• Reset the created relief

• Contour Blend - text Tea Releaf
  • Side Profile – Linear – 45º
  • Check Preserve Interior corners

• Contour Blend – large middle leaf
  • Selected Vector – select wavy cross-section – click Set Profile Vector
  • Override Width = 0.625” (15mm)
  • Select smaller top and bottom leaves
  • Override height = 0.2” (2mm)
  • Override Width = 0.5” (12.5mm)

• Shape Editor - all leaves, Add
  • Flat Sape – 0.02” (0.5mm)

• Smooth Relief – 20%

• Vector Layer = Outside , Relief Layer – elliptical sign base

• Contour Blend – Outside vector
  • Set Profile Vector – wavy cross-section
  • uncheck both Override height and width

Step 2: Feature Machining Book

Create a clean 2D-style engraved toolpath over a 3D relief surface.

• Create a New Model 300mm x 250mm (12” x 10”)
  • Origin in the lower left corner

• Open the Relief Clipart Library , import Book, from the Objects section
  • Width = 275mm (11”)
  • F9 to center
  • Z = 20mm (0.75”)
  • Check Paste Outline Vector
  • Paste

• Import Vectors – Rose1.eps
  • Manually center on left page

• Text Tool
  • Text = Arthur
  • Size = 17mm (0.5”)
  • Justification = centered
  • Type the following:
    
    • and they
    • lived
  • Size = 25mm (1”)
    • Happily
    • Ever After

• Feature Machining Toolpath - rose
  
  • Recessed
  • Depth = 1.25mm (0.05”)
  • Check corner sharpening for top and bottom
  • Tool = V-Bit 32mm 90 degree (V-Bit 1.25 Inch 90º)

Rotate model to view form side, see toolpath following relief, always 0.05” into the relief.

• Feature Machining Toolpath - text
  • Recessed
  • Depth = 1.25mm (0.05”)
  • Check corner sharpening for top and bottom
  • Area Clear
  • Tool = V-Bit 32mm 90 degree (V-Bit 1.25 Inch 90º)

• Machine Relief Toolpath
  • Selected Vector – book outline
  • Tool = 6mm ball nose (1/4 Inch ball nose)

• Simulate All

Step 3: Texture Flow Fish

• Open Model Fish Scales.art

• Texture Relief

• Selected Vector, Size = 0.5 and Z Height = 0.1

• Select green boundary vector and click Add

• Reset Relief

• Texture Flow tool

• Set Object = blue scale clipart

• Set Flow Vector = red ‘Flow Vector’ vector on the fish

• Select Reset in the Presets section

• Select Mirror Along

• Select Keep

• Select the pre-existing boundary of the fish body

• Click Calculate

• Reset Relief

• In the Along Flow Vector section, input the values of 75 to 90% of width.

• In the Away from Flow Vector, insert the values of 50 to 50% of height.

• Re-select the texture boundary and click Calculate.

• Reset Relief

• In the Along Flow Vector section, check the Vary Scale box
  • Start Point = 90%
  • Position 2 = 150%
  • End Point = 65%

• Click Set Position 2 and then click in the middle of the red flow vector near upper part of the tail

• Randomise Object, input the Scale values of 100 to 110% as the scaling limits.

• Angle variance of 10 degrees.

• Re-select the texture boundary and click Calculate.

• Select the large vector representing the entire fish Zero Outside Vector

Step 4: Sculpting a Wolf Tutorial

• Open Wolf.art

• Reset Relief

• Duplicate Original Vector Layer

• Rename copied layer = My Wolf

• Edit vectors
  • Smooth sharp edges
  • Extend to cover body parts

• Discuss design
  • Overlapping vectors (blend)
  • Spaces between shapes (definition)

• Shape Editor – entire wolf
  • Outline – Add & Apply
  • Far legs - Merge high & Apply
  • Close legs - Merge high & Apply
  • Tail - Merge high & Apply
  • Stomach - Merge high & Apply
  • Neck - Merge high & Apply
  • Head - Merge high & Apply
  • Ear – Add & Apply
  • Inner ear – Add & Apply
  • Eye – Add & Apply

• Greyscale

• Primary colour = yellow

• Sculpting Step 1 – smooth edges
  
  • Smooth
  • Radius=30, Strength=25%, Smoothness=100%
  • Excluding Colour yellow
  • Drag mouse around every raised vector edge once
  • Snapshot

• Sculpting Step 2– raise area’s
  
  • Smooth
  • Radius=30, Strength=50%, Smoothness=100%
  • Combine mode = Raise Only
  • Excluding Colour yellow
  • The darker lines (blue) require much more sculpting, pass over them with the sculpting tool several times
  • The lighter lines (pink) only need two or three passes
  • Snapshot

• Sculpting Step3 – re-smooth and blend
  
  • Smooth
  • Radius=30, Strength=50%, Smoothness=100%
  • Combine mode=Normal
  • Excluding Colour yellow
  • The darker lines (blue) require much more sculpting, pass over them with the sculpting tool several times
  • The lighter lines (pink) only need two or three passes
  • Snapshot

Step 5: Beagle Tutorial

• Open Beagle.art

• Reduce Contrast slide bar

• Window – Tile Vertically

• Toggle off Vector Visibility in 3D view

• HideDog details Vector Layer
• Shape Editor
  
  • lower jaw – Add & Apply
  • tongue - Merge High & Apply
  • main head - Merge High & Apply
  • larger ear on left - Merge High & Apply
  • ear on right - Merge High & Apply

• Show Dog details Vector Layer andhide Dog base

• Shape Editor
  
  • outer nose - Add & Apply
  • inner nose - Add & Apply
  • thin ear on right - Add & Apply
  • thin ear on left - Add & Apply

• 3D Blend - eye patch - Add
  
  • Smooth, Centre of Border vector, Inner 1mm (0.05”), Add
  • Repeat for other eye

• Hide Dog details Vector Layer and show Dog base

• Fade Relief - left ear
  
  • Fade strength = 75%
  • Linear, 1^st mid right, 2^nd mid left

• Window – Tabbed View – 3D view

• Show Dog details Vector layer

• Shape Editor- two outer oval vectors for both eyes
  • Add Dome 25 º & Apply

• Shape Editor- inner oval vector for both eyes
  • Add Dome 30 º & Apply

• Rename Relief Layer to Dog Head

• Greyscale From Composite Relief – yellow primary

• Smooth Sculpting
  • Sculpt excluding colour
  • Radius 100, Strength 20%, Smoothness 100%,
  • Run tool generally across entire model to soften edges

• Smudge Sculpting
  • Radius 40, Strength 20%
  • Blend top of ears with head.
  • Drag top of nose towards top of head
  • blend lower jaw with face

• Smooth Sculpting
  
  • Radius 10, Strength 20%
  • Smooth outside edges of eye ovals into face

• Beagle Image Bitmap Layer

• Create Relief Layer
  
  • New Height = 0.5mm (0.02”)

• Rename Beagle Image Relief Layer to Beagle Texture

• Bitmap Layer activate Greyscale Bitmap Layer

• Zero Under Colour

• Smooth Relief - Whole Layer – 20%

• Sculpting Smooth
  • Radius 15, Strength 15
  • Smooth eyeballs
  • Smooth nose (avoiding groove down middle)
  • Slightly smooth tongue

• Carve Sculpting
  
  • Radius 15, Strength 15
  • Carefully deepen nostrils

The exercise is complete.