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VS3D Machine Mode
1.7.1 Cutting Protocol.
The Cutting Protocol is a record of the initialization and machining paths that have been performed on the surface. This record is automatically saved to a ".vsp" file when the sculpture relief is saved. When a ".vs3" sculpture file is loaded, VS3D also looks for an associated ".vsp" file (with a matching file name prefix). If found, the contents are loaded into the Cutting Protocol history window, and the latest tool and tool path parameters are loaded into the appropriate fields.
"New..." : When this button is clicked, the "New Machining Protocol" dialog appears. This dialog has four fields.
- "Machine Type" : This setting controls the output file format. The default is standard "G-CODE".
- "Measurement Units" : This can be set to "Inches" or "Millimeters". If all of the values previously or subsequently entered (Coordinate Scales, tool bit dimensions, Z values, etc.) are in inches, then set this field to "Inches". Otherwise, set it to "mm". In other words, do all of your work in VS3D using inches OR mm, and then use this setting to tell VS3D what units you have been using.
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"Existing Material Height" : Use this setting to specify the Z heights of the existing material before it is cut. "Flat" - the existing material height is planar, at the Z height specified by the "Flat/Offset Material Height" field (below). "Offset" - the existing material height is offset from the sculpture heights by the Z height specified by the "Flat/Offset Material Height" field (below). "Layer (1, 2, or 3)" - the sculpture layer which holds the existing material heights. If, for example, an existing non-planar surface was scanned and imported into VS3D, then that surface should be placed on a layer by itself. All sculpting would be performed on the other two layers. The layer that holds the existing scanned surface would be specified for the "Existing Material Height" setting. A specific example would be engraving letters on a hemisphere. The Z heights of the hemisphere could be placed on layer 1. Layer 2 could be used for sculpting the incused letters (the letter heights would be at a uniform depth). Layer 1 would then be specified for the "Existing Material Height". In this way, the tool paths would cause only the engraved letters to be cut, not the entire hemisphere surface. The resulting "Existing Material Height", whatever the source, should be higher than all parts of the sculpted surface to be cut.
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"Flat/Offset Material Height" : This setting only applies if the "Existing Material Height" is set to "Flat" or "Offset". This field specifies the existing Z height of the flat block of material to be cut ("Flat" mode), or the offset Z height of the material as measured from the existing sculpture surface heights ("Offset" mode).
When "Ok" is clicked on, a new machining protocol is started. The sculpture grid surface will appear flat (or it will look like the existing material surface) because the machine layer (layer 4) has filled the gap between the sculpture and the existing material surface. The original sculpture has not been affected - it is still "in there". Selecting "Undo Cutting Protocol New" from the main Edit menu, or clicking on the cutting protocol "Reset" button will reveal the original sculpture again. Applying appropriate tool paths will also reveal the original sculpture surface.
The protocol record is shown in the scrollable Cutting Protocol text window.
"Reset" : Clicking on this button will delete the cutting protocol and set all surface heights on the machine layer (layer 4) to 0. This will cause any existing sculpted surface to be revealed again.
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