Re-creating a molding profile

The topic of (re)creating molding profiles came up at:

with an image:

and since the tool with a bearing may not be used on our machines, the profile may be re-created with a bit of patience and some No Offset Contour toolpaths w/ appropriate tooling (and of course, if one has an appropriate radius tool, it could be used as noted above.

First, import the pixel image:

and then re-draw the profile:

Using Node editing to adjust the curves as desired:

(for more on Node Editing see: 2D Drawing | Design into 3D )

If need be, adding a point (say at a point of inflection)

Smooth and adjust until one arrives at:

Then use Node editing and Trim Vectors to reduce the geometry to only what is needed:

(or draw in new geometry using existing nodes)

OK

OK

which may be Joined:

Then use this geometry, and drawn up profiles of tooling to re-create the profile using the techniques from:

If anyone needs assistance with that, post a screen grab showing where the difficulty arises and we will walk through it.

Here is the current state as a v7 file:

Molding_profile_v7.c2d (640 KB)

For using an actual tool see:

https://community.carbide3d.com/t/using-unsupported-tooling-in-carbide-create-roundover-cove-radius-bits/43723/10

Since the request was posted in a “3D Modeling” topic. Let’s see you model it :smiley: :wink:

Yes, I’m working on it too. Might be possible, but rather tedious.

Easily done.

Re-arrange things assuming an 0.25" Stock Thickness:

Draw up the tooling which will be used in profile:

Then position each relative to where it would need to be to cut the profile, duplicating as necessary:

Repeating until one arrives at:

Then one draws in a line of the desired length:

Positions it relative to one of the tool outlines:

Determines the Max Depth:

and assigns a suitable toolpath:

Repeating for each until one arrives at:

Attached as a v7 file.

Molding_profile_v7.c2d (696 KB)

2 Likes

Great illustration of the “Spoon without Pro” method.

But I was challenging you to build a 3D model in CC Pro. (In your spare time, of course :smiley: )

1 Like

It would be much more straight-forward to just extrude the profile after drawing it up as was done for:

1 Like

Thanks Will. I have already achieved profiles through freecad and imported the STL.

This thread said to share what we’d like to make WITH CCP, so my specific question was how to create a 3d profile that varies in radii

Perhaps a better example would be a 30caliber cutaway;
image

Make an oblong long radiused section with a cylindrical midsection, then two tight radiused reductions at the boat tail.
Sure, we could spend hours assigning toolpaths at 100 different heights for different layers, but that’s what we pay your program for. To build the basic model with flat, angle and round surfaces then do a reciprocating toolpath like a printer. Not ideal, but it suits most of my needs.

Again, the most expedient thing there would be to draw the profile, then import it into a 3D CAD program and rotate it.

Whether or no Carbide Create Pro can become a full-fledged 3D CAD program is a separate discussion — I’m just here to show folks how to make stuff.

1 Like

OK, for academic’ sake I came close…

Took a bit of creativity in the adding & subtracting of model components.
And it’s not an exact match, but the best-fit of primitive shapes (arcs & lines) -vs- “B” curves.

image

moulding.c2d (464 KB)

2 Likes

Will/Tod, I have a couple of real miserable wet and cold days ahead and I am going to get my head around these and hopefully get a profile that works for me.

1 Like

So it can be done!? That’s the kind of use of the CCP 3D components I was suggesting, Tod1d! There’s a method to overlapping the angle&round components to arrive at a varied radius. I’ll have to play around more, but in my early attempts there was little hope. Thank you for proving the basic 3d modeling on this software is capable of doing more than we expect.

1 Like

Can you please explain this step? Where does this tooling come from?

Tooling:

Left → right:

1/4" square endmill, 1/4" ball-nosed endmill, 90 degree V endmill, 60 degree V endmill, 30 degree V endmill

Or:

#201, #202, #301, #302, #45771-K 30 degree engraver (from: Amana AMS-115-K: 2-PC CNC Signmaking - Carbide 3D )

Oh. I think I figured it out. When I first saw it I thought you were using some feature of CC that I didn’t know was there but now I am looking closely at your example file …

You created those vectors in the screenshot just to point out which tool goes where, but they weren’t “functional.” Then when it comes to actually making the cut you use vectors that are just straight lines with contour cuts at various depths with the different tools to re-create the profile of the molding? Interesting. I wouldn’t have thought about that …

This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.