I’m curious, in what situation would one need to set origin to center while they have full access to multiple corners?
(I just can’t come up with a situation where I wouldn’t simply origin off of the corner at that point…but it’s late so maybe my imagination is failing me )
I regularly do so when I’m doing something like a plaque. I want the carving centered, but the actual size of the stock doesn’t have to be exactly this or that.
Center Origin is easier than fiddling with either the design (to center it on the actual stock size), or moving the origin off the corner of the stock to compensate for the size difference.
I have a stack of inexpensive cutting boards which I am using for some batch production projects — the sizes match the price and are slightly irregular — since I want to use the same source file for all, it’s easier to use Center and measure twice and do the math than to measure each board and change the file for each (slightly) different size.
Thank you for this tutorial!
Slightly unrelated question and thought that came to my mind, regarding “machine position”. By probing around the machine to find certain coordinates, could this be used to set up perhaps multiple corner squares and/or hold downs so that I could batch out 4+ signs from the same sized stock placed all around the table? I imagine that I would have to create an extra large file in CC using the coordinates to zero multiple pieces of stock.
I’ve always wondered the best way to batch something like this out in a repeatable manner on the SO5 2x4. Or similarly, batching out multiple trays cut from two longer pieces of stock that are about 8 inches by 36-40 inches long laid out in two horizontal rows.
I’m in the process of making some coasters for practice and then for family/friends once proficiency is gained. I plan to do exactly what you’re talking about and load up the 4x4 and run a big batch. Part of this testing will be to determine if cutting right out of the stock or making a template to hold the coasters separate will work better. The Template route confines me to an overall size and shape (without making a bunch of different templates that I have to store), circle/square for example so I think in the long run it will be a mix of both. One off for a project or will it be a run for holiday gifts?
I find it a little quicker, and less math intensive to probe the lower left, set it to X0 Y0
then probe the upper right & just divide each number by 2. Type in those values & good to go!
Can’t remember if CM allows equations in the XY fields. If so, just add “/2=” to each number.
That depends, if I setup for production runs to sell them (or a big batch for holidays) I can make the templates to fit the max area of the 4x4 and bust out tons of blanks to put in the templates and hit start on the cutting while I get more blanks cutout. Smaller runs I’ll just cut straight from the stock.
Part of the smaller runs stri]aight out of stock is for some resin pour/re-cut/pour/recut files for several different colors of resin. This will take time and at this point I will just leave the stock in place until complete for final surfacing and then through the drum sander with 320 grit and then polish.
Concentric peices… hey you work alot with concentric peices! Concentric just means a shared center point so basically if your geometry is say a center rectangle with some arcs that are spread around a center point etc that’s still a concentric peice.
Usually though you would never do this method for anything concentric as you want your true center or you’re working with metal and the stock is minimally oversized.
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