How Do You Clean Out The Center Of Text On Carvewright

This article is from Outcome sixteen of Woodcraft Magazine.

This niggling motorcar yet has its new-kid-on-the-block quirks, but its cost-to-capability ratio is quite impressive.

By Ralph Bagnall

I've been working with Computerized woodworking machines (known generically equally CNCs) since the mid-1980s. I've programmed, run, sold and serviced them. So earlier this twelvemonth, I was very interested to acquire of LHR Technologies' CarveWright CNC Carving Auto. What amazed me near was the toll tag. At effectually $2,000, it seemed as well proficient to be true. Coincidentally, just as Sears began carrying the CarveWright CompuCarve, my employer was in need of a big number of carved appliqués for a major kitchen build. We decided to take chances and try this new technology out.

So yous might exist wondering, is information technology every bit cool every bit information technology looks? You bet! But it is not without bug. Many people like to exist first to accept the new-model car as soon as it comes out. Others never buy the new model that outset year, preferring to wait until all the bugs have been worked out. For woodworkers, new tools are no different, and CompuCarve is every bit new a tool every bit you tin get.

This is a pretty sophisticated motorcar doing a very complex task. LHR has taken a actually big bound forrard, combining a compact machine with powerful software at a low price. Unfortunately, this leap tends toward making the machine prone to problems.

THE CARVEWRIGHT WAS PROGRAMMED to cut this fluer-de-lis applique from the board after etching it.

The carvings produced by the motorcar are quite good, and the software is bluntly amazing. The machine itself is problematic. Don't become me incorrect: it can do what nosotros want it to practice now, and we are happy to have it in our shop, only this is a very new approach and all the bugs are non yet worked out. As of this writing, we've had the machine ii months, and it is merely now becoming reliable plenty to schedule work around. And so far, I accept spent more time fixing this auto than running programs on information technology. Allow's look at how it all works, then I'll outline the problems I've had with it.

Using this motorcar involves three aspects: the software used to tell the machine what to carve, the machine itself and LHR's support services.

Your first experience is with Project Designer, the software that directs the machine. You can download a working demo to try out for xxx days at carvewright.com. Over the years I've used most a dozen unlike systems for programming CNC machines, and I tin tell you this software is a winner for what information technology is designed to practise. Yous specify the size lath y'all plan to carve on and the software shows you a 3D rendering of the board. Next, elevate and drop preprogrammed carvings from the built-in library onto the lath. These library carvings can be sized, stretched, combined and blended together to create a wide range of custom designs. The library too contains different types of lettering.

ONE CARVING Bit AND ONE CUTTING Bit are included in the box, along with everything else you need to go started.

In one case the carving is laid out, saving information technology automatically creates the program for the machine. Typically, the machine uses a "pencil point" router bit to make passes back and along across the width of the board, following the contours of the desired carving, just similar industrial-level machines I've worked with in the by. The CompuCarve can work with parts up to 14½" wide, and since the board runs through the machine, the only real limit to the length is the rolling resistance to feeding large parts through. By carefully setting up roller stands on both ends, very long pieces tin be carved. At that place is also the option to cutting the etching out, allowing for fretwork or making appliqués.

Project Designer also allows for drawing directly on the board and programming cuts for the drawings. This is unlike from the carvings in that it is more than like traditional router cuts. Parts can be cut out of a board, and by using unlike bit profiles, some shaping can be done, merely goose egg equally intricate every bit the library carvings. LHR offers an optional scanning probe for copying existing carvings. It is inserted in the car in place of the bit to trace and record the contours of an object. In fact, according to LHR's Chris Lovchick, that's exactly how the existing library was created. A forum at CarveWright'southward Spider web site allows users to share files they have scanned.

Perhaps the most interesting way to create unique carvings is to import images into the library from graphics and digital images. I've establish that it works best with high-resolution graphics and photographs. Skillful contrast also produces a amend result. I have a picture of a gecko on a white wall that I imported. The software reads the shades of the photo and assigns corresponding depths of cutting based on the shading. The resulting carving was quite nice.

THIS GECKO Photograph (top) was scanned into Project Designer (center) and carved by the CarveWright (bottom).

The car itself is laid out well, compact and easy to use, and comes with everything you lot need to become started correct out of the box, including a carving fleck and cutting bit. An included retentiveness card is loaded with the programs from your computer, then inserted into the machine. The keypad interface on the machine is pretty clear and like shooting fish in a barrel to apply. There are a number of options available directly off the keypad, such as jointing the workpiece, cutting it to size and even cutting miters and bevels.

Setting up and using the automobile could not be easier. Enhance the head of the automobile, set the board in place, and crank the caput firmly down onto the board. The crank system has a built-in clutch to ensure the proper tension and prevent over-tightening. Select the program from the keyboard and press enter. The machine measures the board; it volition request instructions if the board size differs from the program. When set up, it asks what tool to use and waits for information technology to be loaded. The machine measures the tool length automatically, and then touches the tool to the top of the lath to find the working surface. These are features that many industrial CNCs don't offer, features that vastly simplify the performance.

COMMANDS SUCH Equally JOINTING AND BEVELING tin can be issued directly from the simple keypad.

Once everything is verified and set up, the auto automatically begins milling. This is dandy fun to watch. The cut head moves back and forth across the part, changing peak as it moves, creating the contours. While the caput moves rapidly, the whole procedure takes some fourth dimension. Each pass is quite closely spaced. If the program calls for cutting the part out, the automobile pauses and asks for a bit change, then cuts the part. The software automatically leaves pocket-sized tabs backside which hold the part in place.

Fresh out of the automobile, the carving tends to exist a flake fuzzy. There also might be fine lines between the passes. This is very minor. A few seconds with a flap sander and it's ready to apply terminate. The manual advises using a contumely wire bike in a handheld rotary tool, which likewise gives good results.

The machine we ain has had a pretty large number of problems from the beginning. First, it would not properly measure the cutting bit. A loose wire guide was found to be interfering with the caput move. Then, our initial exam runs showed that the depth of cut was inconsistent, randomly cutting too deep, and then not deep enough. We contacted CarveWright and they arranged for shipping to their mill for service. 2 weeks later, we got the motorcar dorsum, but the problem soon reappeared. CarveWright so sent usa the entire Z-axis module, which I had to replace. That solved the depth bug, only I was also having problems with the machine stalling when homing (finding the head position during startup) and properly detecting the edges of the board. CarveWright sent usa a new, more sensitive board sensor equally soon as they got some in, and the about recent software upgrades accept simplified the homing functioning, which fixed the stalling issue. In one case all of this was solved, the head jammed during a program run. It took me two hours and the complete disassembly of the cutting head to find that a loose screw was binding betwixt the caput and the casting information technology rides on.

SOME PRETTY ADVANCED FEATURES are part of the CarveWright bundle. Crank the caput downward firmly onto the board (left) and the machine automatically measures the board, measures the tool length (center) and finds the working surface (right).

When yous talk with CarveWright'due south technical support staff, they are very knowledgeable and helpful. They have been willing to ship out whatever parts demand to exist replaced, fifty-fifty a non-warranted feed belt that tore. Their biggest failure is the express availability of technicians for phone support. This is a pretty small company that is selling their product through Sears, which has really overwhelmed LHR'south support staff. The large number of units Sears has sold for them results in a long wait to speak to a technician. So far, information technology has typically taken me two business days of leaving messages and e-mails to get a technician on the phone to assistance me diagnose a problem. LHR has promised additional staff and a toll-free service line to alleviate this problem, just I've had many frustrating experiences trying to get my auto working properly. I may well have gotten a "lemon" and I'm certain that not everyone has had then many problems, but reading the user forum on LHR's Spider web site, and the difficulty reaching the technicians confirms my suspicion that I'one thousand not alone.

With all that said, we intend to continue the motorcar, and are currently using information technology. I've hardly scratched the surface exploring the machine's capabilities, and adding the probe will simply offer more than options. It is still quirky, and care needs to exist taken to ensure that everything runs properly, but there is merely nothing else on the market that can exercise what this automobile does for under $v,000. Regular visits to the forum can keep you upwards to date on the latest upgrades and fixes.

THE MILLING Proceeds SLOWLY in a multitude of closely spaced passes (left). The machine pauses for installation of the cutting bit earlier cutting a shape out of the board (heart). The software automatically leaves backside minor tabs to concur a cutout in place.

If you don't mind tinkering with machines and enjoy being outset on the block, y'all'll want to give the CompuCarve a effort. If you prefer to spend your shop hours making fries, you may want to hold off for half dozen months or so and expect for LHR to work out the bugs.

— Ralph Bagnall is a contributing editor to Woodcraft Magazine.