I am having an issue with a 3d model of a guitar neck. The toolpath cuts the entire shape out as if it is clearing out a pocket instead of cutting the object.
sorry for the delay, many issues to deal with here.
Iāve tried multiple times to do v-carve inlays, all failures (the inlay does not fit/match the pocket). Any instruction that Iāve found have been with different software than Easel, so I donāt know what I donāt know, and thus I donāt even know where to start and/or what to ask. In fairness, the last attempt was in December. It failed, so I gave up and did epoxy fill just to get the projects out the door.
I have had multiple other projects that needed to get done the past two months, so the inlays had to stay on the shelf. Hoping to get back to experimenting with inlays again within the next week or two.
I understand the concept of v-carve inlay, i just donāt have a clue how to proceed other than flipping the piece to make it a negative. For instance, when carving the pocket, thatās simple, ācarve a pocketā. But when making the male inlay there is no ācarve all except the pocket.ā
Also, I know that the depth of cut needs to be different, but I havenāt found a useful formula to figure out what that difference is, so clearly it is ātrial and errorā to learn it. And again, once I have enough time again, Iāll be making more sawdust and firewood trying to figure it out. Its just that I wish that I could find a source of knowledge to save the overflowing firewood tub.
Iām sure that like anything else, this isnāt hard once you know what you are doing - I donāt.
Most nights I come up from the shop determined to sell the machine and start over with another machine/platform. But then the sun rises and I am convinced that I can not be beaten and that I can do this. One day I will. Meanwhile, Iām flying blind.
I know that is not very clarifying, but as mentioned, I donāt know what I donāt know, so I cannot answer your question intelligently.
all my best,
Joe
Understood, Figured that out the hard way.
HOWEVER, my āreal worldā experience proved different. When I āgroupedā the elements, and moved them into the project, the move took the three different depth settings and made them all the same depth. When I āCombinedā them, that did not happen, and I was able to carve fine. HOWEVER, when, after doing a test cut, needed to move one of the elements slightly, I was unable to do so as āCombineā was permanent (as you mentioned). So I went back to my original test to the āGroupedā example, and found that this too was permanent and could not undone (something that the good folks at Tech Support assured me would not happen. I asked the rep to look at my project and see what I was talking about and he gave me a canned non-answer. I replied with more specifics, and asked how it could be possible that the āgroupedā example could not be undone. I never heard back.
So, in short, my machine/software does things that no others do - apparently.
I have a friend who does integrated systems (helped me identify the bad CAT-5 jumper within the control box), who is convinced that I have a lemon, and that the circuit boards all need to be tested and analyzed. I havenāt a clue, beyond my pay grade. All that I know is that I need to figure out what is wrong and I need to do so soon, my savings are being bled dry as I try to figure out how to get anything to come off of the machine efficiently enough to feed myself using it.
To those of you who know what you are doing and have the time/interest, contact Inventables and offer your services in their training department - which they have not yet created 
Thank you Ed. Iāll watch the videos.
And yes, nearly everyone on here has at one point or another has recommended learning a new design software. I am pondering it. And weighing the option of just selling the machine, cancelling my subscription to Easel and going a completely different direction (one option being the Shaper, I am impressed by their customer support and training, and Iām not even a customer).
Trouble is that the savings are nearly gone and this new business of mine appears stillborn. If I canāt figure this out soon, I may have to go back to corporate America and let the dream die.
A lot to think about
if your menus donāt work like mine, you may need to reinstall the software.
Seems really odd that you canāt undo the join, if itās the last action you took.
full disclosure, I have only rarely had to resort to using youtube to learn Easel, but these look like reasonable tutorials.
try this series - https://www.youtube.com/@ThatWoodenFlag
or this one - https://www.youtube.com/@JamesDeanDesigns
or this playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMDWgwrAVQKS4k6h32ylgRLiYiM0_FTpV
Joe,
Iām in a similar situation with trying to figure out v-carve inlay. Iām not there yet, but this video helped me to understand what needs to take place. It is not easel specific, but it is helpful. https://youtu.be/l4VMo9DCzO8
Mark
Thank you Mark!! Iāll try to cordon off time this weekend to watch. Appreciated.
Thank you Mark!!! Much Appreciated! Iāll try to watch this weekend.
You can start with the official Inventables tutorials on YouTube, they are very accessible. Otherwise, there are quite a few Facebook groups and forums where beginners share their experiences. Donāt worry, Easel is quite intuitive even without programming experience!
Hi Wne,
Iāve watched hundreds of hours of Inventables videos. Some good, some very good, some useless. When I say that I am a beginner, I am coming up on two years now. I am still a beginner because there are no classes whereby someone can ask simple questionsā¦ thus one must turn to this forum. Most on here have been very helpful, but the recurring theme is that Easel is basically useless for designing anything but the most basic stuff, and that I need to give up, and go learn Vectric or Fusion-360. I see that there are actual classes for both of those products, so with the discovery that Easel cannot so something as basic as an edge profile without manipulating the hell out of it, I think that I have finally come to the point where all of the advice to ditch Easel may have finally sunk in. I am not doing this as a hobby. This is my full-time undertaking, and two years in I donāt have a production product ready to go out the door. Easel cannot do monograms (my products offer monograms), Easel cannot edge route (most of my products have edge profiles). Easel cannot do 2.5-D (design that is). In fact, most of the projects that I have done in the two years learning this machine & software has requires one or more āwork-aroundsā to get the job done. When I ask, everyone says one of two things: āGo watch more videosā or āGo learn Vetric of Fusion 360, and then just import it into Easel.ā
I resisted that advice because I am struggling to feed myself while setting up shop and learning this product. I now see the wisdom in that second piece of advice and realize that I should have started this journey with a different company. But Iām āall inā now, so I canāt go back, I can only shift gears.
which brings me toā¦ Do I need two different software programs? Can I run my X-Carve Pro directly out of Vectric or Fusion 360 and ditch Easel? Or do I still need Easel to run the machine?
Hello Joseph,
You should take a look at Openbuild Control. I have been working with it for five years now and it is a great program to control your CNC. In addition, you should indeed switch to Vectric or Fusion but there is another program that is very good and that is Deskproto. It is not nearly as expensive as Vectric and you can even control a fourth axis with it. Indeed, look for other programs because that really broadens your world. With these programs you can create sales.
Kind regards
Bert Klappe
I rarely suggest this, as Vetric and Fusion are the popular programs these days, but you should take a look at Rhino3d. In my opinion, it is more intuitive. It has 4 window that show the views, but you can isolate one view and see a larger work area. There are basic toolbars that you use that are similar to MacDraft of years past. This is what I taught myself on. It is extremely powerful and it is pricy, but it is a great program.
Rhino - Rhinoceros 3D Free for 90 DAYS.
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