Andy's name plaque

Andy's name plaque is relatively simple. I created a circle vector using the drawing tools and then did the type and created an outline around these vectors. I selected the circle vector and created the base relief using the dome tool.

I then imported the log end texture (from the TEXTURE MAGIC collection) and applied it to the relief.

I wanted the lettering border to follow a similar contour to the domed relief so I used the offset tool to create a new circle vector. So the first step was to create a flat relief. The height isn't important.

 I then selected this flat relief AND the new circle vector (which would be used to modify it) and then used the same dome settings to create a similar rounded shape.

In the preview I couldn't yet see it so I went to the front view and nudged it upwards to the appropriate height.

I then merged highest with the base relief (blue) to create one relief with the letter outline. Don't forget to either move this now redundant relief to another layer when done or delete it.

The last step was to modify the relief using the letter vectors, once again using the dome tool..

One last check in the 3D viewer to make sure everything was as it should be and the file was ready for tool pathing and off to the MultiCam.

Ready.... set....

We've been busy for the last year working on hundreds of signs and features for the Scallywag Bay Adventure Park in Trinidad. Over the last six months we carefully packed those features into shipping containers and sent them on their way. Now, at last the onsite construction is set to begin. I travelled down to the Caribbean this week to oversee the final checks. The first order of business was to do a site survey, confirming all boundaries and forty-two critical points in the park in order to locate the buildings, rides, pools and other key features. Then I used a spray bomb to mark the buildings and other features on the ground in order to confirm the placement of every piece of this giant jigsaw puzzle. It will be extremely expensive or impossible to make changes from this point forward. Save for one small change, the layout worked as I imagined back in my studio. With the surveyed steel pins in place and a schedule to constantly check and replace them as necessary I have every confidence that the buildings, foundations and retaining walls will be built where they are supposed to be. The next time I return the park will be very much in the vertical construction stage.

While I was onsite I opened each container and checked inside. I was delighted to see that everything has arrived in perfect condition after their 6,000 mile journey. It was a bit of a surreal experience to climb inside and inspect the containers. The last time I was inside everything appeared the same but when I exited I looked out the doors and saw our shop. This time, despite the inside being familiar, I saw a lush tropical jungle and seaside view as I looked out.

Denver Workshop Agenda

We are getting excited about the Denver workshop and have signed up quite a number of eager attendees. There is still room but time is quickly running out. If you are interested please don't miss out.

Denver, CO VIP event Sept 16-18

Meet the EnRoute developers at this special 3 Day "EnRoute Pro" event in Denver, CO. This will be a more advanced, three day class focused on 3D surfacing, carving and texture creation specifically for the sign and woodworking industries. Dan Sawatzky will also be in attendance and showing his magic.

Space is limited, so register early to guarantee your seat. It's $1,295 to attend the EnRoute Pro 3-day class, but you save $200 when you register 30 days before the event. Attendees from 2014 save $300 when you register 30 days before the class.
To register, contact Terri Wright
1800.229.9066 x114 or EnRouteSales@ThinkSAi.com

Here is the proposed agenda.

EnRoute 3-Day Workshop

Denver, Colorado

September 16-18, 2015

Day 1 

Let’s get started

• Introductions • Review EnRoute concepts and the interface

• The Design/Toolpath/Output process

• Review the 2D design tools

• Practice 

3D

Design Introduction

• Introduction to Reliefs 

• Building a Relief

      basic shapes

• Construction tools

• Smoothing, merging, slicing

• Practice

Practical Projects

• From Design to Finished Product     Concept to Part

• Let’s build a relief with Dan

• Review and Practice

Toolpath Techniques

• Routing Offset Basics

• Fill Basics

• 2.5D Toolpaths 

       Clean Passes, and Pyramid

• 3D Toolpaths

• Inlays

• Practice

Evening Session (optional) At the Artistic Automation Shop

• Burgers and Beverages (provided)

• Tools, preparation, and cutting

• Creative priming and finishing techniques

Day 2

Practical Cutting

• Design it, Toolpath it, Output it.

• Designing in EnRoute vs. Bringing in a design

• Everyday toolpath techniques standardize

• Nesting Basics

• Practice

Fun with Bitmaps

• Introduction 

     Using bitmaps to add surface texture

• Creating bitmaps

• Importing and using bitmaps

• Practice

Projects

• From Design to Finished Product

      Concept to Part

• Let’s build a relief with Dan

• Review and Practice 

Rapid Texture

• Introduction and demonstration

• Basic design

• Exploring the options

• Incorporating a relief

• Toolpath techniques with rapid texture

• Practice

Evening Session (optional) At the Artistic Automation Shop

• Sandwiches and Beverages (provided)

• Rotary axis demo

• Creative finishing techniques

     Painting and glazing

Day 3

Advanced 3D Techniques

• Noise tools for Contours, Reliefs, Toolpaths and even Meshes

• Parametric Textures

• Rapid Picture

• Combining Techniques 

• Practice

Automatic Toolpath

• Overview

• Applications for cabinet makers

• Applications for part processors

• Applications for everyone

• Boxster

• Practice

Creating a Successful Business

• How to have fun in business

• Develop your own style 

• Marketing your capabilities

Wrap-up and Q & A

• Overview of the high points of the workshop

• Ask us a stumper (if you haven’t already)

• Time for practice and one‐on‐one reviews

Laura

 Our painting crew always enjoys painting a more feminine name plaque. These days our workshops have more ladies in attendance and so I happily oblige. For Laura I picked a font called curlicues. I modified the letters to fit in with an elongated 'L'. A suitable border for the plaque was designed in EnRoute. Then the outside vector was selected to create the base relief.

The inside was dropped but with the inside pinstripe border selected so it remained the same height as the outside frame.

Then using the same vectors I applied the background texture.

 Then I drew up a new vector shape as I wanted to dome the lettering.

The first step was to create a flat relief using the lettering border vector.

I then modified this relief using the pill shaped vector and the dome tool.

In the front view I checked how this new relief was positioned in relation to the base relief. I nudged it up to suit my taste.

Then I merged it (highest) with the base relief.

I then modified this combined relief by adding the lettering.

It was then ready to tool path and send off the the router.

Jeremy

There are certain tools I love to use in EnRoute to get the results we need. One is the outline or offset tool. On pretty much every name plaque I create (and there have been hundreds) I like to have a border around the lettering. I do it on most of our signs as well. This border is generally painted a contrasting color to the lettering and it makes the letters stand out.

The same tool was used to create the offset border on the local shaped plaque.

To use EnRoute and create fancy reliefs one has to understand how it works, especially in order to do certain things on specific areas of the surface. The colors of the lines gives us an important clue about what is going to happen. In the case below the blue line is the container while the red line is the mask. This means everything inside the blue will do whatever you wish and everything in the red will stay blank.

Here we have the lettering border selected too. In this case the same thing that happened on the border would also happen inside the lettering border save for the areas defined by the red areas inside.

To begin I created a domed relief. Then I selected the inside oval vector and small square to extrude the twisted border and create a mesh using the revolve tool. In the top view it looks OK.

In the front view I can see that it automatically entered the twisted border to the top of the plate/ Our relief is also built on this same plane. I selected the mesh and nudged it to where I wanted it using the up arrow key.

Then I selected the relief and the mesh to light up the merge tool. I then selected merge highest to merge it to the relief. The mesh can then be deleted.

At this point I decided I wanted texture behind the lettering so I added another oval vector (using my favourite offset tool)  I then imported the mesh, resized it so my bit would fit in between the lines. I ten selected the oval base relief, the oval vector, the lettering outline vectors and the bitmap to allow me to open the texture dialogue box.

I then raised the lettering outline by modifying the base relief. Please note that the screen capture says 1.5" and I quickly changed this to 0.15".

The last step was to add the raised lettering. Since the twisted border and the background were angular I decided that prismatic lettering would be best suited.

Then it was time to tool path the piece and send it to the MultiCam. I used a 3/8 ball nose with a 50% overlap but to rough it out and then  1/8" ball nose and an 80% overlap for the final pass.

Kenna's name plaque

Kenna's name plaque was next up. I decided on a simple oval with a casual, brush style lettering. Once the vectors were done I created a flat oval relief to start with. 

The flat oval relief was then modified by dooming up the centre portion.

To add texture with a batman I imported the bitmap which sized automatically to the bounding box. I resized it so that the finish bit ( 1/8"  -  0.125" diameter) would easily fit into the black portion which would remain low. I did this by eyeball using the border of the lettering (which I knew was 1/5" -  0.2" )

Then I added a second texture to the relief. To illustrate what I selected I did this screen capture. The outside oval is the base relief. The next blue one in is the raised dome. With both selected the texture will only go inside this area. Inside that is the lettering border in red. The red means the texture won't go here. On the areas inside the red (blue lines inside the letters) the texture will again be placed.

With the splotches bitmap placed over the file it looks like this... a little harder to see all the lines.

The lettering was raised last by modifying the base relief one last time

Then the file was blasted off to the MultiCam and the machine did it's magic.