Simple 3D Modeling with Vectric Aspire // Laguna IQ CNC

10:02 Straight to the Action!

Today I will make a simple 3D modeling project with Vectric Aspire software and the Laguna IQ CNC machine. 3D modeling can be intimidating, but we are going to have some fun and make a simple shape using the Aspire software.
I've been making these CNC videos for a while now. I usually show a successful outcome. Today is not the case. I made a few mistakes on this one and will point them out in the video and here.

1. The wedges that hold the material were sliding out making the material move a little. I fixed it before the finishing pass so there wasn't an effect on the outcome of the project.

2. While looking at the tool path on the model. I didn't notice that the edge of the material would be cut. I didn't take the time to make sure everything was ok. So I found out the hard way. I put a clip and explanation in the software part of the video.

3. I used some scrap wood for this project that turned out to not be parallel. So the final project has dark wood showing through. Explained at the end of the video.

As always, Thank you for watching my videos and feel free to ask questions or just say Hello in the comments section.

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[JakeThompson]

Thank you all for being here.. it’s not always pretty, but if we are learning something it’s worth me looking a little silly!!! 👍👍

[MarkLindsayCNC]

Nicely done, Jake! A little tip for you. When you resized the star - hold down the SHIFT key and grab one of the corner handles. It'll resize the object from the center, and you won't have to resize it, move it, resize it, move it, etc...

Well done!

[celebrationscuba]

The answer I was given by both Laguna and Vectric, as to why the estimated time on the toolpaths, and the actual time is different is the Metric to Imperial conversion. Vectric software is written, based in Metric, and the software had Imperial added for us Americans, however the developers did not "Entirely" rewrite to program in Imperial. I was told the software does convert sizes, but does not actually convert the toolpath times from Metric times to Imperial times. I have the exact same IQ HHC only in white, and I am running Aspire also, I find that my actual times are half of the estimated time, almost to the minute. I did try running a small 3D job in metric just to see, and the times were almost exact to the estimated times, so I found their explanation to be correct, atleast on what I experienced.

As far as the bit dropping on the final pass, when you calculate your finishing toolpath, in the "Machining Limit Boundary", put a Boundary Offset of 0.05 inches, you have yours set at 0.0 inches. This keeps the bit 0.05 inches away from the edge. This small change will fix your problem. Hope this helps

P.S. This was a GREAT video you have helped many people. I love the way you take time to explain details, and the fact you show the mistakes, and encourage feedback to help correct errors. The craft is a team work effort for all of us. Thanks again.

[dirtyworkdiver]

I appreciate your humble nature, especially pointing out how errors can be made. I have very little experience with woodworking and zero experience with CNC machines, but I'm fascinated by the potential. I can definitely see doing this in the future... maybe professionally. I really appreciate that you don't need to have experience to follow your videos. I really find your explanations to be very understandable! Thanks!

[afd]

Jake, thanks for making these videos. I too have an IQ that I recently purchased and I’ve learned so much from watching your videos, especially the software portions. Keep up the good work and thanks for the help!

[dig]

Just came upon your channel and I am enjoying how you deliver your content and messages. You keep it light and amusing and real. Thank you

[HarnealMedia]

Great job Jake. Glad the mistake didnt do any major harm

[JohnColgan.]

Looks good, I want to make stars for Christmas, so will try remember & enhance maybe carve 3d mitred cornered frame all out of 1 piece of wood

[fcschoenthal]

Turned out rally nice. Here in Texas, we like them Lone Stars.

[lanebyron]

Great video Jake. I am just starting to do 3D machining. I tried to do a dish for a chair seat and had trouble. I asked Jeff at "Work Against The Grain" to help me and he did a video that might help you. After watching his video I learned that I needed a zero plane value equal to the depth I wanted to cut to. I still had trouble because I was doing double sided machining and zero off the machine bed, but once I changed to zero off the material I had no problem. The zero plane was the missing piece for my project. Hope that is useful. I have watched your videos since the beginning and just today hit the subscribe button! you have made just strides, you are an inspiration keep up the great work. Bless you and family.

[Landrilx]

I think it's awesome that you show mistakes, it drives home the point of why paying attention is so important. So I also use a Laguna, I always assumed the variance in estimated time vs actual was due to the fact the feed rates on my tools in the vectric software are usually lower than what I run on the machine.

[amsa]

Thanks for an easy to understand, smart, viewer-courteous, video. Exactly what I needed and had been looking for. I'm off to go try. Thanks!

[byronbechtold]

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but your estimated times could be off based on the rapid movements. When you use Aspire, you're obviously telling the software what feed rates and such, so it should calculate accurately on that. But there's a setting to tell Aspire what speed your machine rapids at, which it uses to calculate rapid distances. My CNC rapids faster in X/Y than it does in Z, but I can only enter 1 rapid speed in Aspire. My estimates are usually pretty accurate for profile cutting (mostly feed moves, very little rapid movement), but are not always accurate when doing pockets (repetitive passes in Z depth) because the Z axis doesn't rapid at the same speed.

[ZALNON]

you are creative Continue this I am a new designer will follow videos

[DCDLaserCNC]

Great video and thank you for also sharing the "mistakes" as well. I also noticed while it was machining that your wedge clamp kept vibrating/backing itself out. There also appeared to be some very slight extra depth milling around the perimeter of the star. Do you think of you would have selected model boundry for the detail step with possibly a very small offset, that would have prevented the slight extra depth milling around the perimeter? Also, did you figure out what caused the problem where it went all the way to the bottom on that pass where it went into your clamping wedge? Seemed like maybe a big in Aspire.

[rickyroland]

Thank you for this video. Trying to learn program and seeing how to go from aspire to laguna cnc to cut projects

[edgek]

What was the reason for the detail pass cutting down to bed height?

[jojo-yosk]

Hi Jake, you are a super kind person. I enjoy your video very much. I have a Camaster, most of the time I just do a 2D cutting, after watching your video, it inspires me greatly to try some 3D practice. Can you advise me what went wrong on the last pass and how to solve it.
By the way I watching your video from Indonesia

[thehamlinwoodshop]

Keep creating Jake. Thanks for the video!

[John._.T]

Great video. Really like that you showed the mistakes too. A lot of the time that info is more valuable than when it all goes well. Subscribed and look forward to seeing more of your stuff. Keep up the great work. Cheers :-)