3D for Free - Easel Software Upgrade 

I’m so glad it helped you! Thanks for watching!

As am I. This was the first time I tried 3D and it turned out that well !

I agree

Hahah. You said it! Apparently the toolpaths aren’t nearly as optimized as you can get with other programs

It works very well!

Thanks for watching!

I appreciate the watch

Welcome aboard

You could definitely use a 3rd toolpath/bit. All you would need to do is set up your 3D tool paths and then a second file with the V bit and start them from the same place (center, lower left) and then run the 3D tool paths, switch bits, zero your z and run the detail pass!

I don’t have software that can create the file, so I just purchased this ready- made file from Etsy I believe

That’s a good question. If you have a spare piece of that same material, OR your project material is larger than your file and won’t get cut, (like with mine. My Poplar was 12” x 12” and my skull was roughly 6” x 8” ) you can probe Z from a spot on the far right (in my circumstance) Your router should return to the same X Y origin after the roughing pass. Let me know if this helps

@@SJSSawdust got it thanks.

Check out this video and use a round over bit instead of a v carve bit. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wQo1pSMW_GM.html

Sure - that was just some Watco brand tung oil from Home Depot. This isn’t 100% tung oil because (apparently) that will take weeks to fully cure, so they cut it with some sort of thinner. It dries quickly and looks beautiful!

Thanks for watching. CNC’ing is definitely a learning process. For a 2 stage project, you would run your roughing pass ( larger bit) and then run a detail pass (smaller bit or v carve bit). After the roughing tool pass is complete it will return to the start position where you set your x and y zero. Once you’ve changed bits and set your z zero, the detail pass is ran

Check out my other videos, I show all sort of different projects and methods

@@SJSSawdust Hey, thanks again! I appreciate the feedback. I'm gonna have to try an STL file project soon!

@@SJSSawdust For sure! I subscribed brother, so I can keep getting your vids. I appreciate you.

I am a current Carveco Maker user who is looking to switch. There used to be a free 3/mo trial, however I cant find links to it anymore. I am currently evaluating Easel Pro, but honestly I am finding that Easel Pro is a joke compared to Carveco (even the maker edition) when it comes to features. On the plus side for Easel however is that Easel is just stupid easy to use. There's pretty much no learning curve at all. It is , IMO not even close to being worth $25/mo when you can get Carveco for $15. The downside to Carveco for me is that their software is a bit clunky sometimes and I don't like their support at all. 2 times I have contacted their support and both times it turns into a circus where I am expected to jump through hoop after hoop if I want to find a solution. They always want you to upload your files to them before they will help you, which I do not agree with at all. The second time, I sent them a video of a bug in the software and they asked me to upload my file. I replied that the issue occurs with any file, and they got snippy with me and insisted I upload my file. The bug is still there a year later, and I've confirmed on more than one PC that is is in their software, so I'm done with them. The best option price wise may be Vectric vCarve Desktop (also 3D). It may actually have more features than Carveco and license is a one time $350. There is also Carbide Create Pro ($10/mo), but I wasn't too impressed with it. Good luck and welcome to the CNC club where software that is inferior to free software for 3D printing is locked behind $2000 paywalls by greedy companies.

I’m not quite sure- I just set my file up and ran it the way Easel instructed me to do so

I got lucky and chose a file that was just under the 100mb. There has to be a shrinking program out here

Your cad/cam program will divide the process up for you and create 2 separate tool paths so you know when to change

Thanks! I bought mine from an Etsy shop. Just search “STL CNC” or simply “STL”

The roughing pass took just under and hour and the detail pass took just over 3 hours. So about 4 hours total

I used a 1/4” ball nose. The smaller diameter the ball nose, the more detailed it will be!

I’m sorry but I’m not sure. I use Easel and it’s a one-stop program

Yes - In order to use any of the special features in Easel, a subscription is required.

Sure

As far as I know, you can't edit or alter the files in Easel. I purchased my file from Etsy and then imported it into Easel. Once the file is imported, you can do slight alterations to the file ( size, z depth) and then Easel sends the g code

In order to use the extra features in Easel - V carve, bowl bits and 3D, you’ll need to purchase the program

Check out the video at at 2:50 mark, I show how you can fully customize your STL file!

Thank you so much - I definitely need to switch but I’m a creature of habit… lol. I’m also intimidated by the thought of learning a whole new program, but I know I need it. Is it easy to learn?

@@irishful1 thanks! I’ll have to just stop being stubborn

3D files are .STL files, so just search the internet for those or go on Etsy and search for them. I paid something like $2 for that skull

Sure. I used a 1/4” end mill to rough out the material and then an 1/8” ball nose for the detail pass ( I believe)

@@SJSSawdust Wow. Thanks for your kind reply.

Yes, thank you - I added an update to the video description

Unfortunately, I don’t think so. For the best results, you need to use a ball nose bit. I think you can use the 3 D function for a month for free (possibly)

Oh, I didn’t know that. I bought a year of pro so I could use the v carve feature, which isn’t included with the free.

Yea, I found that out recently too. Thanks!

@@SJSSawdust I did figure out a way for FREE. I actually made a video because it was a pain. I hope it helps someone. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qJ-X8Ss1aac.html

Thanks for the update. I figured that would happen. I purchased Easel Pro a while ago so I use the V carve feature , so I wasn’t sure when the trial 3D feature would run out

Sorry about that, I added an update in the description

You save the entire file as two separate tool paths (Easel will break it apart for you as “roughing pass” and “detail pass” ) run the rough path, the machine will return to its starting origin, change the bit and run the detail tool path

Sounds to me like maybe you didn’t re-zero your “z” axis after you changed your bit. Either use the extra material that isn’t being cut away or grab a piece the exact same thickness and zero off of that. That should work 😀

@@SJSSawdust yes I had did that. I figured out the problem my router on z axis was too high for some reason so I adjusted it to the wasteboard and redid the whole thing and it worked beautifully. Thank you for your help though.

@@meltn2me great to hear it!

I’m not 100% sure about your machine. I carved this skull without a rotary attachment