ASPIRE for small jewelry pendants

[Len Levi]

Have a roland mdx-15 small milling machine.
Want to machine from wax, bas relief pendants.

Downloaded ASPIRE program and it appears very user friendly, but
didn't know if its was mainly for larger projects such as wood signs
or if it works for highly detailed smaller pieces ...like 2".

Artcam pro is another alternative but out of the budget at this time.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[james mcgrew]

aspire is capable, you may have to work in hih resolution at very small spaces, but i have no doubt it can be done. contact info@vectric.com

and let us know

[Len Levi]

Thanks..

I checked cnczone and vectric aspire forums, but couldn't find much
about very small detailed pieces.

[james mcgrew]

it is well known these fellows are the original writers of artcam if any one knows they will

jim

[james mcgrew]

i made a file 1" square by .25 deep, brought in a file "horse in the b pattern and machined at 1/8th then 1/16th then 1/32, the rolands are made for this use in jewelry. i am sure the aspire will do this work and will say it is much smaller than i am used too!!

[Len Levi]

i made a file 1" square by .25 deep, brought in a file "horse in the b pattern and machined at 1/8th then 1/16th then 1/32, the rolands are made for this use in jewelry. i am sure the aspire will do this work and will say it is much smaller than i am used too!!

Looken Good.

Will report back what I hear from Vectric.

[Len Levi]

Got an email back from Vectric.
Seems Aspire is specially designed for wood application.

Hello

Our software is primarily aimed and produced for woodworkers,
this is the focus of all of our products. So any future versions would be
very unlikely to add features that reflect the needs of your industry.
(It is an industry we know well, we have previously produced software
for your industry with another company, before Vectric was formed).

So whereas Aspire might be useful to you for what you do, it is
not something that I would recommend to you.
There is no ring module, nor is the rotary function full simultaneous
4 axis, (the rotary axis toolpaths are just wrapped 3 axis ones).

I hope that this helps.


Best regards,
Mark.



Mark MORAN markm@vectric.com
Vectric Technical Support www.vectric.com
Office Telephone
Calling from U.K. 01527 460 459
Calling from U.S. 144 152 746 0459

[james mcgrew]

like i said they would know, and it is kinda too bad because artcam is an expensive operation and requires annual dues for upgrades, aspire will work in small files yet i know little of jewelry work

jim

[Michael Schwartz]

All I can recommend is to download the trial version which is pretty much fully functional and see if it does what you need it to. This can be said about most software.

[Len Levi]

I downloaded the trial version of ASPIRE and it seems very user
friendly. I create the design in Corel save vector outlines as
dfx and import the file into ASPIRE to shape all the components.

The tool path part of ASPIRE has only large bits. So I guess the
files could be saved as STL and then create the tool paths with
the software provided with the Roland milling machine.

I did see one posting on the ASPIRE forum users site of an example
of small jewelry pieces made from wax carving done.

Just wasn't sure if when the file created in ASPIRE is saved... is the
resolution, or whatever the correct term is, the same as would be
from say ARTCAM?

The pieces I want to make are not full 3D. They are relief of a flat
surface. Just like carving wood signs, but very small. I have no rotary
fixtures.

[Matt Clara]

The tool path part of ASPIRE has only large bits.

Those are the default--you can establish your own bit sizes.

[Bob Schlowsky]

Len;
You can specify the bit size down to "anything". I have cut some small wood parts with 1/32 bits from http://www.precisebits.com/products/...sebit-soft.asp
They have bits down to .005
I only list them because I have purchased theirs, and their customer service was great. I am sure that they have many equally good competitors.
If you find some specific shaped bits you can enter those profiles as you own custom shapes, as long as they do not have "undercuts".
If what you want is the ability to make the equivalent of the wood carvings you see at a tiny size, there is no reason why Aspire wouldn't work. I think Mark was being overly cautious, as a programmer should be, about it's usefulness for the entire industry. It is a great 2 1/2 D program and very flexible.

[james mcgrew]

"The pieces I want to make are not full 3D. They are relief of a flat
surface. Just like carving wood signs, but very small. I have no rotary
fixtures."

aspire will work fine for this purpose

jim

[Len Levi]

"The pieces I want to make are not full 3D. They are relief of a flat
surface. Just like carving wood signs, but very small. I have no rotary
fixtures."

aspire will work fine for this purpose

jim

Have been going through the tutorials. Its a great program.
Doesn't seem to take much time to get some really nice
results, at least visually.. at this point.

[Len Levi]

Found this posting on the Asiper forum.

Christmas Necklace

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7420&hilit=jewelry

a different kind of job done by CNC but why not,
not always necessary to work a BIG workpiece but also suitable for the very fine and delicate jobs.