Corel12 question

[Daryl Barberousse]

Okay folks, someone has to know the answer to this question.

I'm starting with a basic rectangle and want to round the corners. They way I'm doing that is drawing a circle and copying it 3 times. Then I convert all objects to curves, use the node tool and break apart, then attach the circles to each corner so they are round. Seems to work fine to me since I use alot of node work on some of my leather patterns.

Here's my question......when I vector cut this particular pattern the laser cuts in the order I developed the pattern. I want to make one continuous cut from starting point back to starting point. What's the secret code to make this happen?

I sure hope this explaination made sense....lol

Thanks

[Lee DeRaud]

Try it this way:
1. Draw your four corner circles.
2. Draw line segments to connect them...have snap-to-quadrant enabled to make this easier.
4. Select all and weld together.
5. Use the 'virtual segment delete' tool to remove the portions of the circles inside the rectangle.

I'm not at the laser at the moment, but it looks like the nodes are in the right order in the result. (Note that I'm using X3, but I think everything I described works the same in 12.)

[Pete Thomas]

Use the tool as shown to round the corners. When the lock is closed all 4 corner will be changed at the same time or if the lock is open then each corner can be controlled independently.
40700
-pete

[Jim A. Walters]

I noticed that if you draw a rectangle, the round corner tool will not make the corners a perfect radius. If you use a square, the corners come out perfect. How do you get the corners a perfect radius on a rectangle?

[Pete Thomas]

Below is a rectangle 3.8x.97 and the corner radius tool set to 25. A circle is drawn over the corner. Rectangle line width set to 0.5 and the circle set to hairline.
40703

Below is a magnification of the corner showing the circle and corner radius the same.
40704

Jim, just curious about your comment that the corners are not a perfect radius.

-pete

[Daryl Barberousse]

The attachment might be a better example of the main question I'm asking. When I cut this pattern, it makes cuts in different places until the pattern is complete. How do I tell the computer to make one continuous cut?

Thanks for the previous replies...I learned yet another new way to use corel.

[Pete Thomas]

You are correct, the attachment is a much better idea. Did you try selecting all the objects, then go to Object -> Combine. This creates a single object. I then set the line width of the single object to hairline.

-pete

[Pete Thomas]

Forget to attach the result in the previous post.

-pete

[Jim A. Walters]

Here is what I get when I round the corner to the same settings.
3.8 x 0.97 Corner Radius Tool set to 25.

What could be the issue? I generally have to draw items in AutoCAD then import them if I want any radii to be right.

I am using XP Pro with Corel 12. I have this same problem in Corel 11.

[Daryl Barberousse]

Pete,

I combined, but it still cut in stages........

[Pete Thomas]

Wow Jim, that's really strange, I'm going to have to ponder on this one. There are so many variations to set things up in Corel but at the moment nothings comes to mind.

I have a version of Corel 12 at work and I purchased a copy for my self and both have way different desktop setups, yet they were both Corel 12.

-pete

[Pete Thomas]

Daryl, one more thing, select the object then goto Object -> Close Path -> Closest Nodes with Straight Lines. This will then create a closed path. I normally check by doing a fill on the object, if it fills all is good, if not need to make sure the path is closed.

-pete

[Shaddy Dedmore]

Here's my post that I made elsewhere a while back... This worked for my in version 12.

Here's a way to do it, if you have "dynamic guides" (ALT-SHIFT-D) turned on. Let's say you want a 1/4" rounded corner on a rectangular piece. You could set up a series of rectangles and circles with the proper dimensions then end with a Weld, or you can round over a square and stretch it. Using the right tools stretching it is fast and pretty easy.

First, start with a known quantity so the Round Corners command makes sense. My example uses a 1" square to start. (perfectly square, not a rectangle)
http://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image1.jpg

Then Round over the corners to "50". Turns out that's a percentage. on a 1" square, 100% rounded would be a circle (or 1/2" radius). Since we want 1/4", set the number to 50.
http://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image2.jpg

Then let's say you want your rectangle to be 1.5" x 2". Create a rect of those dimensions.
http://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image3.jpg

Now you convert the small square to Curves and move it to the center of the larger rect. You are going to select nodes and move then to align with the larger rect (make sure your Dynamic Guides are now on to keep from Skewing)
http://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image4.jpg

Move all corresponding node sets...
http://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image5.jpghttp://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image6.jpg

Now delete the larger rect that you used as a guide and you're done.

http://www.shaddysengraving.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Image7.jpg


Remember that the rounding is a percentage, and that 100% is fully rounded (or a circle). And remember to keep Diameter and Radius straight (gets confusing). So a fully (100%) rounded 1" square would be a 1/2" radius circle. To get the percentage of a given radius, do one of the following.

YourRadius * 2 *100 = Corner Roundness number on a 1" square.
(3/8 * 200) = 75 on a 1" square

YourRadius * 4 = Square Dimensions with a Corner Roundess of 50.
(3/8 * 4) = 50 on a 1.5" square

Like I said though, using Dynamic Guides makes it go pretty fast.

Shaddy

[Rodne Gold]

Go to www.isocalc.com (http://www.isocalc.com) for Radit - its a free downloadble routine for properly rounding corners , but better still , upgrade to X3 , it has a dedicated fillet/chamfer/scallop routine that will do any of the 3 on very complex curves and is a snap to use.

[Daryl Barberousse]

BINGO!!! Closing the path worked great. It finally vectored out in one continuous line. I appreciate the advice and help of everyone...especially you Pete.

Now I'll crawl back into my hole and work on leather.