ArtCAM 4. Generating a Relief
4. Generating a Relief
Relief. A Relief is the actual 3D model that ArtCAM produces and is generated from vectors, bitmaps or by combining reliefs. Basic Reliefs are generated from a closed vector using the Shape Editor. Double clicking on the selected vector/s will bring up the shape editor.
There are three main types, domes, pyramid and flat plane. By selecting a shape then other options become available.
There are 6 options, Add, Subtract, Merge High, Merge Low, Zero and Zero Rest.
The 2D view shows the dome relief already made from a circle vector and the rectangle selected for the new relief.
Add ADD This method adds the new relief on top of the current relief, giving the following effect.
In this case a plane of a start height of 1mm was Added.
Subtract This method removes the new relief from SUBTRACT the current relief, giving the following effect.
In this case a plane of a start height of 1mm was Subtracted from the dome.
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Zero By using Zero the area inside the vector will be given a z height of zero.
Note: with this option it does not matter what relief shape was chosen, the 2D rectangle area was zeroed.
Merge High MERGE HIGH The new relief is checked against the current relief and where the new relief is higher in Z it will be displayed. This gives the effect of the new relief merging into the current relief.
In this case a plane of a start height of 1mm was Merged High with the dome.
Merge Low MERGE LOW The new relief is checked against the current relief and where the new relief is lower in Z (such as the zero plane) it will be displayed.
In this case a plane of a start height of 1mm was Merged Low with the dome.
ZERO REST Zero Rest By using Zero Rest the area inside the vector will be unchanged and the rest of the relief flattened to the zero plane.
Note: with this option it does not matter what relief shape was chosen, the area outside the 2D rectangle area was zeroed.
Reliefs are shown in the 3D view and can be saved as separate files. The smoothness of an ArtCAM relief is defined by the original resolution the model was generated in.
Anchor Example. Open the model anchor.art from Examples2.
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The vectors have been generated for this model.
Select the outer, bar vector of the anchor as shown.
Double Click on the vector to bring up the Shape Editor.
A flat plane shape has been selected with a start height of 0.5. The start height indicates the very top Z level of the flat plane.
Press Add, Close and then F3. Switch off the Draw Zero Plane
The bar is produced. If you put your mouse over the relief and look at the Z-axis it will show the Z height as 0.5.
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Press F2. De-select the bar vector. Hold down Shift and Select the two vectors inside the bar.
The relief will be generated inside these two vectors.
Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
The vectors have been given a dome shape with an angle of 45 degrees, with no limit. This means that the dome will rise at 45 degrees until it meets in the middle of the vector. A higher angle would produce a higher relief.
Select the Dome option. Change the start height to 0 and press Add, Close and then F3.
The extra detail has been added to the relief.
Press F2. Select the main anchor vector.
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This vector will be merged into the bar vector.
Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
The vector has been given a pyramid shape, with a steep angle of 65 degrees, until it reaches a height of 0.75mm, where it will remain flat.
Select Merge High, Close and then F3.
The main anchor shape is now combined with the bar.
Press F2. Select the hook vectors.
These vectors will be combined with the current relief.
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Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
These vectors have been given a small angle but they start from a Z height of 0.75.
Select Merge High, Close and then F3.
The hooks have now been added.
Press F2. Select the ring vectors.
Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
The hook has been given a dome profile with a high angle, with a start height of 0.5
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Select Merge High, Close and then F3.
Spin the relief around by holding down the left mouse button. Select File Save As naming the model in C:\Temp as training-anchor. Select File Close.
Tin Lid Example Open the model tintop.art from Examples2. Select the bitmap on/off command.
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This turns the bitmap colour off so that the vectors can be seen clearly and easily picked.
These vectors were generated in ArtCAM and are all closed. They will be used to produce a relief of the tin lid, which will be painted using the bitmap colours.
Select the outer circle vector. Select the shape editor. Select a Dome Shape with an Angle of 60, a start height of 5, with limit to height set with a value of 1mm. Press Add and then F3 (3D view).
This relief is made up of a flat platform up to 5mm and then a dome shape of up by a maximum of 1mm on top. This gives the effect of a smooth fillet around the rim.
The leaves need to be defined now as they are partially underneath the sunflower.
Press F2 (2D view). Select both of the leaf vectors. Select the shape editor. Select a Dome Shape with an Angle of -8, a start height of 0.5, with no limit set. Press Add and then F3 (3D view).
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The leaf shape has been added on the top with a platform of 0.5mm, which has then been scooped out by a low angle to give the leaf shape some shape.
The leaf veins can now be added.
Press F2 (2D view). Select both of the leaf vein vectors. Select the shape editor. Select a Dome Shape with an Angle of 10, a start height of 0, with no limit set. Press Add and then F3 (3D view).
By zooming into one of the leaves you can see that by adding the vein relief it follows the shallow shape of the leaf.
The petals on the flower can be added. This is added in two separate stages to allow for some petals to be higher than the others.
Press F2 (2D view). Select the petal to the left of the highest petal to select the lower group.
Select the shape editor. Select a Dome Shape with an Angle of 15, a start height of 6.5, with scale to height set with a value of 1mm. Press Merge High and then F3 (3D view).
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When Merge High is used the start height set is an Actual value from the Z0 of the relief. By setting the value higher than the leaves the flower is raised above.
Press F2 (2D view). Select the highest petal to select the higher group. Select the shape editor. Select a Dome Shape with an Angle of 15, a start height of 7, with scale to height set with a value of 1mm. Press Merge High and then F3 (3D view).
This petal group is higher than the other group, and is shown higher, so the petals in the front are full petals and the petals behind are only partial petals.
The dome for the sunflower centre can now be generated.
Press F2 (2D view). Select the small circle vector (in the centre of the flower). Select the shape editor. Select a Dome Shape with an Angle of 25, a start height of 7, with no limit set. Press Merge High and then F3 (3D view).
The centre of the flower has been merged into the petals.
The text can now be added.
Press F2 (2D view). Select both of the text vectors. Select the shape editor. Select a Pyramid Shape with an Angle of 45, a start height of 6, with Limit to height set with a value of 0.2mm. Press Merge High and then F3 (3D view).
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The text has been given a chamfered edge and a flat top making it stand out.
This relief can be shown in other colours or using the 2D bitmap colours.
From the Assistant - Model, select Lights and Material. In the Shading Setup or Material areas select a down arrow (to the right of a current settings tab) and select an alternative (Note the selection in the Material category or adjustment to a slider will only update on clicking Apply).
In The Material section select 2D View and press Apply and observe the change in style on the relief to reflect the 2D bitmap colour scheme.
The relief is overlaid with the same colour scheme as the 2D bitmap (This will override the settings in Shading Setup)
The whole relief can be shaded from a choice of colour schemes located in the Shading Setup or Material pull down menus.
In the Material section select Selected Colour and press Apply. Select File Save As naming the model in C:/Temp as train-tin-lid.
In ArtCAM you can use a selected vector to distort the final relief, allowing you to interactively shape the final relief.
Press F2 (2D view). Select the circle vector. From the Assistant - Relief Editing select Relief Envelope Distortion.
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The Relief Envelope Distortion page appears. Also the selected vector is displayed within a gridded box (called the envelope) with nodes at the corners.
These nodes can be moved around, stretching and squeezing the relief. The behaviour of the relief is controlled by the options on this page.
Additional nodes can be added and the vector is edited by using normal vector commands.
When a relief is distorted, the Z height can also change, if required or kept the same. The options can give very different effects.
The use existing curve will be covered later.
Finally, to accept the finished distortion you press Finish, otherwise Cancel will revert the relief back to its original shape.
The Grid can be clearly seen in the 2D view. Individual nodes can be moved around and the angles can be changed.
Select the option Replace Original Relief. Select Create Vector Outline and set relief scaling as average scale at 100% (A rectangular Vector appears as the outer limit). Select in the form to access node editing. Put the mouse in the middle of the top span and press I to insert a new point.
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Select the new point and move it down in the Y until it is halfway down the text letter l.
Move the left angle node down. Select the right span across the top and press L to convert to a line.
Move the bottom left angle node until it snaps on the letter e. Move the bottom right angle node until it snaps on the letter d
The new shape of the relief is shown in outline.
Select Add, press Paste (to recreate the relief) and Finish to accept. Select F3. From the Assistant – Model – Lights and Material, select Default.
The relief has been distorted.
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Press Finish to save the relief. Press F2. Select the greyscale view.
When the relief is changed the greyscale view is automatically updated. By switching the greyscale view on you can see the difference from the original vector design.
If you move the mouse over the flat part of this relief the Z value is around 5.75. The previous Z height was 6mm.
To keep the Z height the same the option Keep Current Z would be used.
Select File Close.
Pyramid Exercise
Create the vectors and make a relief using your own values.
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