Creation of milling data in Relief-Start.
Relief-Start
is a comfortable solution for photo engraving and relief milling. Gray
scale pictures are converted in 3D - relief data and high-quality
milling data for 3- or 4-axis milling machines are created with a few
mouse clicks.
The complete handling happens via navigator.

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Navigator.
The navigator leads You
through the process. The functions are in the right order. The working
off takes place from top down. You can select the function marked in
black. If a function is not to be selected, then switch to the next
operation using Forward. Using the function Back you switch to the previous function.
A help to the functions You receive by using the key <F9>.
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open
(Import Photo):
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Import a gray level picture and adopt the dimension. A
photo should be processed into a photostyler (e.g. Corel PHOTO-PAINT)
before the milling path calculation and saved as grey shade image (8Bit/pixel - not in
colour, exception .JPG). Images in .JPG format can also be saved
as colour images (24Bit). These
are converted into grey shade images on import.
The program imports Bitmap data in the following formats:
BMP
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Windows Bitmap
with 256 gray shades.
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GIF
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CompuServ Bitmap
with 256 gray shades. The GIF -format
contains no information on size or resolution.
The image dimensions must be adjusted
manually after import.
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PCX
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Paintbrush Bitmap
with
256 gray shades.
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JPG, JPEG
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JPEG Bitmap
with 256 gray shades, 8Bit colours and 24Bit
colours. JPG images with 24Bit colours are converted into a
gray shade image on import.
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TIF, TIFF |
The
TIFF - import is qualified for 8bit (1 byte/pixel) and
16bit (2byte/pixel) unpacked grayscale pictures. With 16bit TIF,
reliefs with higher resolution can be saved or opened. Optional is a
fee required TIF - import/export extension obtainable for more picture formats and packed formats. |
HRL |
Unpacked AHSoft relief file format. |
HRP |
Packed AHSoft relief file format. |
RLF |
Older LANG relief file format. |
Heights-breadths-ratio (only photos - input in mm).

Import a picture and adopt the dimension. If You want to change one value only (e.g. the z - amount), then switch proportional Y/N to No before the input.
Proportional: |
With the setting YES all axes are also
adjusted proportionately at the same time. The height - width - depth
ratio remains the same. With the setting No the axes X/Y/Z
can be determined individually. |
Dimension XY/Z: |
Relief
dimensions
in the axes X/Y/Z. |
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filter:
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Correct or smooth the photo. Useful filters are e.g. approximate (strong).

You can rework the relief and achieve flatter
surfaces and/or filter out irregularities using the filter functions.
Filters
are mostly required for import data, e.g. import of dot clouds: Digitalising
imperfections must be removed (error pixs, outliers, approximate).
Error pixels:
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Individual dots are filtered.
This has an impact only locally within a radius of one image dot, i.e. no
appreciable change of quality though smoothing of the surface.
Max
imperfection (0.01..10mm):
The image dot (pixel), whose value deviates from its
neighbouring dots by more than the specified
max imperfection, is
approximated (adjusted). An image edge of 1 pixel is not processed.
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Outliers: |
The function outlier is the special surfaces
filter for the removal of individual intensely different image dots (outliers)
independent of their value. This filter has an impact only locally within
a radius of one image dot, i.e. no appreciable change of quality though
smoothing of the surface. |
Approximate (strongly):
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The image contours or shapes are smoothed through
approximate and approximate
strongly .
Approximate can, depending on requirement, be carried out several times. |
Smooth: |
The relief resolution is doubled and, at the same time,
the relief slightly smoothed. This filter produces significantly higher
data quantities and should therefore be used for coarse images only. Reliefs
with too high a resolution can be reduced again using
scale . reduce (e.g.: [%] = 50). |
Radius filter:
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Smooth the relief, all edges are rounded off. |
Correction filter1: |
Smooth the relief, all edges are rounded one-sided. |
Correction filter2: |
This filter fills gaps (e.g. following STL import). |
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mirror+
rotate:
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Mirror the complete relief in X, Y, Z or rotate by +90
degrees / -90 degrees.

Mirror X/Y/Z: |
The relief
is mirrored about the selected axis. |
Counterblock XZ: |
Concurrent
mirroring for a counterblock in X and Z direction. |
Rotate +90°/-90°: |
The relief
is rotated by
+90°/-90°. |
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Relief AutoCorr:
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Milling data are calculated. A help for AutoCorr You receive after function activation by using <F9>. The
relief z zero position is placed on the highest relief point. The
relief deep is depend on the form or the picture. The zero
position X/Y lays on the left - below side. The milling dimension
is determined with the import using scaling.
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Milling data export:
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You can export the calculated milling data in various formats.
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End:
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Stops Relief-Start.
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Relief AutoCorr.
Using the function the
complete tracks are calculated according to several selectable
processes for the milling of a relief. The relief boundary is used as
milling limit.

Settings for milling path calculation.
Tool #: |
Number
from the tool library [0..199]. The number -1 switches the calculation
OFF. For the calculation the following combinations of the processes
are permitted: roughing only coarsely, only finish, roughing coarsely
and finish or all processes together. The cutter tip radii (CuT + CuC) must
be input in descending order, i.e. for roughing the larger, for
smoothing the finer tool. The tool input can be opened using <F2> or
through a click on the tool graphic.
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Clearance process: |
Surface milling processes see selection.
If contours have been marked previously in CAD then these are
employed, otherwise the relief boundary is to be used as milling
limit. Which type of clearance is possible is indicated in the
selection. For roughing the
rectangular spiral is available. For finishing this is replaced by an
optimised line milling process.
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Clearance direction: |
Inwards: |
The milling tracks run from inside outwards. |
Outwards: |
The milling tracks run from outside
inwards. |
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Clearance track separation
[%]: |
Separation of the milling tracks dependent on the cutter radius f(CuT+CuC).
With 100%
track separation it is worked with an offset of CuT+CuC.
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Layer separation
Z (1st track): |
Milling depth setting for the 1st track. With clearance direction
outwards a border is milled in layers around the relief (free-mill relief).
The setting always takes place relative to the cutter used (CuT + CuC),
i.e. with the setting 100% the cutter dips into the material per track
with a max. depth, which corresponds with the cutter radius. Typical
settings are 10%
.. 150%. For easy to mill materials also 151% .. 998%. The setting 999% switches
the precalculation of the 1st track OFF. In most practical cases, the
calculation of the 1st track is necessary for the first tool only. For all
other tools this calculation can then be switched OFF. Only in special
cases, e.g. the first tool in narrow areas does not achieve the
necessary depth, is the switching ON of the 1st track necessary for a
further tool.
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Clearance layer number
(1..99): |
Number of the desired layer levels from upper edge of relief down to
relief base.
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The
parameters of the relief AutoCorr.
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Incision angle: |
Angle for the incision (dip) movements
into the material. In order to spare the tool engagement should be as
inclined as possible. Input range = 5° .. 90°(vertical). Typical
value: 30°.
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Finish offset: |
The roughing tool (roughing coarse + fine) allows a minimum material
thickness to remain. Input range = 0 .. 10mm. Typical value: 0.1mm.
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Spiral
resolution: |
Vector
resolution for circular spirals. Spirals are vectorised for 3D
processing. With circular resolution = 0.1° a variable circular
resolution is created (dependent on the momentary radius). Circular
spirals are fundamentally rounded off outwards.
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Smooth
finish [Y/N]: |
YES: |
Following milling correction the
relief is refined for a better surface quality. This setting
somewhat improves the surface quality. If extremely steep edges
are to remain unchanged in the relief. then this parameter is to
be set to zero. |
No: |
The relief remains unchanged. |
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Fin Tool. Level 0
lift [Y/N]: |
YES: |
With milling the tool leaves out
plane surfaces at the uppermost level (depth 0). This is only
sensible with a relief with large plane surfaces which are not
to be milled.. |
No: |
The complete relief is milled (coin
relief, without tool interruption). |
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Accelerate
roughing calc.: |
The calculation for the roughing tool is
considerably accelerated with YES. If steep areas, for example, are
already finished-milled using the roughing tool because the finishing
tool with larger flank angle can no longer reach this position, then
this parameter must be set to zero.
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Projections tol. (0..0.1)[mm]: |
Reproduction accuracy for the generation
of milling data. Sensible values for high quality milling are
tolerances <=0.002mm. For simple tasks one can also work with a
tolerance <0.05mm. For woodworking for example a tolerance 0.05 .. 020
suffices. With the setting 0 the relief with the highest accuracy
(best quality) is reproduced. Here, however, you obtain a very high
data density which simple machines cannot process without problem.
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