Cutting image larger than material

[Jharvey]

Okay I’m still new to all this. I have a STV CNC table with a Hypertherm 85A. I have a image and I’m needing to cut it out of two sheets of metal. Has anyone done this that could explain how I go about doing it. It’s going for my gate which is 8’ wide by 10’ tall. Software I use is Inkscape and the plasma software is MyPlasmaCNC. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[acourtjester]

I have not done that but I think the process is called indexing. You split the DXF file and put a way to locate each part with indexing holes or similar points. After the cuts you use the indexing points to align the parts to form the whole assembly.

[Jharvey]

I have not done that but I think the process is called indexing. You split the DXF file and put a way to locate each part with indexing holes or similar points. After the cuts you use the indexing points to align the parts to form the whole assembly.

Thank you. I will check out those video and see if I can figure it out.

[djreiswig]

Indexing would be when your table is smaller than the material and you need to cut part of the job and then slide the material and cut the rest of the job.
If you're cutting out of 2 sheets, I would just split the part in cad at a location that fits the material and is also easy to align the parts for welding. Then cut each half separately.

[adbuch]

I agree. You will need to split your drawing into two halves so that each can be cut separately, and then both halves joined (welded) back together.
Here is an example. The idea here is to draw you dividing line as to cause the least amount of problems when re-attaching the two halves. The table size here is 4x4. The part will not fit on a single half sheet. One option for this particular part would be to use indexing and cut from a single larger sheet of material. But since you say you are limited to two sheets, one for each half - then this is the method I would use.

When you edit your original drawing you will need to close in the ends along the cut line so as to create two actual cuttable parts.
David

Sign in two halves 0.jpg

Sign in two halves 00.jpg

Sign in two halves 1.jpg

Sign in two halves 3.jpg

Sign in two halves 4.jpg

Of course it really doesn't matter which side you cut first. That was just the order I chose for this example.

Sign in two halves 5.jpg

[plasmanewbie]

I have had to do this many times and really very easy. David shows above just how I have done it. Not sure what design software you have but in Corel I can split it very easily and then just add the required lines to close up the drawings. Can you post your design?