Kerf Compensation using Corel Draw

[plasmanewbie]

I found the Plasmacam software a little cumbersome for a lot of the work I was doing so I bought Corel Draw and it has worked out great for me. I tried AutoCad but found it to be limiting for my line of work.

Corel gives me access to all my Windows fonts for my sign jobs, and drawing almost anything is easy now that I am used to it. Tracing capabilities are also there for tracing scanned images etc. Also I just learned how to automatically compensate for my kerf width in Corel which is a major bonus. Automatic kerf compensation was a feature I have wanted for a while. Every time I use it I learn something new, it's great.

I export my files in dxf format from Corel and my Pcam software is able to open them.

plasmanewbie, I also use Corel and I would like to know how to set for Kerf compensation, is this easy to explain?
Thanks, Metal Lee

[plasmanewbie]

Hi Metal Lee..I will explain it as best I can.

Kerf Compensation using Corel Draw X3

-select all objects to be cut
-press "F12" (opens outline pen dialog box"
-set the units to "inches"
-set the width to .100" (your kerf width)
-press "ctrl-shift-q" (converts outline to object from the arrange drop down menu)
-drop down the "view" menu and select "wireframe"
-press "ctrl-k" (breaks curve apart from the arrange drop down menu)
-delete the centerline and inside line on outside cuts and vise versa for inside cuts

Please let me know how these instructions work for you. I would like to modify them to make things more clear for others if you find them difficult to follow.

plasmanewbie

[Metal Lee]

Hi Metal Lee..I will explain it as best I can.

Kerf Compensation using Corel Draw X3

• open your file in Corel
• "Group" all of your interior objects leaving the outside object seperate and keep them selected
• locate the "Interactive Blend Tool" (5th tool from bottom, left side), click bottom right corner to access menu
• click in the "Interactive Contour Tool"
• set your "Contour Offset" (kerf offset) at the top of the screen above your horizontal ruler
• change the "Outline Color" to red at the top of the screen above your horizontal ruler
• click on the "Inside" button at the top of the screen and you will see the kerf comp lines in red
• select the outside object
• click on the "Outside" button at the top of the screen and you will see the kerf comp lines in red
• delete all of the original black lines and save your file

Please let me know how these instructions work for you. I would like to modify them to make things more clear for others if you find them difficult to follow.

plasmanewbie

Thanks Plasmanewbie i'll try that..

[plasmanewbie]

Metal Lee...did you get the kerf compensation working for you in Corel Draw X3?

plasmanewbie

[GWS.Arkansas]

hey guys i am having trouble figuring out the kerf comp in corel x3. number 1 i dont know how to just select interior objects. keep in mind i am very new to this and may need you to be as simple as you can possibly be. thanks and i will keep trying

[SignTorch Vector Art]

If you have nice closed paths you can

1) COMBINE - to consolidate the curves into one

2) check WINDOW/DOCKERS/CONTOUR

3) apply a 1 step outside contour with distance set to half of kerf width

4) BREAK-APART

then you can select the entire inner (or outer) contour as a single object

always keep the original (inner) contour for editing or future design work

export the outer contour to CNC

you can delete or keep that outer contour at that kerf width, but if you later decide to scale or change anything, you would use the original outline, and redo the contour from that

if you were to scale the kerf compensated outline, it will cause the kerf compensation amount to be different than intended

or if you later decide to adjust the kerf, if you keep the original, you can always reapply the contour with a different kerf width

so always keep the original outline

[SignTorch Vector Art]

corel draw and adobe illustrator is for vector art

corel photopaint and adobe photoshop is for raster art

search for photopaint tutorials

photopaint is an excellent program, I don't remember any details, but I always liked it, partly because photoshop is just too expensive, in the end they both do the same thing