Thermwood Carving Library |
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OVERVIEW
This
section of the web site addresses a unique program available only from
Thermwood. We have developed, and are continually expanding, a library
of CNC programs used to produce wood carvings using a three-axis Thermwood
CNC router. Certain three-dimensional parts such as posts, legs and finials
require an optional Rotary Playback Axis. These programs can be downloaded
from this site, copied into a Thermwood CNC control and executed.
There is a small rental fee due each time
a program is executed. These fees vary with the part and pay for the
program. On certain parts, this fee is shared with the owner or creator
of the design and in these cases, they determine the rental fee.
There are three components to each carving:
- First, there is a setup-instruction
sheet in PDF format that explains how to set up and run the program.
This can be freely downloaded from this site by any eCabinet Systems
Member using their membership number and zip code.
- There is an HSF file, which can be loaded into
eCabinet Systems and used as part of the design process. This also
can be downloaded by any eCabinet Systems Member.
- Finally, there is the actual CNC file. This
can be downloaded without cost, provided the person downloading
it has set up an account with Thermwood against which any rental
fees will be charged. You must be a Thermwood machine user to set
up a part rental account and your Thermwood control must have Internet
access to participate in program rental. The account must be set
up through the control itself, although once set up, files can
be downloaded either through the control or using an independent
PC. The name and password associated with this account is used
to download the CNC file.
Existing
Thermwood controls built before this program must be upgraded to add
features needed to decode and run the rental programs. The effort and
cost, if any, required for this upgrade depends on several factors. You
will need to request an evaluation of your system by calling us at 1-800-221-3865
(Ext. 251) or clicking
here and completing a request.
New controls are automatically equipped
with the features needed for program rental.
If
you download the CNC file using an independent PC, it should be copied
directly into the Thermwood control where a utility extracts and stores
various files included in the download. The programs can then be run,
provided you have rental credits in your account sufficient to cover
the rental fee.
You may purchase rental credits in any
dollar quantity through your account either using an office computer
or directly through the control. If you purchase credits using an independent
PC, you will be issued a credit code that must be entered into your control.
At this point, the control keeps track of usage and allows you to run
rental programs as long as a credit balance remains.

You may transfer credit balances between
controls by requesting a transfer. Your control will issue a code that
you can type into another Thermwood control provided it has also been
configured for program rental. This transfers existing credits to the
new control. Each control communicates with Thermwood during these transfers
to keep balances accurate.
When you first set up an account, a $25
credit is added to your account. This amount is intended to allow you
to experiment with the programs and learn without having to pay rental
fees during this learning process. This is limited to one credit per
customer regardless of the number of machines owned. If a single customer
has more than one facility with a machine, each independent facility
will be issued its own credit.
Once
the carving program has been loaded into the control, it can be scaled
up or down on each axis independently. Scaling is specified as a percentage
of the original size on each axis, so a 6” part scaled 150% becomes
a 9” part. A 6” part scaled 50% becomes a 3” part.
The rental fee charge occurs about half
way through the program with the specific charge point that is dependent
on the design of the part. We try to make this a point at which any hidden
flaws in the wood material have been exposed. If the program is stopped
before this point, it can be restarted without addition cost. Once this
point is reached, you must pay the rental fee again in order to rerun
the program. You can stop program execution, to change a broken tool
for example, and then back up the program and restart it without cost.
For more detail about the transactions
at the machine control, please
click HERE.
Please note that CNC program rental
is a patent pending concept. |