• Are you looking for a coupon code to buy my software? You can get one from lots of 3rd party sites but they won't work. My software never goes on sale and has never been discounted. The only coupon codes that are given is when I give a club presentation and I offer a discount to the attendees. Other than that, everyone pays the same price.

Video Tutorial: NEW! Wall Profile Tools in Woodturner PRO

Where can I go to find instructional videos at the absolute beginner level? I bought all of the programs, but should a beginner start with Woodturner Pro and then move to the other programs after becoming somewhat proficient in Woodturner Pro? I can see that the programs are quite sophisticated, but I need a series of videos that start at the beginner level and build from there.
 
Dennis Castle said:
Where can I go to find instructional videos at the absolute beginner level? I bought all of the programs, but should a beginner start with Woodturner Pro and then move to the other programs after becoming somewhat proficient in Woodturner Pro? I can see that the programs are quite sophisticated, but I need a series of videos that start at the beginner level and build from there.
Click to expand...
Hi Dennis: Good question. First, a bit of background on the software.

-3DDesignPro (3DDP) is used to design wall profiles that can be imported into WTP.
- Lamination Pro (LP) is used to design creative designs for use in either WTP or SP.
- WoodTurnerPro (WTP) was Lloyd's first software for designing segmented vessels. It gives full control of each ring.
- Segment Pro (SP) is Lloyd's latest software. It is rules based. As such, it limits what you can do to each ring, but simplifies the design process.

Think of WTP or SP as replacing graph paper. We use to draw a vessel wall profile on paper. Mark thickness of the rings, make measurements of diameter, do calculations for each ring. The programs eliminate doing the math. If you want to make it change in the design it recalculates the rings for you and produces a new summary cut list.

3DDP works with WTP. You would create your wall profile or use one of the provided designs and import the design into WTP. You do that starting 3DDP and WTP on your pc. Both programs have to be up and running.

As far as where to start in segment turning. I would recommend a couple of books. Malcolm Tibbits "The Art of Segmented Wood Turning", Ray Allen "Wood Turning with Ray Allen", and James Rodgers "The Fundamentals of Segment Woodturning" are three I have used. They all cover the basic design process. There are others you can do a search on segmented books.

WTP has a help section that covers the basic of designs. Here is one site that explains a simple design process.
www.instructables.com

Turning a Segmented Bowl

Turning a Segmented Bowl: This is my instructable for turning a segmented wooden bowl. I made this one with salvaged wood from old projects and furniture. It uses cherry and maple for the contrast, but you can use almost any hardwoods. I've found that it helps to pick one…
www.instructables.com www.instructables.com

You can do a search of planning a segmented bowl. There are numerous videos showing how to plan a vessel.
Review Lloyds videos. Some of the videos on WTP have functions that are not supported in the newer versions. Grid overlay for one.

SP is great for those who want to produce a design with the least amount time spent. Pick a profile, determine height and it is done.
WTP is great for those who want to build a vessel design ring by ring. It gives you full control to modify and change designs.

Join a wood club. Finding someone who does segment bowls and is willing to mentor is a great way to learn.
Last but not least, ask your questions on this forum. There are turners here who can help you out.
 
I have the same questions Dennis posted which I believe goes to 'how to get started with the software' as opposed to the actual turning of a bowl. I have been turning segmented bowls for some time. The woodworking guild I belong to has 1800 members and we calculate designs, ring specifics and cut sheets the old fashion way by designing on graph paper and then hand calculating all the various cuts. I saw this software online and thought this would be a great way to automate the process. I purchased the three product package and was expecting software instruction material. I found the tutorial on the website from 2016 and the first sentence reads "This is an older tutorial, but the instructions presented are all the same as the current version.". So, where can I go to get instruction on each of the software packages as well as how they work together? Thanks
 
VillagesDave said:
I have the same questions Dennis posted which I believe goes to 'how to get started with the software' as opposed to the actual turning of a bowl. I have been turning segmented bowls for some time. The woodworking guild I belong to has 1800 members and we calculate designs, ring specifics and cut sheets the old fashion way by designing on graph paper and then hand calculating all the various cuts. I saw this software online and thought this would be a great way to automate the process. I purchased the three product package and was expecting software instruction material. I found the tutorial on the website from 2016 and the first sentence reads "This is an older tutorial, but the instructions presented are all the same as the current version.". So, where can I go to get instruction on each of the software packages as well as how they work together? Thanks
Click to expand...
I take it the package you purchased contained, WoodTurner Pro, Lamination Pro, Segment Pro and 3DDesign Pro.
Please watch the video tutorials. They are still very helpful

Designing a bowl with WTP
- Start 3DDesign Pro and WTP on your computer
- In 3DDesign Pro draw a wall profile (one half)
That can be done by using a profile provided by the software, free hand draw a profile or bring in a image and trace the outline
- Once the profile is completed in 3DDesignPro click on the icon or menu command to transfer to WTP. (WTP must be running on your PC)
- you will see WTP icon in your windows tray flashing, Click on it to go into WTP
- You will be asked the width or the height of the vessel.
- You will then see the profile in WTP.
- add rings till you are at the top of the profile
- snap to profile
and you have a finished basic vessel

Segment Pro automates much of what you have to do manually in WTP by following some basic segmenting rules. With that you do loose some control on what you can do to idividual rings.
- Start SP
- Choose a profile
- Set your bowl setting (number of segments per ring. ring thickness, wall thickness,
- Set if you are making a painted vessel, featured ring or tornado bowl.
If you selected painted bowl
go into the pain view and paint your pattern.

Attached is a guide to 3DDesign profiles.
 

Attachments

  • 3DP Samples Visual Index.pdf
    4.2 MB · Views: 5
  • 3dpro-southwestern-shapes.pdf
    917.3 KB · Views: 4
Here is some written info I have put together and info copied from WTP help file
 

Attachments

  • 1 Segmented Bowl Plans 3D design final.docx
    2.7 MB · Views: 5
  • 2 Segmented Bowl Plans WTP final.docx
    2.7 MB · Views: 5
  • 4 Lamination Pro.docx
    17.1 MB · Views: 3
Thanks for the quick response! I did purchase the combination package and do appreciate these tips. I'll definitely work through these instructions and hopefully the design process will be a bit more clear.
 
I did a quick review of the attached documents. Looks like "Segmented Bowl Planning Using Woodturner Pro Suite" is a class outline. Is this class available online? As an point of reference, we use VCarve Pro by Vectric for designing projects for our CNC equipment in our wood club. They provide a 5 day remote video training class with accompanied manual. The course follows the same basics you outline in the WPS training document. I guess I was expecting something like this.

I also tried to follow your instructions;

Designing a bowl with WTP
- Start 3DDesign Pro and WTP on your computer
- In 3DDesign Pro draw a wall profile (one half)
That can be done by using a profile provided by the software, free hand draw a profile or bring in a image and trace the outline

I opened both programs but immediately hit a wall trying to find "a profile provided by the software". Could you provide some detail around how I get to these?

Don't mean to be difficult, just trying to get started.
 
VillagesDave said:
I did a quick review of the attached documents. Looks like "Segmented Bowl Planning Using Woodturner Pro Suite" is a class outline. Is this class available online?
Click to expand...
Sorry but the class is not available on line. The material I attached is what I use when I teach WTP at our woodclub.
VillagesDave said:
As an point of reference, we use VCarve Pro by Vectric for designing projects for our CNC equipment in our wood club. They provide a 5 day remote video training class with accompanied manual.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Our woodclub has 2 CNC machines and also uses Vcarve Pro. We do in class training for the software and then a one on one session on the CNC machines.

VillagesDave said:
The course follows the same basics you outline in the WPS training document. I guess I was expecting something like this.
Click to expand...
Lloyd offers some on line one on one training. You can contact him if you are interested and what he charges.


VillagesDave said:
I also tried to follow your instructions;

Designing a bowl with WTP
- Start 3DDesign Pro and WTP on your computer
- In 3DDesign Pro draw a wall profile (one half)
That can be done by using a profile provided by the software, free hand draw a profile or bring in a image and trace the outline

I opened both programs but immediately hit a wall trying to find "a profile provided by the software". Could you provide some detail around how I get to these?

Don't mean to be difficult, just trying to get started.
Click to expand...
When you installed 3DDesign Pro it should have made a folder under your Documents

Documents / 3D Vessels. That is were you will find other subfolders for boxes, vases, etc.
The pdf file I attached 3DP Sample visual index will show you what the number files vessel is.

In 3DP you need to do a file open and navigate to the 3D Vessels folder then go to the sub folder and highlight on of the files.
 
Thanks! I must have missed the file creation you referenced or the instruction on how to navigate to these files. I'm headed that way now and really appreciate your help and patience.
 
No problem. We all earn by asking questions and sharing information.

3D Design Pro (which is now a free program) was written many years ago. The program help sections does not really discuss where the sample files are located. I learned more by just using windows explorer and poking around the C drive.

the info I linked for you may not have info on where the folders exist on the pc. When I instruct, I generally go over some basics on windows and program folders.
 
Thanks! I do appreciate the information. I teach a basic introductory bowl turning class at our woodworking club and was hoping this software suite would help the segmented bowl folks
 
The software should help. It beats doing the old graph paper measurements and hand calculations.

It has been said in other threads and you may already know this
= WTP gives you full control of each ring.
- SP is rules based and automates much of the work one has to do manually in WTP. By doing so SP limits what you can do with the rings.
 
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