Some time in the next few months I’ll be switching the site over so the gallery is what comes up first. I’ve been looking at the sales reports and about 20% of sales right now are coming through the gallery. When I get to that point I’ll include a link in the top menu in the gallery to the “legacy site”, but once I do the switch I won’t be updating the existing pages any more. Once I complete my trip I’ll go back to checking sales reports and when most sales are coming through the gallery I’ll eliminate the legacy pages. As always, feedback is appreciated.
To that end I’ve added a Frequently Asked Questions page, linked only through the gallery menu. This is because it’s a major undertaking to alter the menus on the main site. I’ll go ahead and post the contents of that page here also. I would suggest everyone at least read the last one, it’s actually a slightly edited copy/paste from an email I sent a customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do your models come with G-Code?
A: No, the models come in 3dclip, png (gray scale heightmap), and stl formats.
Q: What do you charge for the G-Code files?
A: I do not provide G-Code files. Nothing I provide can damage a CNC machine, a bad G-Code file potentially could.
Q: Will your models work with V-Carve Pro or Desktop?
A: Yes, but you can’t drag and drop like with a v3m file. Please follow these import instructions.
Q: Will your models work with Cut3d?
A: Yes. Please see this page for info about using my models in Cut3d.
Q: Why don’t you use v3m?
A: V3m is a proprietary format used by Vectric and it’s subsidiaries to enable people to buy their models and generate tool paths for them without buying other software. They do not make that format available outside of their own company, and since I’m completely independent of Vectric (other than being their customer) I don’t have access to generate v3m.
Q: Why don’t you have a search on your site? That’s a lot of pictures to scroll through to find what I’m looking for!
A: I don’t have a search on my site because I haven’t been able to figure out how to do that. Everything I’ve tried just brings up the page and you still have to scroll through all the pictures. However, the gallery has a built in search and there’s a link to the sale page on each picture.
Q: You don’t list a phone number on your site so can you call me?
A: Nope. I don’t list a phone number on my site because I want to keep all business communications to email. I’m a one man show, and I can work on a model and answer emails at the same time but a phone conversation requires me to pay attention to one thing until it’s done. Also, my memory is not good enough to retain enough info from a verbal conversation, I would have to take notes during the call. I’d rather just look up the email when I need to refer back to something.
Q: I want to blah blah blah so can you blah blah this model?
A: I’m not going to say if you ask you’ll get but I can guarantee if you don’t ask you won’t get. So ask.
Q: How do I buy the combo pack?
A: Click the combo pack text. In fact, you can click anywhere in the box from the top of the combo pack text to the bottom of the box.
Q: What’s the significance of the different model colors?
A: The gray ones are the oldest. I liked the way they looked so that’s what I started with. I switched to gold because several people told me they had trouble distinguishing details in the gray. I then switched to wood grain because I found out that people were taking my pictures and putting them on their sites so they could sell projects before purchasing the model. I started making the pictures wood grain so the end customer could get a better idea of what the project would end up looking like. I also started posting full size full resolution pictures in the blog for people to download.
Q: Why do I get little holes around the edge of the dished models?
A: When I make the dish I feather the edge to reduce sanding on a sharp edge of the bowl and when I cut it out I cut it .25″ or .35” out from the original edge of the bowl to provide a lip. The little holes are from the bit falling off the edge of the model. If you put a boundary vector around the dish -0.05 and re-simulate you’ll find that problem is eliminated and you should have a smooth flow from the bottom of the dish into the surface of the material with minimal need for sanding.
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