Basalt Columnar basalt

What you get

• Full 24 × 48 in panel as a watertight STL, in inches
• 16-bit grayscale heightmaps at 25 and 50 px/in
• 12 × 12 in test tile, STL and PNG
• One-page cut sheet PDF with bit, settings and steps
• Works in Vectric Aspire, VCarve Pro, Carveco, Fusion 360 and Carbide Create Pro
• Licence to sell what you carve (not the files)

How to cut it

1. Cut the 12 × 12 in test tile on scrap first.
2. Face the stock flat and zero Z on the top surface.
3. Import the STL or the 50 px/in heightmap at 24 × 48 in, 0.300 in deep.
4. Rough with a 1/4 in flat end mill, leaving 0.020 in of stock.
5. Finish with a 1/8 in ball nose at 0.015 in stepover, raster along the 48 in length.
6. Faster option: a 1/4 in ball nose at 0.020 in, which rounds the joints between columns.
7. Panels larger than 24 × 48 in: tile the file edge to edge; it repeats without a seam.
8. Knock off fuzz with a nylon brush or 320 grit, then finish as normal.

Feeds and speeds on the cut sheet are calculated starting points. Run the test tile first and adjust for your machine.