Adventure Map

This month I have taken on one of my largest projects to date and I’m excited to bring you the fabulously detailed Sundial project which has been crafted using the latest and greatest new features of version 11.5. As the first part of the Sundial, I’ll show you how to make a special Adventure Map encompassing the flavour of travel and exploration to bring you a multi-material extravaganza of decorative wood art. The Adventure Map gives you the flexibility to create a perfect stand-alone project or combine it with Part 2 Explorer Frame and Part 3 Sundial to create a magnificent 3-part stackable gift or conversation piece.

In this first project, I'll show you how to quickly create the map feature in contrasting plywood by importing a bitmap of Mount Snowdon ‘Yr Wyddfa’ in Wales, magnifying a close-up of the summit, then I'll use the new freehand drawing tool to trace over the map contours. The sheets functionality helps to make the most efficient use of materials by laying up the separate 2D map contours on each sheet ready to machine. Then I'll be using the drawing tools to add a title, date, summit marker and North Pole symbol using a v-bit tool on a profile toolpath. Why not step it up and create a map of your own favourite mountain or canyon range or add some decoration or delicate patterns using a resin inlay to show natural features like lakes or rivers!

This FREE project comes with the files for you to download from your V&CO account along with a PDF and video for you to watch highlighting some of the key important steps to help you get through your project. For those of you yet to try our software packages, why not download our FREE trial software and give it a go!

We would love to see your own Adventure Map inspirations, so go ahead and try one of the projects then share your creative inspiration on the Vectric Forum or tag us on our socials.

Happy Making!