# Noob Question on curved carving **URL:** \ **Category:** Projects\ **Created:** [November 7, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764 "2016-11-07T18:00:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ReidNichol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@ReidNichol](https://community.inventables.com/u/ReidNichol)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/1 "2016-11-07T18:00:21Z")
I have spent days watching CNC videos and reading many of the threads on this and other forums. I am trying to find examples of carving curved surfaces? 99% seems to be flat surfaces? The candy bowls have sharp 90° corners. My specific interest is ship 1/2 models? Can anyone help me find a simple file to carve a wooden spoon to impress the wife? “You spent $2000 and you can’t make a wooden spoon?” 😵 ---
**Author:** ![MarcCohen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/marccohen/32/16524_2.png) [@MarcCohen](https://community.inventables.com/u/MarcCohen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/2 "2016-11-07T18:03:37Z")
If I am understanding you correctly, you are looking to perform 3D carving. Unless you can find an existing 3D model to import, you will need a 3D CAD program such as Aspire to do what you want. There are many 3D models already out there. The one that I found that has the most is > **[Design & Make Store - CNC Clipart](https://store.designandmake.com/)** > > Design and Make have over 2000 professionally created, 2D and 3D CNC ready clipart files, model projects and collections available as V3M, STL and RLF files. But with that site, you usually have to pay for each model you want. ---
**Author:** ![StephenCook](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/stephencook/32/73911_2.png) [@StephenCook](https://community.inventables.com/u/StephenCook)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/3 "2016-11-07T18:04:11Z")
You need to have a 3d model of the curved surface. You can use Autodesk’s Fusion 360. or Cut3D / V-Carve (you will have to use a 3d modeling program for the object your trying to cut first) There are other ways as well but these seem to be the norm. Curved surfaces are 3d objects made from a square/rectangular blocks. The magic is in the software you use to generate the G-code / 3d Geometry. ---
**Author:** ![ReidNichol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@ReidNichol](https://community.inventables.com/u/ReidNichol)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/4 "2016-11-07T18:37:30Z")
Thank you. As you can easily see, I do not have a basic understanding of the terminology. The Easel software can create curves on the x or y axis but not on the z axis. My conventional description of either a baseball or a matchbox being a 3D object has to be changed. Making wooden spoons with a bandsaw, small blade table saw and sander seems such a dumb idea when we have the marvelous new x-carve machine. Now I have an even longer, steeper learning curve to climb. ---
**Author:** ![ErikJenkins](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/erikjenkins/32/84368_2.png) [@ErikJenkins](https://community.inventables.com/u/ErikJenkins)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/5 "2016-11-07T18:47:43Z")
Here is a wooden spoon I cut with 2 sided carving- required Vectric Aspire software: > [@It's Alive](https://community.inventables.com/t/its-alive/10540/499): > > Did a two sided carve today. It is from the Vectric Lab Blog: [http://www.vectric.org/labs/index.php/item/love-spoon](http://www.vectric.org/labs/index.php/item/love-spoon) I shrank the spoon down 50% and used 1/2" cherry to make it. The first attempt was not lined up very well and I was off from right to left about 1/16". I adjusted the alignment pegs and it worked well this time, it is still off, but only by a hair. Here it is after the roughing pass on the first side with the alignment holes on the top and bottom. And here is the c… ---
**Author:** ![anon68752607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@anon68752607](https://community.inventables.com/u/anon68752607)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/6 "2016-11-07T19:26:47Z")
thingiverse has some free models too ---
**Author:** ![DavidAnnetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DavidAnnetta](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidAnnetta)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/7 "2016-11-07T19:47:29Z")
Like this ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/2/e/2e02a73dfca3541d5d5f36cec2c21b8ee219a4d0.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ReidNichol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@ReidNichol](https://community.inventables.com/u/ReidNichol)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/9 "2016-11-07T21:26:34Z")
I found 1000’s of 3D files here [Spoons bowl - 3D model (\*.gsm+\*.3ds) for interior 3d visualization. | "Set of wooden spoons" - Collection](http://archive3d.net/?a=download&id=4ffad7e0) Now I will see if \*\*\*.gsm and/or \*\*.3ds can be converted? ---
**Author:** ![StephenCook](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/stephencook/32/73911_2.png) [@StephenCook](https://community.inventables.com/u/StephenCook)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/11 "2016-11-08T20:18:24Z")
Don’t forget > **[yeggi - 3D Printer Models Search Engine](https://www.yeggi.com/)** > > 4.7 million indexed printable 3D model files worldwide! We collect 3D models from all websites and communities for your 3D printer. > **[Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects](https://www.thingiverse.com/)** > > Download files and build them with your 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC. Thingiverse is a universe of things. ---
**Author:** ![ReidNichol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@ReidNichol](https://community.inventables.com/u/ReidNichol)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/13 "2016-11-09T02:35:33Z")
The only bird I have come across is the Flamingo ---
**Author:** ![DavidAnnetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DavidAnnetta](https://community.inventables.com/u/DavidAnnetta)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/14 "2016-11-09T02:44:17Z")
What kind of bird? ---
**Author:** ![JkWestphal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jkwestphal/32/53751_2.png) [@JkWestphal](https://community.inventables.com/u/JkWestphal)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/15 "2016-11-09T03:39:24Z")
You cannot carve a wooden spoon, YET, With time , experience and understanding you will eventually. ---
**Author:** ![ReidNichol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@ReidNichol](https://community.inventables.com/u/ReidNichol)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/16 "2016-11-09T04:00:09Z")
With a small blade on my table saw, a bandsaw and a disk sander, I’ve been able to “carve” spoons, forks and anything I have thought of. Re-inventing the wheel was not my purpose. Now I understand the limitations of the Y axis, I realize it is not a robotic arm, just a vertical router. It is great to see many of the problems of beam flex and misalignment being addressed. The machine is getting better all the time. ---
**Author:** ![JasonDubrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@JasonDubrow](https://community.inventables.com/u/JasonDubrow)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/18 "2016-11-09T10:17:43Z")
Someone already did: [Noob Question on curved carving - #5 by ErikJenkins](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/5) ---
**Author:** ![JkWestphal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jkwestphal/32/53751_2.png) [@JkWestphal](https://community.inventables.com/u/JkWestphal)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/noob-question-on-curved-carving/29764/19 "2016-11-09T13:05:11Z")
I wasn’t stating that it had not been accomplished, rather that @ReidNichol hasn’t been able to do it -YET- but with time and perseverence eventually he might.