Excellent videos and you have a good way of explaining. It would be nice to see a shot of the finished result. I know its easy to imagine but a side by side comparison would finish off your videos nicely. Thanks.
Far faster and smoother method to fix this in 2 easy steps. 1. Highlight profile vector. Click smooth lines along vector. Set to BREZIER CURVES. this reduces node count and far smoother cuts between them. 2. In profile click on ADD RAMPS TO TOOLPATH. Click SPIRAL. this will cut downward on a spiral. Each pass will spiral to your cut depth number per pass. 3. Optional “offset last pass” on profile vector will offset to your set amount and then make a super nice cleanup of the part without plunging while cutting. I think it’s Better to set this as its own toolpath so you can increase FeedRate or adjust rpm for less of a radial cut depth or z depth of cut on finish pass. Simply set offset in first toolpath. Let’s say 0.010 Then set the offset in second toolpath to zero. This way final cut is removing 0.010 worth of material for a smoother finish and reduced machine time with increased feedrate and rpm.
If you have the actual Vectric file (.crv) then you can simply open it and in the job setup, just select the MM option and it will convert it to metric from imperial. Then you can output your tool paths. Our CNC systems use a metric post processor so whether you design in imperial or metric, the output G Code file will be in mm.
This worked wonderfully. Thank you. I have another issue. Whenever I do a cutout. I get this groove before and after the tab that holds my project. Any idea what it is and how to fix it?
Ain’t there a rubber band wrap feature to fix this same problem. I ran across it once but for the life of me I can not find it again. If anyone knows please let me know.
I wonder how much cutter flex contributes to the issue. In a Machine Shop cutting steel it is a known fact that when conventional cutting that the cutter will “pull” into the work…often easily .010 or more.
Yea, i do have a question... When importing stl files, the edges look terrible. Its bumpy, cos it makes automatic the outline. But it tries to follow the pixels...how do you work around that?
Is there a way to do this with a vbit? I get the same horizontal lines, but there is no 'last pass' option. Maybe just mimic it by doing a 15 thou offset toolpath for all but the last pass, then do a full depth pass at the final shape size?
great videos, I especially like the one before this. I always spend time cleaning up vectors with node edit for the reason you mentioned. I wasn't aware of the "fit curves to vectors" tool, so I did it the long way. Thanks! Also can you recommend a good bit for profile cuts? 1 flute, 2 flute, up cut etc...?
I am working on a video on bits now. The best cut is going to come from a compression end mill as it will give you a clean top and bottom edge. Look for a 2 flute compression end mill from Amana Tool
Sorry, I didn't mean to correct you. I was saying it so folks remember that it's important... people always say "Tram the spindle" and all the videos out there never mention that you have to tram your z axis, THEN tram the spindle. Nobody ever mentions the z axis as a whole thing. Great video, btw.
I think you meant "tramming" the spindle, and that you meant that the Z-axis needs to be coplaner to the spoilboard (what you've called the cutting bed). This latter issue is corrected by milling the spoilboard during your initial setup.
With this method, does the finish pass method act like an offset mode, except for the last pass. Or in your example is the last pass .015 smaller than the part itself
If you're using Vectric VCarve Pro (I'm not sure about other CAD programs) the tabs aren't being removed because they override the "Do Saparate Pass" instructions. And if you think about it, you'll see why: if you cut off your tabs then there'll be nothing to hold the piece in place.
I have always thought that a positive value number in the final pass allowance moved the cutter AWAY from the material, whereas a negative number (ie: -0.015) would move the cutter TOWARD the material, which is what you would want your above example. I can't find this documented either way in Vectric literature.
