Rick, the quality of the cut on the background of the horse inlay is exceptional. What bit did you use and what was your stepover? Was there much cleanup after the machining?
Phil,
What I use is a 3/32" ballnose cutter and tell the software it is a 1/16" ballnose and the stepover is 5%. No I did not sand this at all after it was cut but in trade of not sanding it will take a little time to cut.
rdhharm wrote:Phil,
What I use is a 3/32" ballnose cutter and tell the software it is a 1/16" ballnose and the stepover is 5%. No I did not sand this at all after it was cut but in trade of not sanding it will take a little time to cut.
Rick
Rick,
Why use a 3/32" ballnose and tell the software it is 1/16" with 5% stepover? Wouldn't setting 3/32" and a stepover with the same distance work just as well?
Excel tells me that 5% of 1/16 is 0.003125 and 3% of 3/32 is 0.002813.
I
I have been doing the same thing carving lithophanes, By lying to the software about the bit size you can get a slightly different effect in the the carving that manipulating the stepover alone cannot do. You just have to visualize how the difference in tools will actualy carve the material, and choose what you tell the software accordingly. I first did this on a litho that did not carve well with an engraving bit... Having nothing to lose, I ran the toolpath again using a different bit, and was pleased with the result. Ever since I have been slowly figuring out how to use this to my advantage. With my lithos, I have found using a slightly larger bit than specified in the software still gives good detail, but slightly smooths the carving which many times gives a better machining job on tricky materials. There is a loss of real crisp features, but if the material cannot hold that detail, and have a good finish ther is no real gain in the finished project.
larger bit as given to the program, will gives sharper edges...smaller bit gives more rounded...
and i fully agree the statement about sanding... the extra time on milling come back with no sanding...
Bob I carve the models and install after. And I guess you could set the stepover as you have it but I am one of the those guys if it is not broke don’t fix it.
Thanks for the replies.
Just my curriosity.
This is something I have not tried, but looks like I should.
I could see when I did the math that you cannot get exactly the same amounts because the program only allows you to put in the percentage. I can't see in my head yet what the difference would be, but I can't argue with Rick's results. As Rick said, if ain't broke don't fix it.