How to reduce unnecessary rapid moves?

[Janus]

Hello!

I try to make a ornamental strip of wood.
This stripes are 1000mm long and need a lot of toolpathes (Endmill, ballnose, V-bit)

The toolpathes are absolute ineffective. A lot of rapid moves.
For example: If I make a slot with a endmill and it needs 3 pathes.
Every path starts on the same end. That is 2000mm needless aircut (rapid moves).
In this case (wood) milling speed and rapid moves is allmost the same. So I lost a lot of time.

I tried to separate the 3 pathes in 3 toolpathes an select 'use vector start points (dont optimize)' to have better control.
It is ignored (see picture)

How can I optimize this?

Please ignore the feedrates in the toolpathes. The are not set yet.

Thanks for any help
Jan

[Imagineering]

You could perhaps create multiple ToolPaths at multiple different depths like this;

Copy and paste your Vector and don't move the Copy.
Use the 'Vector Editing Tool' and set the 'Start Node' to the left on one Vector, and to the right on the other, copied Vector.
Set ToolPath One to use the leftmost 'Start Node', ToolPath Two to use the rightmost 'Start Node' .... Rinse and Repeat ...

Someone may come up with a better way, I'd appreciate know if there is one ...

.

[Adrian]

Try using the Merge toolpaths feature. You will need to create three merged toolpaths. One for each tool.

[Janus]

@Imagineering
I tried to use different toolpath. But as you see in the picture the toolpath goes in the wrong direction. From end to start!?
The checkbox 'use vector start points (dont optimize)' is set.

@Adrian
I now tried 'merge toolpath' with all settings. No result. All 3 toolpathes goes from end to start.

I wonder why VCarve can not generate a optimized toolpath at such a simple pattern. Not even 3 passes on the same toolpath.

In this design I have >30 toolpathes. It is hard to optimize it by hand. At the moment this option is not working too (

Jan

[Adrian]

Each toolpath is an entity in it's own right so you're always going to get a rapid back to the start of each one. The software has no way of knowing what it is that you want to do. If it doesn't go back to the start for each cut then it won't be respecting the cutting direction that you've told it to use. You will have to manually adjust the direction/nodes for each toolpath.

[tomgardiner]

I am not at my VCARVE computer so I haven't looked at your attached crv but could you adjust your drawing to have your toolpaths cut on the line not outside. Then cut direction does not matter and the program will optimize I believe.

[Imagineering]

[quote="Janus"]@Imagineering
I tried to use different toolpath. But as you see in the picture the toolpath goes in the wrong direction. From end to start!?
The checkbox 'use vector start points (dont optimize)' is set.

Sorry, I meant the 'Node Editing' Command under the 'Edit Objects' Section. One can select an 'End Node', Right-Click it and set it as 'Make Start Point'.

So that; ToolPath starts here '*'

*---------------------------------------------- 1st Pass
----------------------------------------------* 2nd Pass
*---------------------------------------------- 3rd Pass etc, etc

File attached;

Test Vector.crv3d

(33.5 KiB) Downloaded 123 times

Hope that this helps.

[Janus]

Please look at the picture! The green point is the start point.
But the toolpath goes the other way!?

I can not load you Aspire file. Have only VCarve.

Jan

[eph210]

The tool direction follows the "outside" and "climb" settings.
You could make three toolpaths using the same vector, the first depth using outside and conventional settings. The second depth using outside and climb settings and the final depth using outside and conventional settings. Then merge the three toolpaths and it should be what you want.
Euan

[Janus]

Hello Euan!

Your solution is working. A lot of handwork. But it reduces machine time a lot.

Thanks Jan