I just started the roughing pass on a 3d plaque that is going to mill away the first 1/3 of a 3/4 inch pine board. Now I am in a panic because my original zero point is sawdust and I am confused about whether I rezero the tool for the 2nd (finish) pass on the (rough) surface or do I have to reconstruct my original height? I suppose I can set a piece of scrap along side the zero since its the very lower left.
I know its a bit newbie but since this thing runs almost all day I am hoping somebody can save me before I ruin things.
Help - Zeroing Finish Pass on 3D Piece
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Re: Help - Zeroing Finish Pass on 3D Piece
Scrap is fine, you can set Z zero ALONE anywhere on the bed. Replace the tool, jog X and Y over the scrap, jog Z down until it touches the surface, set Z zero- nothing else, then GOTO XYZ 0 and finish your plaque.
The other solution (too late if you have started the roughing cut) is to set Z zero on the bed when you created the toolpaths.
The other solution (too late if you have started the roughing cut) is to set Z zero on the bed when you created the toolpaths.
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Re: Help - Zeroing Finish Pass on 3D Piece
Just to clarify. I have to Z zero to the original material height?
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Re: Help - Zeroing Finish Pass on 3D Piece
Yes. A piece of the same stock will do. There may be an error as a result of the original stock not being an exact thickness over the entire surface, but it should be small.
This suggestion is on the basis that you have already begun the job and started the roughing cut.
If not, set Z zero to the bed before you create the toolpaths. Any variation in the stock thickness is dealt with on the roughing cut, but this is still not perfect.
VERY best practice is to mill the stock flat before the roughing cut, that is for perfectionists only!
This suggestion is on the basis that you have already begun the job and started the roughing cut.
If not, set Z zero to the bed before you create the toolpaths. Any variation in the stock thickness is dealt with on the roughing cut, but this is still not perfect.
VERY best practice is to mill the stock flat before the roughing cut, that is for perfectionists only!
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- Vectric Wizard
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Re: Help - Zeroing Finish Pass on 3D Piece
If you know the thickness you told VCarve your board was, then when zeroing out Z for your finish pass simply use the bed surface. Don't enter zero though. Use -(thickness).
4D
4D
- FixitMike
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Re: Help - Zeroing Finish Pass on 3D Piece
Be sure to enter a negative thickness! Otherwise your software will think Z0 is below the bed.4DThinker wrote:If you know the thickness you told VCarve your board was, then when zeroing out Z for your finish pass simply use the bed surface. Don't enter zero though. Use -(thickness). 4D
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