Rookie V Carving question

[coopcnc]

I just got my Shapeoko 3 up and running and have been hugely impressed by this forum. I've been working on a clock face and have an issue with the outer perimeter. It looks smooth in the vCarve Desktop preview but I get a scalloped edge around some of the inner details. At first I thought it might be because I didn't use a Zero Plane but after adding one it did not make a difference. I'm using a .5" 60 degree V bit, .125" End Mill for the flat areas and .15" for flat area depth.

Thanks in advance,
Marcus

[gkas]

It looks like the edge cut is following the outside profile of the v cut, which is not circular. If you're looking for a prefect circle, the draw a circle, or a circular flat area around the outside.

[Adrian]

A zero plane is only for 3D models. You're using 2D toolpaths so it doesn't apply.

As stated above it looks like your vectors aren't clean.

[coopcnc]

Thanks to both,
That all makes sense, it just through me off because the preview showed a smooth circle around the outside which is a boundary in the pattern. I'll give the dedicated edge a try.

Marcus

[Samson]

The cutter is following the inner pattern. It needs space for the cutter to fit through or it will wipe out the v-carved pattern. Make a circle for the perimeter and be sure to offset it at least the diameter of the cutter and the profile will be round.

[coopcnc]

Makes sense, thanks!

[martin54]

Thanks to both,
That all makes sense, it just through me off because the preview showed a smooth circle around the outside which is a boundary in the pattern. I'll give the dedicated edge a try.

Marcus

Is this something you have imported & used the bitmap trace tool on ? How closely did you look at the edge ? Often what looks like a smooth edge is far from it when you actually zoom in close

[coopcnc]

No, it was imported as a STL model, all vectors. I didn't do anything to it other than scale it a bit.

[Adrian]

STL's are models not vectors so not sure how you got to the vcarving stage from there.