3d toolpath to cut a half circle?

[bk3132]

Hi everyone,

I am working on a concept for an Apple Watch stand that is part of a larger night stand organizer. I have VCarve Pro 9. I need to create a half circle 3d toolpath for the round magnetic charger (I'll mirror the part and then glue them together to make the whole stand). Each half of the hole will be cut from 3/4" stock. The semi circle needs to be .575" at its deepest, so it should fit just fine.

I tried the fluting toolpath, but it's really an elliptical shape and not a true semi-circle. I can't seem to get the moulding toolpath to work, as it keeps telling me the cut depth is too deep for my stock.

Please help! Thanks!

[scubanimal]

I must be missing something, I I would create a circle, then put a vector to bisect it. use the snipping to remove the half-circle you don't want. Then use the pocket toolpath to cut the depth you want.
I may be missing something here.....

[FixitMike]

I believe the fluting toolpath (Smooth, Ramp over start and finish) is a true circular arc. But, since it defines the path of the center of the bit, the resulting cut is offset by the radius of the bit on both sides. That is why it appears to be elliptical.

With VCarve Pro 10, you can come close by importing a dome from the Clipart. Locate and size it where you want the pocket, then limit the width in the finish toolpath by selecting a rectangular vector for the Machining Limit Boundary. Have fun with the 3D parameters until it is what you want.

Note: the Machining Limit Boundary vector controls the maximum positions of the CENTER of the bit. So the height of the limiting vector is equal to the diameter of the dome minus the diameter of the bit.

[FixitMike]

I must be missing something, I I would create a circle, then put a vector to bisect it. use the snipping to remove the half-circle you don't want. Then use the pocket toolpath to cut the depth you want.
I may be missing something here.....

Yep. I believe OP wants to cut a half circle pocket into the side of the material. See my previous post.

[bk3132]

I believe the fluting toolpath (Smooth, Ramp over start and finish) is a true circular arc. But, since it defines the path of the center of the bit, the resulting cut is offset by the radius of the bit on both sides. That is why it appears to be elliptical.

With VCarve Pro 10, you can come close by importing a dome from the Clipart. Locate and size it where you want the pocket, then limit the width in the finish toolpath by selecting a rectangular vector for the Machining Limit Boundary. Have fun with the 3D parameters until it is what you want.

Dome Pocket.PNG

Note: the Machining Limit Boundary vector controls the maximum positions of the CENTER of the bit. So the height of the limiting vector is equal to the diameter of the dome minus the diameter of the bit.

This is very helpful. Thank you!! I will give it a try and report back.

[martin54]

Just to add to what Mike has already said, if you are going to use a dish shaped model with a boundary vector then you will also need to add a zero plane.

A zero plane should be added when any recessed model is cut, it helps define the edge between the model & the surface of the material

[bk3132]

I am not having any luck. Here's is what I end up with. Not rounded. Any ideas?

[FixitMike]

I am not having any luck. Here's is what I end up with. Not rounded. Any ideas?
I am not having any luck. Here's is what I end up with. Not rounded. Any ideas?

model.png

Did you import the Dome_Dish_90? It looks like you used a rectangle ClipArt.

[FixitMike]

Here's the dropbox link to the .crv file. https://www.dropbox.com/s/g9tb9t3dsj6qh ... t.crv?dl=0

[sparky957]

With VCarve Pro 10

Did I miss something?

[meflick]

With VCarve Pro 10

Did I miss something?

I saw that and wondered the same thing.

[FixitMike]

9.015, Late at night.