zig zag tool path

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cusoak
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 486
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2017 1:57 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3D XXL

zig zag tool path

Post by cusoak »

I want to cut 4 groves over the width of a 10' wide board
I want to use a .5 dia 90 degree v bit. I would like it to cut down to .25 depth
I want it to start on the top vector move left to right
Raise up move down to the next vector and then move right to left and finish doing this for the next 2 lines
How would I go about setting that up.
Thanks Jeff

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Adrian
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 14650
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot PRS Alpha 96x48
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: zig zag tool path

Post by Adrian »

You need to set the start nodes of each vector to alternate and then set the Start At option in the toolpath to be Keep Current Start Points.

cusoak
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 486
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2017 1:57 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3D XXL

Re: zig zag tool path

Post by cusoak »

What I did was to to select each vector and change the start point to the oposite end so I had a zigzag pattern But when I ran the simulator it cut all the left to right paths and then cut the right to left side paths.
So would should I have deleted the node on the opposite end for it to move down to the next start point.
Jeff

User avatar
Adrian
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 14650
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot PRS Alpha 96x48
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: zig zag tool path

Post by Adrian »

Did you set the Start At in the toolpath? It will ignore the changed to the nodes unless that's set. Depending on how the vectors were originally laid out you might have to use the Order tab as well to force them to cut in the order you expect.

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