I had a project that involved v-carving in a grid pattern into a flat board. I drew a horizontal line and a vertical one. I then arrayed them both vertically and horizontally respectively to create my grid. I used "2D profile toolpath" to cut a V, .125 deep. My issue is that it would cut a horizontal line from right to left, raise up, go to the right end of the next line and cut right to left again. I know I can flip every other line to move the start point of the lines so they alternate and reduce my air cutting time but is there some way the software could just do this automatically? I have tried all possible combinations ( I think) of the Order and Start options and nothing seems to change the start points of each line. The only way I can make the start point change is by flipping every other line.
I am relatively new to Vcarve (about a year) so any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. My pile of "air" chips is piling up.
Thanks
Scott
Toolpath Optimization -Cutting air
- FixitMike
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Re: Toolpath Optimization -Cutting air
One way to do this is to draw two parallel lines at the spacing desired, node edit one to change the starting point (or flip the line), and then array the pair of lines at a greater spacing.
Not automatic, but much faster than arraying first.
Not automatic, but much faster than arraying first.
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Experience comes from bad judgement.
Experience comes from bad judgement.
- Rcnewcomb
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Re: Toolpath Optimization -Cutting air
This uses two long vectors for minimal retractions.
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- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
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Re: Toolpath Optimization -Cutting air
Thanks for the suggestions. They definitely work. It would be nice though if the software just did this automatically. I have ran several machinist type cam packages and they all have very tight path optimization to reduce cycle times.
Thanks
Scott
Thanks
Scott