Direction change lines issue milling hardwood

[marbles]

Stepover = time = money

Which is why I gave up the idea of doing anything that requires a 3D toolpath commercially a long time ago. In the time it takes to produce a single 3D object I can make enough 2D objects that would make the price of the 3D object astronomical. All the time I have enough 2D work to occupy the machines 3D will have to wait until I retire (again)!

Indeed! I agree entirely however my background is in 3D and folk expect it of me. If I can bring the process in under and hour and do batches sell to a niche market then its economic. Just wait till I get the 4th axis going thats when it'll start to get really economically impractical

[marbles]

Perhaps the comparison will give you a better starting point, and then gradually bump up feeds/speeds/pass depth/stepover until YOUR best finish is found.

Very good info, great to see comparison between the two.

I THINK the cut times were about 25 minutes for the faster one..I'll check and post if much different.

Looks like your a bit faster. My 120x120x25 carving on a 6% stepover took about 2 hours but that includes stocking levelling, roughing and finishing pass and perimeter profiling toolpaths. i'm pretty sure I can half this. Z travel is always the issue.

I'll add Salt Lakes Flat and Lake Eyre to the list of terrain I can do. That should speed things up

[scottp55]

IF your bit has enough cutting edge for the whole model/ Model allows continuous cutting of ONLY the stepover/AND you either start slightly off the workpiece, OR cheat your Z up..and then run a couple lines, and lower Z and run a couple lines in reasonable increments to Original Z....Then quite often a Roughing pass can be skipped altogether. CHECK the preview carefully to make SURE the toolpath doesn't jump around! Check toolpath in 2D to make SURE you only have one descent, and one lift at the end!
My roughing often takes as long as the Finish.
scott

[martin54]

I'll add Salt Lakes Flat and Lake Eyre to the list of terrain I can do. That should speed things up

If your looking to build your portfolio then this should help as well

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/mysterious-places-part-5