Vectric Customer

When machining 3d models in raster mode and zero angle, the toolpath starts machining from the "bottom" of the model, proceeds up an inch or two and then, at times, skips to a different part of the model and begins machining there. Eventually, all the model is machined, but I have noticed lines in the material...sometimes small ridges and other times small valleys where the two toolpaths meet. I asked our Vectric friends and they told me that is normal behavior when the 3d model has irregular shapes. My guess is that the algorithm is minimizing machining time. My further suspicion is that the tapered, long, skinny bits that I use for 3d machining flex and unflex, and cause the issue and the need for more sanding. It could be machine flex also, but I cannot detect any of that.

Well, as usual I may have stumbled across a solution to a problem that no one else cares about...but here goes. If you create a vector of a regular shape, such as a circle, or an oval or a square around the irregular 3d shape, and click on the vector and the 3d model before doing the toolpath, the software will create a toolpath that goes continuously from one side to the other without the skips and the lines...or at least that's what my test indicates. The machining time increases, but I will sacrifice machining time to eliminate sanding time.

Angie

Angie - THANK YOU - I care about that solution and I LIKE it.

Hi Angie,

That sounds interesting to me. How do you check the toolpath without actually running the job? The preview on my sample looks the same either way that I select the vectors before calculating. When you run it on the machine does it run different than the preview shows?

I've experienced a few lines in the 3D models as well which I always just sand out but if I could eliminate the sanding I could go for a little longer run. Maybe I'm not understanding exactly what your saying.

Mark

I use the toolpath simulation to check it. If you toolpath simulation shows it as okay, you are good to go.

Here is my example shape. When I machine this in raster with zero degrees, the toolpath simulation shows the point on the bottom being machined first, then it skips over to the left and does a little, and then to the right and does a little, and so on.

When you use a vector such as a rectangle to surround this, and use that as an offset vector, it machines continuously.

Angie

Thanks for the further explanation. I will certainly keep it in mind.

Mark