Help with Mach 3 settings and V-Carve Pro

[cncrailroad]

I recently upgraded my V-carve Pro to 8.0 so that I could start cutting some projects in 3D. I've watched all the tutorials and created a designed with a dished 3D fish placed on an existing cabinet door. I've created the roughing and finish operations.

My question is which of the following Mach 3 processors do you use;
1. Mach 2/3 ATC Arcs (inch)(*.txt)
2. Mach 2/3 ARCS (inch)(*.txt)
3. Mach 2/3-WRAP X2A ATC (inch)(*.txt)
4. Mach 2/3-WRAP Y2A ATC (inch)(*.txt)

Can anyone using Mach 3 help me out here. I'm kind of confused because I can't find an explanation of what all these mean. Up to this point, all of my cutting has been either parts or signs and I've used #2 listed above.

Thanks, Chuck

[FixitMike]

ATC = automatic tool changer
WRAP = for a 5th axis (rotary) machine.
ARCS = everyone else, and circles are output as arcs rather than a series of small straight lines.

[cncrailroad]

Thanks Mike for the explanations. I guess I've been using the correct settings and didn't realize it. Now I just have to wait for my 1/8" ball nose cutters to arrive so I can finish cutting my first fish.

Chuck

[martin54]

If everything was cutting OK before then you just keep using the same post processor for mach3, no difference between the work you were doing & the new stuff you are looking to do as far as the PP is concerned.

You may find that you have problems with the upgrade though, 3d is very addictive & there just aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done