How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

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highpockets
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by highpockets »

gkas wrote:Not to hijack this thread, but is there some way to find the maximum cut depth of a Vcarve without hovering over an entire section?
Not sure what you mean by entire section.
If you hover over the Vcarve toolpath, information about the toolpath will be displayed including the max depth of cut.
You can also mouse over Preview Toolpath and the depth of cut for the spot under the mouse will be displayed in the bottom menu bar to the right of XY coordinates.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by Rcnewcomb »

but is there some way to find the maximum cut depth of a Vcarve without hovering over an entire section?
Yes. Hover over the toolpath.
MaxDepth.PNG
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by gkas »

Sorry for my misused wording. I would like to know the max depth of an entire toolpath without hovering the toolpath.

I'm trying to decide on the vbit for a carve.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by mtylerfl »

Hello

Please review the post Randall made. He made a screenshot and provided the easiest method for you. Hover.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by highpockets »

gkas wrote:Sorry for my misused wording. I would like to know the max depth of an entire toolpath without hovering the toolpath.

I'm trying to decide on the vbit for a carve.
Until you create a toolpath with a selected v-bit VCarve has no way of reporting the max depth of a toolpath.

It would be kind of a useful gadget or addition to the toolpath area, to tell VCarve what type of bit to use and the max desired depth of cut and have it recommend a bit to use with vcarve toolpath.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by IslaWW »

gkas...
Does your control software have a "simulate" or preview function? The ones that do will tell you many statistics about the toolpath. Min/max XYZ among them.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by gkas »

None at all. Until I get my new machine, I'm using PicSender to send the gcode.

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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by highpockets »

Not sure it would be of any help, but have you looked at the Create Job Feature?
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by gkas »

Good call. Each bit breakout has a Max Cut Depth:

Toolpath: V-Carve Bike
Toolpath Info
Time Estimate: 02:13:37
Toolpath Type: V-Carve / Engraving Toolpath
Feed Rate: 25 inch/min
Plunge Rate: 10 inch/min
Spindle Speed: 16000
Tool InfoTool Name: V-Bit (90 deg 0.5")
Tool Type: V-Bit
Tool Number: 1
Max Cut Depth: 0.231"
Pass Depth: 0.08"
Stepover: 0.01"

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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by LittleGreyMan »

gkas wrote:I would like to know the max depth of an entire toolpath without hovering the toolpath.
Hover the mouse on the toolpath name in the toolpath list. A tooltip with some information will pop up. IIRC correctly, there is the max depth.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by johnelle »

Ok per request attached is the project that caused my frustration, but in general I am not at the point where I can intuitively predict a vcarve path even though I always run the simulation, usually multiple times. I have a big sign on the monitor reminding me to zero properly (so I usually remember...not always).

This is a simple test for a new fancy (i.e. expensive) conical bit that I wanted to use to carve trail signs out of "color core" plastic. So far I was shocked that a bit with a 1/32" tip appears too big (?) to do the job. Did a great job on the trail profile path. Looks like I am off to experiment with some other bits. I had to roll back some changes to get back to a snapshot from yesterday.
Test Conical.crv
Test Trail Map
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by Adrian »

You're using a rounded bit rather than a sharp point bit so by the time the edges of the tool meet the vectors the actual depth is tiny (0.007") of an inch which is why you're not seeing much in the preview and it's giving the impression of air cutting as setting the z to be that accurate is nigh on impossible. On the smaller letters the penetration is only 0.002" of a inch.

The letters are tiny (0.1" high with a stroke of 0.01") which is the main cause of the problem. They are far too small for a bit with a tip of that size. Have you defined it properly? If it has a tip of 1/32" of an inch then that it's diameter so the tip radius should be 0.015625 rather than 0.03125 I think. That will give you twice the penetration but it will still be far too light for what you're trying to do.

For lettering of that size the usual approach is to use single line fonts and a profile toolpath set to be On the vector with a cut depth that give you the result you're looking for.

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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by johnelle »

Well the documentation says the tip radius is 1/32 https://www.hartvilletool.com/product/9 ... outer-bits so I assume I enter 0.3125 in the tip radius field?

It would be helpful if you explained your calculations/numbers a little more . "The actual depth is tiny 0.007 which I calculated/observed from xyz..." etc

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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by Adrian »

Hover the mouse over the VCarve toolpath in the toolpath list and it will show you the maximum depth that the toolpath reaches.
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Re: How does Vcarve calculating vcarving depth?

Post by ger21 »

johnelle wrote:Well the documentation says the tip radius is 1/32 https://www.hartvilletool.com/product/9 ... outer-bits so I assume I enter 0.3125 in the tip radius field?

It would be helpful if you explained your calculations/numbers a little more . "The actual depth is tiny 0.007 which I calculated/observed from xyz..." etc

1/32 = 0.03125, not 0.3125, which is 5/16.
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