diamond drag bit
diamond drag bit
need help with settings for engraving into acrylic. i purchased a drag but from amazon, 120 degrees. the listing doesn’t state a “flat diameter” for the bit, so i don’t know what to put there. also, is “pass depth” necessary to enter?
- TReischl
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Re: diamond drag bit
Since a drag bit cuts very shallow it sort of does not matter what you put in for "flat diameter". That is because most drag bits I have used are spring loaded. Once you touch off the tool (a touch off puck does not work on mine, so be advised) then your settings for "pass depth" start to control the amount of pressure the bit places on the work piece. It will take some experimentation to determine what will work with the bit you purchased. Like all things, it pays to start conservatively and go from there.
That has been my experience anyhow, maybe some others who do this a lot more will chime in with some nuggets of info?
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns
- Adrian
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Re: diamond drag bit
Are you sure you're setting it up as the correct tool type?
There is no Flat Diameter or Pass Depth field for a drag bit in the database. That's for engraving bits
There is no Flat Diameter or Pass Depth field for a drag bit in the database. That's for engraving bits
Re: diamond drag bit
ah, yeah wrong tool type! thank you!
- FixitMike
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Re: diamond drag bit
If you are engraving acrylic, I have found that the pass depth/ pressure setting makes very little difference in the resulting appearance. I use half the full deflection of the bit and it has worked fine.
Some of the settings affect only the appearance of the preview. See Help-Help Contents for more information.
Some of the settings affect only the appearance of the preview. See Help-Help Contents for more information.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgement.
Experience comes from bad judgement.
- TReischl
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Re: diamond drag bit
"then your settings for "pass depth" start to control the amount of pressure"
I wrote that earlier not thinking. Not pass depth, but CUT DEPTH.
I wrote that earlier not thinking. Not pass depth, but CUT DEPTH.
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns
Re: diamond drag bit
first attempt. due to the inconsistency of the acrylic, i think i’ll have to up the current pressure of .1”. i noticed especially in the triangles you can distinct lines in them. i currently have the tool line width at .3” and stepover set to 1%, does this make a difference? thanks.
Re: diamond drag bit
i just read the stepover has to be set on the form and not the tool itself.
- Xxray
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Re: diamond drag bit
Doubtful the plexi is inconsistent, more likely the bed and/or machine - Unless you have a specific reason to suspect it warped.
Been out of the loop for awhile but have done alot of plexi in the past, seems to me 1% stepover is incredibly small and would take forever, but let someone chime in who is more current than me.
Can be tough to avoid lines, experimentation may be necessary to achieve better results, including using the hatch feature and various pocket techniques. I think towards the end of this long thread some time back I posted a bunch of experiments with different strategies for just that problem viewtopic.php?f=27&t=23152
Ok not as comprehensive as I thought, last post on page 4
Been out of the loop for awhile but have done alot of plexi in the past, seems to me 1% stepover is incredibly small and would take forever, but let someone chime in who is more current than me.
Can be tough to avoid lines, experimentation may be necessary to achieve better results, including using the hatch feature and various pocket techniques. I think towards the end of this long thread some time back I posted a bunch of experiments with different strategies for just that problem viewtopic.php?f=27&t=23152
Ok not as comprehensive as I thought, last post on page 4
Doug
Re: diamond drag bit
thanks. i’m also using quick engrave at the moment.
Re: diamond drag bit
centering the design on the material is a pain.
Re: diamond drag bit
Unless that acrylic shape is pre-made, why not create the acrylic shape in VCarve and then you know your graphic will be centered? Cutting out (cast) acrylic is pretty easy.
Re: diamond drag bit
may look into that as i cut acrylic all day long. but to get started, it was easier buying a kit with precut.
Re: diamond drag bit
getting there!