diamond drag bit

Post general information and questions relating to Cut2D in this Forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

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?

User avatar
TReischl
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 4575
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: 8020 48X36X7 RP 2022 UCCNC Screenset
Location: Leland NC

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by TReischl »

cromag27 wrote:
Sat Nov 20, 2021 4:02 pm
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?
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

User avatar
Adrian
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 14540
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot PRS Alpha 96x48
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by Adrian »

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

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

ah, yeah wrong tool type! thank you!

User avatar
FixitMike
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 2173
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:21 am
Model of CNC Machine: Shark Pro Plus (retired)
Location: Burien, WA USA

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by FixitMike »

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.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgement.

User avatar
TReischl
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 4575
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:04 pm
Model of CNC Machine: 8020 48X36X7 RP 2022 UCCNC Screenset
Location: Leland NC

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by TReischl »

"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.
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

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.
C53116BD-3142-41A8-AB82-3AB28B83B1CB.jpeg

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

i just read the stepover has to be set on the form and not the tool itself.

User avatar
Xxray
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 2300
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:47 am
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Stinger 1
Location: MI USA

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by Xxray »

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
Doug

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

thanks. i’m also using quick engrave at the moment.

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

centering the design on the material is a pain.
C9AE1EFE-B48A-47B7-ADCA-AFDAC77F3966.jpeg

BDM
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 167
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:52 pm
Location: S.E. Michigan

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by BDM »

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.

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

may look into that as i cut acrylic all day long. but to get started, it was easier buying a kit with precut.

User avatar
cromag27
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:00 pm
Model of CNC Machine: nwa shark hd3 ext mod

Re: diamond drag bit

Post by cromag27 »

getting there!
CB77BDE5-FAC3-4EDB-9BFC-2CB1CD85FF01.jpeg

Post Reply