Ok, still having issues. I am just trying to carve 50 stars .125 deep. I am using 1/8 end mill, Updated V-carve desktop. Using OpenBuilds controller. Attached are the files and picks. I can't get the 5 point star straight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
You've got lots wrong as has been said. You've generated a toolpath using two tools so you won't get a finished star unless you run both toolpaths using the correct bits. You're using a 1/4" and 1/8" bit in the toolpath but you only ever mention a 1/8" bit so I'm guessing you're unaware that it's a two part toolpath?
You also say you're cutting 0.125" deep but you're not as you've set the cut depth to 0.065" in the toolpath so that is as deep as it will cut.
The quality of the cut in the picture is terrible so you're either a long way out with your feed rates, the bit is not sharp or there is something not right with your machine.
I would go back to basics and try some simple squares and circles. Once you have those cutting successfully you can move on from there. At the moment there seems to be some misunderstandings on your part on how to use the software and possible machine issues so there's a lot of potential failure points.
If his photograph is taken straight on then the star is definitely distorted compared to the ones in the .crv file he posted. It looks like one of the axes is not calibrated the same as the other.
Steve Godding
Not all who wander (or wonder) are lost
If his photograph is taken straight on then the star is definitely distorted compared to the ones in the .crv file he posted. It looks like one of the axes is not calibrated the same as the other.
Be good to get some feedback from the OP about that, I actually thought that the picture had been taken at a strange angle rather than straight on but it is difficult to tell for sure
Maybe something like this? I made it using the star drawing tool and the array copy tool in about 10 minutes. If you decide to use it be sure to adjust the bit feeds and speeds for your machine.
Sounds like your axis are not calibrated correctly. Did you check the calibration of all 3 axis when you got the machine?
Did it cut the correct depth?
You need to check the axis are calibrated so the machine moves correctly, how you do that will depend on what control software you are using for your CNC machine
I drew up a 1 inch by 1 inch square, saved as a pocket tool path. Carved a 1 inch height by .500 inch width rectangle.
Which control software are you using? Is it by some chance mach3? It sounds like the mach3 isn't setup properly for your machine. Can you possibly post the vcarve file with the toolpaths set to cut? Or perhaps the post processor gcode file. If the gcode is set to cut properly, then it has to either be your control software isn't correctly set for your machine, or your machine is not properly set up.
Which control software are you using? Is it by some chance mach3? It sounds like the mach3 isn't setup properly for your machine. Can you possibly post the vcarve file with the toolpaths set to cut? Or perhaps the post processor gcode file. If the gcode is set to cut properly, then it has to either be your control software isn't correctly set for your machine, or your machine is not properly set up.
A VCarve file is on the first page of the thread. There are lots of issues with it as covered in the subsequent replies. It's come down to the likelihood that one axis isn't properly calibrated.
Which control software are you using? Is it by some chance mach3? It sounds like the mach3 isn't setup properly for your machine. Can you possibly post the vcarve file with the toolpaths set to cut? Or perhaps the post processor gcode file. If the gcode is set to cut properly, then it has to either be your control software isn't correctly set for your machine, or your machine is not properly set up.
A VCarve file is on the first page of the thread. There are lots of issues with it as covered in the subsequent replies. It's come down to the likelihood that one axis isn't properly calibrated.
Yes, I see now that post #7 has the vcarve file and that they state which controller. Sorry, I sometimes neglect to read every post when the thread gets larger and larger with repeated issues.