3D cut issues on curves

[Blindell]

I’m an “Intermediate” CNC’r with a Onefinity CNC and VCarve Pro. This is my first 3D carve attempt. Pleased with everything except the rough, jagged, tool marks on the curves of the scrolling around the design. Puzzled to say the least.
Roughing cut: 1/8” Endmill
Finishing cut: 1/8” Ball nose Endmill, Tapered Ball nose Endmill .045 tip
The design was purchased, I created all the tool path’s. Don’t think it’s the design, rather my tool path strategy. Help please!

[Adrian]

What does the preview look like?

Looks to me as though you've just run the roughing toolpath and not the finishing toolpath but I'm guessing that's not the case.

Double check that your finishing tool definition is correct. Your description of it sounds odd to me.

[martin54]

What material allowance are you leaving for the finish pass & what's your stepover on the finish toolpath bits?

[ohiolyons]

I can see the fine lines of the stepover so I'm pretty sure you did a finish toolpath.

Looks like you need a smaller diameter bit especially on the gun.

[sharkcutup]

I can see the fine lines of the stepover so I'm pretty sure you did a finish toolpath.

Looks like you need a smaller diameter bit especially on the gun.

I am sorry ohiolyons I beg to differ the fine lines can be from the stepover of the roughing toolpath. I do not believe the Finish toolpath was done here. There are too many artifacts/issues which very well looks to me like a roughing toolpath was performed. But anyhow I am interested in knowing what the Op's Preview shows for the finished project.

That will be a Nice Sign when it is completed!!!

Sharkcutup

[ohiolyons]

If you focus on the gun you will see where a BN was used and was too big to fit.

The stepover lines I am referencing, look like 8% BN ones, not 40% EMs.

[sharkcutup]

Correct Yes that looks very much like a ballnose on a "Roughing Pass" not a Finishing Pass.

Sharkcutup

[sharkcutup]

I still would be interested in seeing or knowing what the Preview in V-Carve Pro looked like prior to the Op's carving.

Or images from the Op's File in V-Carve showing the Toolpath settings

Sharkcutup

[ohiolyons]

Please upload the file, we are guessing.

[Adrian]

Please upload the file, we are guessing.

It's a purchased design.

[Blindell]

Thanks all. Here are screenshots

[Adrian]

You haven't shown what the 3D preview looks like with all the toolpaths run. That's the important bit. If that looks perfect then the issue is outside of VCarve.

[Adrian]

You haven't shown what the 3D preview looks like with all the toolpaths run. That's the important bit. If that looks perfect then the issue is outside of VCarve.

However looking at the pictures where you have parts of the actual 3D model displayed it looks really rough to start with. What modelling resolution did you use?

[Blindell]

The Machining allowance on the Roughing was 0.02 didn’t see a setting like this for Finishing.
1/8” EM Stepover was 40%
1/8” BN was 20%, ran an 8% and 20% went with 20% because of carve time
1/8” Taper BN .045 tip 8%
I’m confident I have setting issues but don’t know what to change. Observation was that for instance, on Finishing pass with 18BN Taper, it never cut deeper than skimming the top perimeter of any vector thus leaving all those deeper tool marks from Roughing. Is all this relevant to the .02 Machining Allowance?
18EM was approximately 4 hrs at 40%
18BN was approximately 11 1/2 hrs at 20% and 20+ hrs at 8%
18BN Taper was approximately 3 1/2 hrs at 8%
Hope this is enough information to help you, help me. Also being a purchased design, probably not right to share but I know that would be beneficial to help troubleshoot my issues. Thanks all!

[Adrian]

Did you reset the Z after changing bits?