Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

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Soapyjoe
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Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

Post by Soapyjoe »

Hi Everybody,
Recently I have been profiling triangles then, using the moulding toolpath, tapering the thickness from base to apex.
This method works well...but at the moment I only appear to be able to use the moulding toolpath to shape an imaginary square containing the triangle. Half the time the cutter is doing nothing
Is there a better method of performing this operation?
Soapy

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FixitMike
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Re: Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

Post by FixitMike »

You can also use the fluting toolpath.
1. Draw the triangle.
2. Draw a line from the center of the triangle to one corner.
3. Circular copy the line about the center of the triangle. For a 3" triangle, cut with a 1/4" end mill, I used 90 copies, 360 degrees. The object is to have the spacing of the vectors where they cross the triangle to be about 1/4 of the end mill diameter.
4. Use the Trim Objects tool to trim off all of the vectors outside the triangle.
5. Select the vectors except the triangle. Use the fluting toolpath. Note the entries in the attachment.
(The tool pass depths are very high in the .crv file so the preview will be quicker. Don't try to use them.) The end mill probably should be an upcut spiral.
Fluted triangle.jpg
Fluted Triangle.crv
(90.5 KiB) Downloaded 55 times
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dealguy11
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Re: Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

Post by dealguy11 »

Or make a 3d model I'm Aspire and use a modeling toolpath
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Soapyjoe
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Re: Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

Post by Soapyjoe »

Thanks Mike,
I was not too clear in my original request.
I do not wish to make pyramids just a triangle shape (profiled from a piece of flat wood) then tapered so that the pointed end of the flat triangle is say 10mm thick and the base say 4mm thick.
If I was a little more skilled at using this forum I would attach a file.
Soapy

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FixitMike
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Re: Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

Post by FixitMike »

You can also do that with the fluting toolpath. But it will also involve some unused cutting since the taper will also have to start as a rectangle before you trim it to a triangle. The fluting can be done with an end mill, which will allow a larger stepover than a ball end cutter. This means it will cut faster. Here's an example of a taper. Note that the cut area is offset from the vectors by half the radius of the bit.
Taper.PNG
On second reading your post was quite clear. A lot better than my reading comprehension.
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Soapyjoe
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Re: Using moulding toolpath to taper triangles

Post by Soapyjoe »

Thanks Mike,
One problem I am experiencing is that when I am using the moulding toolpath I do not appear to be able to do multiple passes (cuts) over the square containing the previously profiled triangle(s).
To compensate this I only use a very small stepover.
This is again very wasteful on time .. When cutting at the thick end of the wedge shape it is really doing nothing.. but at the thin end the cutter is removing the full depth of the taper.
My method works well and produces just what I need but I am sure there is a better way of doing it!
Soapy

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