Help Please

[dmidkiff]

Thanks Steve, that sounds like something I should try. Unfortunately I can't open the file you so graciously spent your time on but I will give the moulding toolpath a try tomorrow.

Thanks, Dave

[mtylerfl]

A moulding toolpath will give you a faster, cleaner cut and is easy to set up...no fooling around with scaling cross section boxes. Please see the attached file.

Hi Steve,

I would have suggested that too, except for one thing - Dave is using version 4.5 which does not have the Moulding Toolpath feature.

[martin54]

Beat me to it Michael, moulding toolpath didn't appear until V8.5

[dealguy11]

Oops, missed that. One of my favorite upgrades from v4.5.

[adze_cnc]

dmidkiff: your original image of Aspire showed the "2D" bitmap view and the "3D" cut simulation view. Can you post a "3D" model view showing the 2-rail sweep?

[dmidkiff]

adze_cnc, Is this what you asking for.

[dmidkiff]

Update: I did have the scale cross section option checked. I unchecked it and still have not gotten what I'm looking for. Downloaded the trial version of Aspire 10.5 and am working with the moulding toolpath option. It looks good but I have not yet figured out how to set a boundary around my profile. Will try to find a tutorial on this process. will keep you updated.

Thanks,Dave

[dealguy11]

No boundary needed around the profile. You create a rail (which would be a straight line in your case), and the profile vector. When you create a toolpath, there is no boundary vector at all - it's sort of like a 2-d path in that it follows the rail. The profile cuts outward from the rail. "Outward" depends on the direction of the rail. The profile vector does not need legs like sweep vectors do.

[dmidkiff]

Thanks Steve, I watched the tutorial for moulding and in just a few minutes had what looked like what I needed. It was fairly easy but since the trial version doesn't allow tool pathing I am stuck with 4.5 for now. I've been working on and off all day today and finally have something that looks right. Will test cut it tomorrow. I was doing a couple of things wrong and after I figured that out it was a matter of tweaking the adjustments and even 1 node. I would like to change the start point. If I raster in Y which is the way I want to cut the bit will start at the end of the picket which is the deepest cut. I can change that start point from 0,0 to 0,36 by changing the start point on the vector. I would like to start at 8,0 or 36,0 as that is the shallowest place. I have no trouble changing the start point on a 2D file but have not had much luck changing the start point in 3D.

Thanks everyone for your help. It's nice to know that this forum is filled with people that freely give their time for others.

[dealguy11]

Try setting the raster angle to 180 degrees. That should cause the carving to start at the diagonal corner from where it's starting now.

[dmidkiff]

Thanks Steve that did the trick only it was 90 degrees. Had it set for 270 to raster in Y. Now for the test cut.

[mtylerfl]

Thanks Steve that did the trick only it was 90 degrees. Had it set for 270 to raster in Y. Now for the test cut.

Hi Dave,

You have made great progress in the use of the Moulding Toolpath, with Steve’s helpful advice and guidance!

Did you already upgrade to 10.5x in order to perform your test cut?

[dmidkiff]

Hi Michael, I was able to use the moulding tool path in the trial version of 10.5 to get a good first result but the purchase is out of the question for now. I will continue to work in the trial version to familiarize myself with all the new and improved features.
I had to go back to 4.5 to complete the picket. After everyones guidance and lots of trial and error (lots) I was able to get a very close looking picket. I have already started the spindle warmup and will test cut later this morning. Thanks too everyone here I have learned a few things and "remembered" a few things. Now if I just keep working some in both versions I will retain these lessons and maybe one day will make the upgrade. I will let you know how the test goes.

Thanks, Dave

[mtylerfl]

Sounds good, Dave! Looking forward to hearing about your successful test cut!

[dmidkiff]

SUCCESS!!! Straight off the Shopbot.
Thank you all for the help!
Dave