Pocket holes with flat sides

[kingerjt]

As Randall has suggested, change the circles to true circles and the problem seems to go away.

Thanks but I don't know what you mean by "true circles".
I used the circle tool. I've tried recalculating the toolpath and a higher resolution.
Nothing seems to work.
Could it be something in my controller?

[ZipperHead55]

As Randall has suggested, change the circles to true circles and the problem seems to go away.

Thanks but I don't know what you mean by "true circles".
I used the circle tool. I've tried recalculating the toolpath and a higher resolution.
Nothing seems to work.
Could it be something in my controller?

I downloaded the file, and had the wonky toolpath showing (not a circle, but a seven sided (septagon?) object). I recalculated and it turned into a proper circle.

I am wondering if you adjusted a setting somewhere that effects the accuracy of circles. Check your settings (Edit>Options).

[adze_cnc]

I tried altering that setting and it made little difference. The maximum input-able value for the setting is 0.02 inches or 0.5mm. That's not to say that the original poster's setting didn't somehow get set to absurdly large value.

[adze_cnc]

Thanks but I don't know what you mean by "true circles".

True circles are circles created by the circle tool.

Could it be something in my controller?

If by controller you mean your CNC machine's controller then no.

I've tried recalculating the toolpath and a higher resolution.

I think we're talking at cross-purposes here. Recalculation is not referring to altering the circles but by editing the toolpath and clicking on the calculate button (or by right-clicking on the toolpath's name and choosing the menu entry "Recalculate").

The following image shows what happens if you use the "Curve Fit" tool to replace the circle with straight lines with a tolerance of 0.75mm. You get a heptagon.
 

 
When you calculate a pocket toolpath using that object you get the following toolpath shape (with the heptagonal shape):
 

 
If you delete the heptagon and replace it with a "true circle" and do not recalulate the toolpath using the new vector you get this preview:
 

 
Looks suspiciously similar doesn't it?

This is that same circle recalculated (anomaly disappears):
 

 
Attached is a file with the following four "circles":
 

Circle created by the circle tool ("true circle")

 

Circle "Curve Fit" to Bézier curves

 

Circle "Curve Fit" to circular arcs

 

Circle "Curve Fit" to straight lines (0.0254mm tolerance)

 
There are two toolpaths (your original pocket and profile toolpaths). They have not been calculated so they will not show any preview.

I'd suggest downloading the file. Then recalculate all toolpaths. Does the privew of the toolpaths show the anomaly in you original file? If it does then there is something wrong that is going to be difficult to diagnose.

By the way: what version of VCarve are you running. You find that be selecting "About VCarve..." in the help menu.

[Adrian]

By the way: what version of VCarve are you running. You find that be selecting "About VCarve..." in the help menu.

It's 11.504, I checked that when the file was posted as I had similar thoughts that it might be something that doesn't show in later versions.

If the vector was curve fitted, calculated for a toolpath and then replaced with a true circle the toolpath wouldn't select those new vectors when edited as it's doing in the OP's original file.

That's what's really confusing me with this file the toolpath is showing that those vectors are the ones used to calculate the toolpath.

[kingerjt]

As Randall has suggested, change the circles to true circles and the problem seems to go away.

Thanks but I don't know what you mean by "true circles".
I used the circle tool. I've tried recalculating the toolpath and a higher resolution.
Nothing seems to work.
Could it be something in my controller?

I downloaded the file, and had the wonky toolpath showing (not a circle, but a seven sided (septagon?) object). I recalculated and it turned into a proper circle.

I am wondering if you adjusted a setting somewhere that effects the accuracy of circles. Check your settings (Edit>Options).

Okay, I went to program options and clicked restore original settings.
The problem disappeared. I must have inadvertently changed something and did not realize it, however I am not familiar with the options window that popped up so I don't know how that may have happened.
Thanks to all for the help and advice.