Ok, so I understand hotwire cutters are not what Cut2d etc is meant to cut but the regular software is pretty sucky so here we are.
I'm calling the hotwire a .040 diamter tool (about the kerf of the cut) and max cut depth of 48" (the max the machine could handle).
I use a 45 degree lead in lead out, and join letter inners with the outer shape with a .041" gap. The controller is a UCCNC type but nothing is hooked up to the Z / spindle, just x and Y.
My current strategy that I want to do means I cut one small shape at the top of my letters first, then cut the letters from the top in my selection order, then back to x zero and y zero (this is in the post).
However, my rapids I need to basically be at my cut feed rate and I see no place to set that in the post save for the "begin RAPID_MOVE sections....which I have changed to G1....and that part sort of works fine.
My problem, mentioned in some other posts here, is that the default retraction rate is 30. I gather from the other post that you can go faster if the plunge is set faster....but I need a speed equal to my feedrate, which is 15-20 usually. Unfortunately, *that* part of the Z isn't ignored, and it's applied to the next rapid more as well (no longer the first I guess) and the result is the machine is going too fast.
I have tried to put an [F] into the RAPID_MOVE line, but I guess the retract default overrides that.
Any suggestions? Also, this is all a hack on a older UCCNC post I was using that itself was lightly modified from the default UCCNC post.
I'll read those instructions to see if I missed a possible post section that might address this.
Need to make a change for a hotwire
Re: Need to make a change for a hotwire
So......read the manual. Gutted most everything "Z". I have a plunge and a retract section like the plasma post referenced in the manual. Code is below.
What shows up in my gcode is:
Code: Select all
+ ---------------------------------------------------
+ Commands output for Plunge Moves
+ ---------------------------------------------------
begin PLUNGE_MOVE
"[F]"
"(plunge)"
+ ---------------------------------------------------
+ Commands output for Retract Moves
+ ---------------------------------------------------
begin RETRACT_MOVE
"[F]"
"(retract)"
I'm trying to get rid of that F30.0 lineN2680G1X21.2875Y17.1938
F30.0
(retract)
N2710G1X34.5133
N2720G1
F15.0
(plunge)
N2750G1X34.1597Y16.8402
Re: Need to make a change for a hotwire
Taking out all feedrates and just putting in the beginning of the file to change as needed at the machine. That works.
The minimum of F30 retract cannot (from what I can tell) be changed. And, worse and I'd think a slight bug, it forces the next rapid moves to be the same feedrate as well (or maybe that is a separate Vectric enforced minimum value).
Anyways, A very edge case use and I have found a workaround. If any suggestions that would allow me to change the feed inside cut2D that would be great, but otherwise I am done with this.
The minimum of F30 retract cannot (from what I can tell) be changed. And, worse and I'd think a slight bug, it forces the next rapid moves to be the same feedrate as well (or maybe that is a separate Vectric enforced minimum value).
Anyways, A very edge case use and I have found a workaround. If any suggestions that would allow me to change the feed inside cut2D that would be great, but otherwise I am done with this.
Re: Need to make a change for a hotwire
Hello gfacer,gfacer wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:08 amTaking out all feedrates and just putting in the beginning of the file to change as needed at the machine. That works.
The minimum of F30 retract cannot (from what I can tell) be changed. And, worse and I'd think a slight bug, it forces the next rapid moves to be the same feedrate as well (or maybe that is a separate Vectric enforced minimum value).
Anyways, A very edge case use and I have found a workaround. If any suggestions that would allow me to change the feed inside cut2D that would be great, but otherwise I am done with this.
In your post-processor you should have a line similar to:
Code: Select all
VAR FEED_RATE = [F|C|F|1.1]
Code: Select all
VAR CUT_RATE = [FC|C|F|1.1]
Code: Select all
[F]
Code: Select all
[FC]
I hope that helps,
Greg K
Re: Need to make a change for a hotwire
Thanks!
Yes, that seems to work fine, so I will use that. I did still strip out much of the post anyways as 2D cutting doesn't need all the helical stuff for example.
For posterity, I'll throw in a picture of the toolpath strategy that makes any rapid moves suitable for a 2D cutter.
Greg
Yes, that seems to work fine, so I will use that. I did still strip out much of the post anyways as 2D cutting doesn't need all the helical stuff for example.
For posterity, I'll throw in a picture of the toolpath strategy that makes any rapid moves suitable for a 2D cutter.
Greg