Hi Peter, thank you for your confidence in my abilities to "...pull the files into a CAD application first, and do a little cleanup" and follow your example to "...split out each of the plates into its own DXF file"; the truth is, I have little idea what that means: I have attempted to understand the process -following what really turns out to be trial and error- and then the frustration sets in and I have to walk away for awhile. Knowing that it is important for me to learn the Process, I am still at that place where I need someone to walk me through it: That's what you were probably doing, but I am just not there yet. On another note, I was astounded to see the number of responses you make to peoples inquiries, and wondered if you had time for anything else. Thank You!
Download some kind of DXF editor. Qcad for example is free Use mouse to select one plate Ctrl+c Open a new file Ctrl+v File, save as Select DXF R14 from type dropdown, give it a name. Ps, why an Ox, its a relic much better designs these days > openbuildspartstore.com
Hi Peter, with everything that's been going on around CNC'ing these last couple of days, this is going to be an Epistle: First of all, Hallelujah! I managed to follow your walk-through on the CAD cleanup and split out each of the plates into its own DXF file using the QCAD you suggested. The OpenBuilds CAM -GCODE generator... had no problem parsing the files. What really caught my attention, was how long it was going to take to Mill just one plate-- 5hrs & 22sec.!!! Ouch!!! I could drill those holes in five minutes, but I digress. Soldier on as they say. I was using a 3.175mm bit, and as the machine started to cut, I notice that the holes it was milling were larger than the 13/64 called for-- now whether that has to do with using too large a Bit, I don't know. I tried some 1mm Bits, and that seemed to bring the holes down to the called for size. Now here's my dilemma: ever since I started this on-going journey learning and working with CNC machines, configuring the Toolpath has always presented me with a challenge: learning about Vectors and what Paths to choose-- inside/outside or none at all. I think I understand what the inside/outside mean, it's the No Offset at all that puzzles me-- meaning it just cuts without consideration for cutting an outside or inside path-- I know that sounds self-explanatory, but to a newbie, it's like translating Hebrew to Greek! Next comes the depth-cut per path: for me, 1 mm cut does not look like 1 mm; more like half of that-- a micro-mm-- if there is such a thing. Which when the final cut is set at 6 mm, and the Job finishes, it is not through the 6 mm plate-- there is still a ways to go! My solution is then to increase the cut-depth to double that-- 12 mm; and eureka!!! the job gets done-- granted, twice the allotted time. My final question then is, how do I reduce a 5hr.&22sec. job, to a more manageable time element? Perhaps that answers your question: "why an Ox, its a relic" ; why indeed. Again, I thank you for your continued support: I am further along because of You!
and Your steps per mm sounds way off. Use the calibration wizards in CONTROL Also check mechanical issues (too much play somewhere) Inside sets the toolpath off toward the inside of the vector by half the endmill diameter (so cut edge is lined up with vector, cut away from the inside Outside sets the toolpath off away from the vector by half the endmill diameter (so cut edge is lined up with vector, cut away from the outside, leaving the inside) No offset runs the tool along the vector, typical for engraving, Pen Plotters, etc Bigger bits cut faster, do the outlines with a 1/4" SharkBit, use small endmills to do holes smaller than 1/4" Also some time dialing in your feeds and speeds - its up to you how aggresive you are willing to go, as you are there to watch what happens, listen for chatter, see problems, etc
Hi Peter, managed to shave off an hour of milling time with the adjustments you suggested: I did a trial run with a piece of soft lumber using a 1 mm bit-- I tried a 1/8" bit, but the cut was much larger than the 13/64 called for; the smaller bit seemed to do the trick. My concern now is, near the end of the Job, the G-Code included the measurement lines and distances as indicated on the full printout, and cut them into the finished Plate. I'm wondering if that was part of the "File Clean Up" you were talking about? If there is a way of removing those numbers and lines, I would be grateful for your assistance. On a more learning note, I know that Time can be a big factor on how long it takes for some of these Jobs to Run, but watching these machines go through their programmed motions, I realized the intricacies of most of these movements: precision takes time! Thanks again for all your help.
Did you enter 3.175mm into your CAM under endmill diameter, make sure you have Inside job type, etc, what you are doing makes no sense, find the real problem and address that instead something is being setup wrong Select them, delete them You will need to build up some CAD skills, Youtube had tonnes of tutorials for whatever CAD application you prefer (try a few, different people like different workflows)
