so this is a new build I’m trying to get running smoothly. 1500x3000 machine. Files created in vcarve pro. The issue I’m having is when cutting hpde which is all I’m Using it for currently when it starts the angles section of the design it doesn’t cut smoothly more like a saw blade finish. I’ve adjusted the feeds and speeds from 30 ipm to 150 ipm no difference. I’ve used the smooth vectors in vcarve for circular arcs, bezier etc. no difference. I’m frustrated with this issue. I’m attaching some pics of the cuts as well. Hopefully somebody can help me out. Thanks
It looks like you are trying to cut in a single pass. This has nothing to do with software. Without knowing anything about the machine, no one will be able to provide meaningful advice.
Hi @phoenix fab, we need a bit more information to help with this. As a start could you please post your G code file and tell us what you are using as a spindle/router and what speed are you using. That is a large machine, did you strengthen any of the axes to increase rigidity? Alex.
Hey Alex im using the small makita router ive varied the speed from 3-6 on the dial as i looked at the shapoko speed and feed chart i initilly started with 3 passes then changed it to.125 per pass and even down to .063 per pass. I have not reinforced the frame at this point. i originally bought the 1500x1500 belt drive kit from spark concepts and then bought parts needed to extend it from openbuilds so the frame has 4- 3000mm i think 2080 beams that i have 1/2 finish plywood screwed to with 3/4" mdf for the spoil board on top of that. heres the g-code created in vcarve pro. thank you for your time T1 G17 G21 G90 G0Z20.320 G0X0.000Y0.000 S18000M3 G0X80.647Y596.699Z4.572 G0Z3.810 G1Z-3.175F1016.0 G1X156.865F2032.0 G1Y377.624 G1X126.469 G1X125.696Y377.716 G1X125.044Y377.821 G1X124.396Y377.953 G1X123.754Y378.111 G1X123.117Y378.293 G1X122.487Y378.499 G1X121.863Y378.727 G1X121.247Y378.978 G1X120.640Y379.250 G1X120.040Y379.543 G1X119.450Y379.855 G1X118.870Y380.187 G1X118.301Y380.539 G1X117.742Y380.908 G1X117.195Y381.296 G1X116.661Y381.702 G1X116.140Y382.125 G1X115.634Y382.565 G1X115.142Y383.021 G1X114.666Y383.494 G1X114.206Y383.984 G1X113.765Y384.489 G1X113.342Y385.010 G1X112.938Y385.547 G1X112.555Y386.099 G1X112.195Y386.667 G1X111.858Y387.250 G1X111.545Y387.848 G1X111.259Y388.460 G1X111.000Y389.087 G1X110.772Y389.729 G1X110.546Y390.477 G1X80.880Y553.952 G1X80.647Y596.699 G1Z-6.350F1016.0 G1X156.865F2032.0 G1Y377.624 G1X126.469 G1X125.696Y377.716 G1X125.044Y377.821 G1X124.396Y377.953 G1X123.754Y378.111 G1X123.117Y378.293 G1X122.487Y378.499 G1X121.863Y378.727 G1X121.247Y378.978 G1X120.640Y379.250 G1X120.040Y379.543 G1X119.450Y379.855 G1X118.870Y380.187 G1X118.301Y380.539 G1X117.742Y380.908 G1X117.195Y381.296 G1X116.661Y381.702 G1X116.140Y382.125 G1X115.634Y382.565 G1X115.142Y383.021 G1X114.666Y383.494 G1X114.206Y383.984 G1X113.765Y384.489 G1X113.342Y385.010 G1X112.938Y385.547 G1X112.555Y386.099 G1X112.195Y386.667 G1X111.858Y387.250 G1X111.545Y387.848 G1X111.259Y388.460 G1X111.000Y389.087 G1X110.772Y389.729 G1X110.546Y390.477 G1X80.880Y553.952 G1X80.647Y596.699 G1Z-9.525F1016.0 G1X156.865F2032.0 G1Y377.624 G1X126.469 G1X125.696Y377.716 G1X125.044Y377.821 G1X124.396Y377.953 G1X123.754Y378.111 G1X123.117Y378.293 G1X122.487Y378.499 G1X121.863Y378.727 G1X121.247Y378.978 G1X120.640Y379.250 G1X120.040Y379.543 G1X119.450Y379.855 G1X118.870Y380.187 G1X118.301Y380.539 G1X117.742Y380.908 G1X117.195Y381.296 G1X116.661Y381.702 G1X116.140Y382.125 G1X115.634Y382.565 G1X115.142Y383.021 G1X114.666Y383.494 G1X114.206Y383.984 G1X113.765Y384.489 G1X113.342Y385.010 G1X112.938Y385.547 G1X112.555Y386.099 G1X112.195Y386.667 G1X111.858Y387.250 G1X111.545Y387.848 G1X111.259Y388.460 G1X111.000Y389.087 G1X110.772Y389.729 G1X110.546Y390.477 G1X80.880Y553.952 G1X80.647Y596.699 G1Z-12.700F1016.0 G1X156.865F2032.0 G1Y377.624 G1X126.469 G1X125.696Y377.716 G1X125.044Y377.821 G1X124.396Y377.953 G1X123.754Y378.111 G1X123.117Y378.293 G1X122.487Y378.499 G1X121.863Y378.727 G1X121.247Y378.978 G1X120.640Y379.250 G1X120.040Y379.543 G1X119.450Y379.855 G1X118.870Y380.187 G1X118.301Y380.539 G1X117.742Y380.908 G1X117.195Y381.296 G1X116.661Y381.702 G1X116.140Y382.125 G1X115.634Y382.565 G1X115.142Y383.021 G1X114.666Y383.494 G1X114.206Y383.984 G1X113.765Y384.489 G1X113.342Y385.010 G1X112.938Y385.547 G1X112.555Y386.099 G1X112.195Y386.667 G1X111.858Y387.250 G1X111.545Y387.848 G1X111.259Y388.460 G1X111.000Y389.087 G1X110.772Y389.729 G1X110.546Y390.477 G1X80.880Y553.952 G1X80.647Y596.699 G0Z4.572 G0X40.685Y479.822 G0Z3.810 G1Z-3.175F1016.0 G1X71.081F2032.0 G1X71.854Y479.730 G1X72.506Y479.625 G1X73.154Y479.492 G1X73.797Y479.335 G1X74.433Y479.153 G1X75.064Y478.947 G1X75.687Y478.719 G1X76.303Y478.469 G1X76.912Y478.197 G1X77.511Y477.905 G1X78.102Y477.592 G1X78.682Y477.260 G1X79.253Y476.909 G1X79.812Y476.540 G1X80.359Y476.152 G1X80.894Y475.747 G1X81.415Y475.324 G1X81.923Y474.884 G1X82.415Y474.427 G1X82.892Y473.954 G1X83.351Y473.465 G1X83.794Y472.959 G1X84.217Y472.437 G1X84.621Y471.900 G1X85.003Y471.347 G1X85.364Y470.778 G1X85.701Y470.194 G1X86.013Y469.595 G1X86.298Y468.981 G1X86.556Y468.352 G1X86.783Y467.709 G1X87.005Y466.964 G1X116.670Y303.494 G1X116.903Y260.747 G1X40.685 G1Y479.822 G1Z-6.350F1016.0 G1X71.081F2032.0 G1X71.854Y479.730 G1X72.506Y479.625 G1X73.154Y479.492 G1X73.797Y479.335 G1X74.433Y479.153 G1X75.064Y478.947 G1X75.687Y478.719 G1X76.303Y478.469 G1X76.912Y478.197 G1X77.511Y477.905 G1X78.102Y477.592 G1X78.682Y477.260 G1X79.253Y476.909 G1X79.812Y476.540 G1X80.359Y476.152 G1X80.894Y475.747 G1X81.415Y475.324 G1X81.923Y474.884 G1X82.415Y474.427 G1X82.892Y473.954 G1X83.351Y473.465 G1X83.794Y472.959 G1X84.217Y472.437 G1X84.621Y471.900 G1X85.003Y471.347 G1X85.364Y470.778 G1X85.701Y470.194 G1X86.013Y469.595 G1X86.298Y468.981 G1X86.556Y468.352 G1X86.783Y467.709 G1X87.005Y466.964 G1X116.670Y303.494 G1X116.903Y260.747 G1X40.685 G1Y479.822 G1Z-9.525F1016.0 G1X71.081F2032.0 G1X71.854Y479.730 G1X72.506Y479.625 G1X73.154Y479.492 G1X73.797Y479.335 G1X74.433Y479.153 G1X75.064Y478.947 G1X75.687Y478.719 G1X76.303Y478.469 G1X76.912Y478.197 G1X77.511Y477.905 G1X78.102Y477.592 G1X78.682Y477.260 G1X79.253Y476.909 G1X79.812Y476.540 G1X80.359Y476.152 G1X80.894Y475.747 G1X81.415Y475.324 G1X81.923Y474.884 G1X82.415Y474.427 G1X82.892Y473.954 G1X83.351Y473.465 G1X83.794Y472.959 G1X84.217Y472.437 G1X84.621Y471.900 G1X85.003Y471.347 G1X85.364Y470.778 G1X85.701Y470.194 G1X86.013Y469.595 G1X86.298Y468.981 G1X86.556Y468.352 G1X86.783Y467.709 G1X87.005Y466.964 G1X116.670Y303.494 G1X116.903Y260.747 G1X40.685 G1Y479.822 G1Z-12.700F1016.0 G1X71.081F2032.0 G1X71.854Y479.730 G1X72.506Y479.625 G1X73.154Y479.492 G1X73.797Y479.335 G1X74.433Y479.153 G1X75.064Y478.947 G1X75.687Y478.719 G1X76.303Y478.469 G1X76.912Y478.197 G1X77.511Y477.905 G1X78.102Y477.592 G1X78.682Y477.260 G1X79.253Y476.909 G1X79.812Y476.540 G1X80.359Y476.152 G1X80.894Y475.747 G1X81.415Y475.324 G1X81.923Y474.884 G1X82.415Y474.427 G1X82.892Y473.954 G1X83.351Y473.465 G1X83.794Y472.959 G1X84.217Y472.437 G1X84.621Y471.900 G1X85.003Y471.347 G1X85.364Y470.778 G1X85.701Y470.194 G1X86.013Y469.595 G1X86.298Y468.981 G1X86.556Y468.352 G1X86.783Y467.709 G1X87.005Y466.964 G1X116.670Y303.494 G1X116.903Y260.747 G1X40.685 G1Y479.822 G0Z4.572 M5 G0Z20.320 G0X0.000Y0.000 M2
Hi @phoenix fab, I don't use V-carve, but I know it can output the G-code for arcs, and your G-code is all straight lines. What controller and control software are you using ad what post processor are you using with V-carve. It's late here (UK) so I'll have another look at this tomorrow and probably ask some more questions. Alex.
here's some pics of it while i was building it, this is all i have access to right now.. the endmill is a 1/4" "0" flute up cut amana bit
Hi @phoenix fab, in your earlier thread you said that you had side to side play on your machine - did you ever fix that? What was the cause of that? You said you were cutting hdpe. Is that solid or foam. If solid your depth of cut should be about 2mm (0.08"). A feed of 55"/min and setting 3 on your router. If you haven't fixed the problems with side play that's the most likely cause of the problem and we won't be able to diagnose any other problems. Alex.
Did all the pieces, all over the job, have the same errors, or did they vary as the cuts got nearer to one side or the other? Or up and down the bed?
I believe the side play is fixed what I noticed was on the controller one of the lights for that motor was off so I restarted everything and it seemed to fix that. The hpde is king starboard it’s solid. I’ll give your recommendations a shot when I get to the shop this morning. Thank you.
The same section on every piece I cut was the same. I ran a series of test cuts all at differ feed speeds different options in vcarve etc.
Thanks I’ll take a look at the controller and be sure it’s configured as pictured. I’m pretty sure it is but I’ll double check.
The reason I asked earlier whether you had strengthened the frame is because of the length of your X and Y axes - flexing of the C beams is very likely to be an issue when they are under side loads from the cutter pressing against the material. Take very shallow cuts (say 1mm) and see if things improve. Alex.
doesnt seem to improve the quality i ran it at 55 ipm .039" per pass 55ipm .05" per pass 55 ipm .08" per pass readjusted all the eccentrics and tightened the belts im thinking it might be to much flex in the y axis cbeam
I think you are probably right. There are ways to strengthen C-beam and if you search the forum you will probably find a few. On my phone at the moment so not so easy to search for you. Will post some links if I find them later. Alex.
Not on this last series of test cuts but prior to that I did try a couple with a finishing pass. It didn’t seem to help.
Hi @phoenix fab, I found these two links which might be of interest; Added steel channel to X axis c-beam Cutting problem See message #12 on the second link. Alex.
Thank you I’ll read up on this. If I can’t get the vibration/flex stopped I may be forced to move to a 15/20 mm linear rail with gear reduction like an avid cnc style and bolt cross bars in like they do to stiffen the frame
Adding linear rails won't really do anything. Linear positioning (wheels, rails, rods), linear motion (screws and belts), and the frame all play different roles and should not be used interchangeably. If you wanted to add something, you should think about a second c-beam You would have to redesign you Z axis mounting plate, which wouldn't be hard at all.
If you do think of adding linear rails @sharmstr's build is a good place to start. Shawn's Workbee 1510 Alex.
Awesome I’ll take a look at it I’m thinking if I do add them I can use some left over cbeam pieces for cross bracing since the v-wheels and inside plate won’t be there afterwards
Do you feel that it made a significant difference in the cut quality? I think that since my y axis beams are 3000mm they’re flexing way to much when transversing the x and y axis when cutting like a triangle or curve
