I have a simple file that contains an annular pocket. The toolpath Create (build 757) generates contains a bunch of unnecessary rapids which can be seen the Create simulation and even backward moves (only apparent in Camotics or by running the file on the machine). I have attached the file with only the problematic toolpath enabled.
MyBlade.c2d (68 KB)
This does look like an interesting numeric snafu. Change your step over from .125 to .124 and you get a much improved toolpath that is 4 minutes faster.
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Rounding errors. The annulus width is an exact multiple of the stepover, but the limited precision in GCODE causes these kinds of errors. Changing just about anything would clear this up. I changed the stepover to 0.1251", and the problem went away. Cut time went to 4 minutes.
The tool dialog box only shows 3 digits of stepover, so if you enter 0.1251 it uses that value, but displays 0.125. Using 0.126 is safer, so that it doesn’t revert to 0.1250
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Thanks to those who pointed out changing the stepover improved things. I’d noticed things changed with stepover, although I hadn’t noticed the large time change that could result. For a number of choices of stepover there still seems to be at least one unnecessary rapid and it looks like there is an odd gap in the middle where the stepover appears to have been exceeded.
It appears the algorithm for creating the individual toolpath sections works from the edges towards the middle of the area to be cleared. The ‘odd gap’ is where the inward movement met itself from the other side.
The toolpath sections are seemingly output in a different order, so you get this area down the centerline where the stepover is wrong, since the order executed is not the order the toolpath sections were determined.
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