Cant Get Through My Onion Skin

Software Carbide Create
1

Ok…so let me first explain what Ive done.
I calipered my mdf to be .5 so I created my material thickness to be… Point 5
I then put my cut out path to be .505 that didn’t work
went to .510, that didnt work, went to .515, that didnt work needless to say, I’m up to .533 and I’ve still not through this sh&! So let me ask if I’m doing it right.

When I start the cut over, all I’ve been doing is Rapiding to my X & Y and then hitting the Rapid to Current Z +6mm then I upload my latest .5 iteration and start the run…
Should I be “ReZeroing” all this time? or was it ok to just start from the Current Z, because it remembers where the Z was right?

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Though I failed to mention it, I “have” been changing the starting depth as well

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Two questions and a statement:

  1. Are you sure you’re not bottoming out the travel of the Z-axis?
  2. Is the zero location in your program set as the top of the stock, or the bottom of the stock?

Rapid Moving to your X/Y/Z+6 position will not change the zero position, and frankly it’s not even necessary except as a visual check if you’re placing your material in the exact spot. If you defined your program’s zero at the bottom of your stock, you’re gonna end up at exactly the same height every single time until you change your zero height to be lower.

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Im pretty sure I’m not bottomed out on the z and my Z is Top

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Man o Man…Like seriously. Could my calipers be “this” bad or what the hell man???
I finally get through the onion skin, but I went a total of 9 extra passes, jumped from .505 all the way to .54 and it cuts through…What. In. The. World!!! lol

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Also worth checking if your material is flat and consistent. If you zeroed off a high spot, it would cause symptoms like you’re describing.

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I use bottom of material and that always cuts through without going through the spoilboard. It is a change in work flow but it is worth it. The material thickness always needs to be accurately. If you use bottom of material the first cut will cut deeper than expected if the material is not accurately measured and/or an air cut on the first cuts. So measure twice and cut once.

One change in the work flow is in the jog rapid positions. Many times when I used the top of material I would verify the X and Y position as well as Z+6mm before starting a cut. With the bottom of material you can verify the X and Y on the top of the material but you must jog off the material to a clear space on the spoilboard to check Z+6mm or you will jam your bit into the project.

Try the bottom of material. You cut cleanly through the material but do not cut the spoilboard up unless you mis calculate something.

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Note that you can also use top of stock in the file, but set the origin at the surface of the MDF, then jog up by the specified stock thickness, then re-set the zero there.

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I honestly think this has something to do with it, I just don’t know why? If the MDF panels that are attached to the frame are level, why would my wasteboard be off, specially since it’s mdf? I used playing cards to shim my waste board level, but it does seem to be off in places? any suggestions?

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Best thing to do is to tram the surface by cutting it all to be in-plane w/ the machine movement.

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11

is that the same as Surfacing it?

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Yes, just work up a file/toolpath which surfaces them in a fashion suited to the tool you wish to use and how you want to approach it.

I prefer to do a single slat at a time.

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My fault, I’ve only got the XXL so my wasteboard is the 32x32

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For the SO3s when they don’t have T-tracks added, I think the most workable thing to do is a raised working area which matches the machine working area plus a bit less than surfacing tool radius — just subtract the overhang cutting area at the front and use nylon hardware to secure it.

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Got it. Hey thanks fellas

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