CCPro V7 3d model renders different than toolpath sim

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

You have 64 vectors associated w/ the 3D toolpath geometry:

You want to have only geometry which defines the region to cut, so instead draw:

but increase the dimension all around by the radius of the tool which will be used:

and round the corners to save a (tiny) bit of toolpath time:

Then edit the toolpath:

Change Vectors

Use Current Selection

Ok

repeat for the other which gets us a bit closer:

adjusting the stepover we arrive at:

You may want to consider using a smaller tool, (so long as you don’t over-run the cutting flute length) or possibly a tool with a geometry which matches the appearance which you wish to cut.

Note for the cutout profile that you don’t want to cut a slot as narrow as the tool but almost 8 times deeper than the diameter of the tool and almost twice as long as the cutting flutes on the tool.

Ideally you would use a tool which has 1" of cutting flute length.

At a minimum you should offset by endmill diameter and cut as a pocket down to tab height or the penultimate pass.

Where possible avoid slotting and add geometry and cut as a pocket

Making vacuum hose adapters

While cutting up vacuum extension wands for this is expedient, it’s a bit problematic given that Shop Vac recently filed for bankruptcy, was bought at the last minute, and production hasn’t caught up. I need a receptacle for the Sweepy 2.0 dust fitting — one option would be to purchase one from Woodcraft, but Carbide 3D sells blocks of HDPE: which looks to be just barely big enough for things to fit. Measuring the hose fitting I get a diameter of ~63.5mm — offsetting that twice we arrive at…

and/or

Adding geometry to cut as a pocket with a finishing pass

One technique which is often suggested to avoid slotting is to add geometry around a part which one wishes to cut out and cut as a pocket down to tab depth — here’s one technique for that. In this case, the project is a bevel gauge which will be cut out of 0.0625" (~1.5mm) thick aluminum: [bevelgauge] Due to the narrowness of the angles, an 0.03125" endmill has to be used, so after importing and scaling the file (we will be cutting out one which is 3") we select the perimeter and offset it tw…

and consider leaving a roughing clearance and taking a finishing pass.

Best Bit for full cut through

One which has a cutting flute length equal to or greater than the thickness of the stock — pretty much any tool should work. Big thing is the toolpaths — if cutting out, rather than just cutting a slot: [image] Offset to the outside by endmill diameter plus 10% or so: [image] [image] [image] Then cut as a pocket: [image] down to tab height or the penultimate pass: [image] then move the contour down to below the pocket and start cutting at the bottom of the pocket: [image] and…