To start off, I searched topics on relative content and was overwhelmed by the different techniques.
Not overwhelmed technically, just trying to put into perspective when, why, or how I could use these techniques.
Now, to my point: I typically cut a v-groove thru a masking film. When the job finishes I like to re-run the job after lowering my bit my ~0.003". I swear in earlier versions of CM, I could go to the z-offset and add 0.003" to it and re-run. Lowering the bit and re-running gives me a sharp and clean v-groove and a sharp edge on my Oramask. I recently tried this on CM640 and this little trick has no effect whatsoever. Was I mistaken earlier? Or, did something change?
So now you understand what Iām trying to achieve, how do others achieve this? I see topics about changing Z offset in the code, etc. I have the Pro version of CC and the ability to edit the codeā¦ Looking for input and/or avice.
You sort of could with depth limiting in v7, but youāre right, that wonāt quite work as desired, so the only way to do this in Carbide Create would be to use Bottom as the origin and generate two separate sets of toolpaths/files.
Iām always happy to learn a new trick or capabilities Iām not aware of. But this is what I imagined the limitations to be in CC.
Since it it usually a one-off situation, I will likely manually jog and reset Z lower and re-run. If it were in a production situation, I would likely dupe and edit z-offset in code.
Iāve always done it the way you did.
When the first path is done, and the tool retracts, I just add the 0.003ā to the current Z value and run the path again.
Tod1d, I just ran a flattening pattern on a piece of stock. I kept doing this over and over and overā¦expecting the flattening height to lower by my change in offset each time. The cutter just followed the same path. It didnāt lower each pass on the stock, as I would have expected.
Are you certain the Z value took? i.e. Did you hit the enter button after typing?
And what did the Z readout show? And each time you changes the Z value, it should have incremented, did you notice?
The Set Zeros page has a terrible UI, arguably it is broken.
If you change the value, and leave the edit field, nothing happens. If you leave the page and come back to it, the edited values are still in the edit field, but they didnāt do anything.
You have to be in the edit field and hit āEnterā for your changes to take effect.
To respond to the last two; (Thank you Tod1d and mhotchin).
Iām pretty sure I changed the offset and clicked off to another field. Oh man, this makes sense now. It wasnāt always this way in earlier versions. I distinctly remember doing just this. I will be back on the machine tonight. I will be sure to press āenterā to leave the field, then exit the page and return to make sure it took.
Thanks SO much for the tip/advice. Merry Christmas.
Just to follow up with this topic; I did as suggested. I made my offset change and hit enter before clicking off the field. The machine location and the offsets matched.