After jogging my machine to set zero in X,Y and Z I initialized again, used my bitsetter and started my program. Bit then moved to a starting cut position. This was about 2 inches to the right of my zero setting (X). It then started it’s cut to the right. It traveled 9in. which is the length of my job (not stock). This caused it to crash into my work holder. Is there an offset that needs to be zeroed out as well? If so, how do I do that? Thanks!
Initialize before setting your zero point.
I did. It did the same thing. My zero point is in the right place still. It’s moving about 2.5 in. to right then starting cut.
How is zero set in the program vs where you set it in real life?
When I zero, it shows the correct zero on he screen. I can also rapid t my set zero with no issues
Upload your design file. The problem you are having is almost always a mismatch between where the zero is in the file vs where you are setting it on the machine.
Usually this is caused by a mismatch between job setup:
and how origin is set relative to the stock:
I find that opening the .c2d file up and drawing a box which matches the specified dimensions (draw up the cut in profile if need be) or moving the machine to the origin and then using a tape measure to measure out the dimension(s) in question will make clear where things aren’t lining up.
If you still have trouble, please send in the .c2d file and let us know step-by-step how you are securing your stock and setting zero relative to it and managing all tool changes, and send a photo showing the stock in place and the machine at the zero position relative to it (or a specified offset from that position) and screengrabs showing what Carbide Motion shows for Position and Machine Position (click on either to toggle to the other).
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Cutter Bit Organization Tray R3.c2d (2.3 MB)
Thank you so much for looking into this! File is attached.
It looks like your Front Face toolpath will go through any place where you have a hold down clamp. The only way this design would work is to use the tape and CA glue hold down method or increase the size of your stock to give the clamps a place to hold the work down that’s not in the path of the tool.
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I have my XYZ set to 0. When starting the program, it doesn’t start at my set zero. It starts about 2in to the right. In the setup, I use top of stock and bottom left corner for my start point. The grid was set to 1”, but that shouldn’t matter, right?
That’s because your stock in your design file is about 2 inches from where you set your zeros.
It does matter. In your design, align your layout to the left and bottom edge of your work area and it will start the cut where you set zeros.
r4.c2d (1.2 MB)
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One other thought, be sure to go through the Job Setup page in CC before you start to design your project. Define your work piece in the Stock Size and Stock thickness fields then design within those boundaries.
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Interesting. So you are saying that the cut will start at the lower left of the stock instead of where I set my xyz 0?
Yes, if you move your design to the lower left corner where the red circle mark is in Carbide Create. Then physically set zeros on the lower left corner of your work piece. Load the file I attached earlier and take a look.
The cut “starts” relative to the zero you set in the software and the physical world.
Normal use case is that a person tells the software that XY will be at the lower left corner of the material. Then in the physical world you set your XY zero on the lower left corner of the material.
How far from the lower left corner in your file are the vectors that are getting cut?
Did you set XY in the physical world relative to your material or was it some arbitrary point?
Notice I put quotes around starts in my first line. Thats not really a good way to think of it as the cutting may start in a seemingly random position on the material because of the algorithm CC uses to generate the paths for the gcode. It may “start” cutting in the upper right but the design may still be in the correct place.
When you load the file in CM take a look at the toolpath previews. The Top View shows you the cutting toolpaths and the place where the cut actually starts.
The X-Y zero is not a starting point - it is a reference point, the place from which all other distances are taken.
It’s not uncommon for the X-Y zero to never be visited at all - it depends on the project.
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Thanks everyone! That solved my issue.
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