However, when I run the job, the first pass with the Vee bit is way deeper than .01" - deep enough to cause the bit to chatter, then on subsequent passes, it cuts in the correct small (.01") increments. As I played with the settings, changing the depth per cut of the bit, I could see change on the subsequent passes, but the first pass is always the same depth.
Nothing I do seems to stop that first pass from being deeper than the rest. My zero is good. Any idea why this is happening? The resulting plug fits the pocket — however, the chatter shakes the whole machine and loosens the bolts (and my teeth)!
I don’t know why there’s an empty toolpath. It’s the cut out portion of the inlay tool. Perhaps the offset isn’t big enough for the bit…but that shouldn’t create this issue unless there’s a bug, no?
To avoid the empty toolpath, I had to increase the offset outside of the squares greater than 1/8" and then choose a 1/16" bit for the rough out portion of the inlay plug tool:
If it does, would it be correct to assume there’s a bug in the Inlay plug calculations that fail to correctly calculate the Vee tool paths when the pocket tool is not needed?
If the pocket toolpath is not needed (because the gap is small enough that a bit won’t fit), the starting depth of the Vee bit is incorrectly calculated. The Vee plunges quite bit below the surface of the wood for it’s first pass - tt processes correctly, honoring the max DoC settings after the first pass.
In my opinion, the code ought to use the max DOC as the starting depth of first pass with the Vee bit, if there is no pocket needed.
If the pocket toolpath is needed, the algorithm correctly manages the Vee bit. Interestingly, the starting depth appears to be the DoC of the Vee Bit.
