First Time Tiling - Carbide Create Pro

How To Machining
1

Hi everyone,

I am new to tiling in Carbide Create Pro, I would appreciate any help figuring out what went wrong. See details below.

Machine and software

  • Shapeoko Pro XXL
  • Carbide Create Pro Build 842
  • Carbide Motion Build 656

Project

  • Charcuterie board
  • Design size: 17" × 60"
  • Test material: plywood that is approximately 3/16" thick. After I figure out what I did wrong, I plan to cut the board out on 5/4 cherry.
    Charcuterie Board - Tile 1.c2d (60 KB)

Tile setup

  • 3 tiles
  • Tile Height: 24"
  • Vertical Overlap: 0.75"
  • X Margin: 1"

What I did

I used a BitZero on the front-left corner of the plywood to zero X, Y, and Z before cutting Tile 1.

After each tile, I moved the plywood forward 23.25 inches. I kept it aligned using the front edge of the wasteboard as the upper stop and a scrap fence along the left side of the workpiece.

I did not re-zero after moving the plywood. I repeated the same process for Tiles 2 and 3.

Problems

The finished board measured only about 55.5 inches instead of 60 inches.

Also, only three holding tabs remained during the cut, even though several more tabs were placed and visible in the Carbide Create toolpath.

My two main questions are:

  1. Why is the cutout shorter than what I designed in carbide create?
  2. Why would only three of the tabs appear in the actual cut?

I have the Carbide Create file, all three G-code files, additional photos, and a photo of my fence setup available if they would help.

Thanks!

2

The changes I would suggest:

  • more tabs
  • use a Cutout rather than a Contour toolpath for the perimeter, and for the circle, why not just use a pocket?

That said, photos would help.

3

I will use a pocket for the circle. That makes a lot of sense. I will also add more tabs. Any idea why it cut shorter than my file? Did I do something wrong with the tiling setup? Here is a photo. As a new user, I limited to posting one photo. Thank you!

PlywoodFUllBoardCutout_IMG_8747
PlywoodFUllBoardCutout_IMG_87471920×2560 424 KB

4

Picture_showingthesizeoftheboard_IMG_8745
Picture_showingthesizeoftheboard_IMG_87451920×2560 258 KB

5

Fence Sertup and Zeroing_IMG_8743
Fence Sertup and Zeroing_IMG_87431920×2560 405 KB

6

If you have your tile height set to 24" then you need to move your board 24". Along with your tool path offset being set to “inside”, that’s probably what wiped out your two tabs and made your board shorter than expected. Attached is a modified version of your file that may help.

tile1.c2d (72 KB)

5 Likes
7

The inside/outside thing as pointed out by @Ed.E is the cause of the dimensions being off by the diameter of the tool.

See:

1 Like
8

Firstly, is that a wall decoration or do you have some giants where you live?

Move the piece the same as the tile height as Ed said.

I mark my spoil board with a pencil when I zero for the first tile and I mark the material at each tile interval. Then slide the piece forward until the marks align for each tile.

1 Like
9

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it!

2 Likes
10

Thank you very much. I also look forward to reading the toolpath document.

11

Lol. My sister asked me to make it for her. I think she plans to put it on her table and put food on it like a serving tray. It’s huge! Also, thanks for the recommendation about marking the material and the spoil board.

1 Like