Is there a way...Rest-like processing in Vee Carve Pocketing

Software Carbide Create
1

I have a 30" square logo for a local firehouse that I need to carve out using Advanced VCarve…the logo has large letters and also small lettering…

Timing on the Advanced VCarve is interesting - if I use a 1/4 201 to do the pocket half of the vcarve, the pocketing takes up about 11 minutes, but the Vee side ends up taking over 3 hours…this is because the 1/4 inch is too big to get into the small lettering and is only effective in hogging out the large letters and it’s leaving a lot of work for the poor vee bit to do.

However, if I use a 1/8" to do the pocketing, the pocketing takes over an hour - and the vee comes down to 99 minutes. Roughly an even trade.

The question: Is there a way to combine this? Kind of like a “rest” processing for the pocketing of an advanced VCarve??? I’d love to hog out what a 1/4 will, then switch to the 1/8 and do the remaining hogging, and then switch to the Vee to do the final details…

I know it’s not possible to do this using Advanced VCarve alone…but is there some other way you folks can think of to do it?

Thanks in advance,
Gary

2 Likes
2

My initial thought process is to do the math and determine based on your Vbit and depth what the flat pocket offset would be, manually do an interior vector offset and then pocket that out. That falls apart when you go to Vcarve, because the tool has no way of being told you already did the pocket rest machining for it.

3

OK, here’s how you could use REST machining to get what you need. I’m going to use a 90deg VBit, since the offset for 90 deg is the same as the depth.

  • In your design, set the elements you would VCarve to a layer. Offset those vectors to Inside by an appropriate amount, then assign those to a different layer.
  • Create a VCarve path, set a clearing bit, choose the smallest endmill size you will use for the pocketing. Use the first layer.
  • Create a Pocket on the other layer (the one with the offset geometry). REST machine it to the smallest size endmill you will be using.

If you don’t have CC Pro, then instead of REST machining, using the ‘pocket+contour’ trick (third toolpath group).

Now, disable the VCarve Pocket operation. Even though disabled, the VBit operation will still clear the areas that the endmill would have missed.

Here’s a sample file, I used a depth of 3mm. As saved here, it has REST machining down to 1/8" for the pocket, then the VBit does the rest.

VCarve REST test.c2d (1.3 MB)

4 Likes
4

Wouldn’t the vee bit end up cutting a lot of air? I mean, it doesn’t know I pocketed out the letters…right?

5

The Pocket half of the VCarve would have done that clearing, but it’s disabled. Disabling that toolpath doesn’t change what the VBit carves.

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I get it. Interesting. Thanks!