Hello, I watched a guy using some software other than Carbide Create to make his project and he showed a feature called Larger Area Clearance Tool, that when checked, allowed him to not only use his 1/8 endmill to get the hard to reach place, but to also use a larger bit to come back and clean up the “larger” areas around the letters.
I wanted to ask, does Carbide Create have such a feature? I know I’m knew, but trust me, since I’m a designer, I’ve had ideas for the last 2 years while pondering investing in a cnc. Now that I got it, they are all rushing out of me, yet…lol…I can’t do any of them, because, well…I’m a Newb ha haaa. Anyway, I’d still like to learn
If someone could explain or point me in the right direction, or simply let me know CC does not have this option, which will send me into a terrible, depressive state which you will then be blamed for. Naa, just kidding. lol
In advanced V carving there is an option to use a second tool to clear the bulk of a flattened area, but it requires a BitSetter or some way to ensure consistent endmill stickout.
For signs to catch the smaller details, I usually do the pocket with the larger endmill and then a contour inside or outside with the smaller endmill to pick up the the smaller details, that way I’m not waiting forever to have the small endmill pocket areas that have already been milled. Similar process, but manually done.
In Fusion 360 (which is free), you can use an option called Rest Machinining which will generate toolpath, but ignore areas that have already been machined.
Somewhere in my gallery post I was asked how I cut a certain project and I explained my hack version of rest machining. CC doesn’t have that feature (yet). Give me a few minutes and I will dig it up
edit: Found it. I was being asked about getting the details cut on this little guy:
And here was my answer:
"The skyline is cut from one piece. Before I got a BitSetter, I made sure to set my Z zero at an easily repeatable spot that doesn’t get cut away. Even doing that, it was hard to get perfect results with the little bit of error with every bit change and rezero. Now I zero my stock once and can forget about that stressful mess of rezeroing after every bit.
I have no experience with Vcarve Pro, but in Carbide Create I do a couple things to create my hackjob version of “rest machining”
So, let’s say I am making a skyline with a 1/32" or 1/16" endmill as my detail bit and a 1/8" or 1/4" endmill as my clearance bit. First, I add a path offset to the outside of the skyline by half the size of my detailing bit or somewhere in the realm of .005"-.02". Sometimes this requires multiple offset paths so your detail bit paths and clearance bit paths clear all material from the little inside corners. I set the detail paths as outside contour cuts to cut very shallow and slowly. And I set the clearance pocket to cut as fast as I am comfortable with. The key is to set the clearance bit to pocket to one off the offset paths I added earlier and not to the “original” path. This keeps any variation in manufacturer bit size or whatever from effecting my detail. I am not sure any of that helps you, but this might: before I got a BitSetter, I always ran the detail cut paths to cut to a depth just shy of the intended pocket depth. So if I wanted a pocket depth of .08" I would set the detail paths to .078". I did this for a few reasons, as I had a belt driven z with a dewalt router with some “slop” and I came to the conclusion (right or wrong) that the “slop” would allow a bit like a 1/32" to cut just a smidge deeper than a 1/8" or 1/4" bit. Setting the detail path minutely shallower helped solve my issues and worst case scenario the detail cuts would end up a smidge shallower and would take a lot less time to recut to proper depth than it would to repocket the larger areas if the detail was too deep and didn’t line up. I hope this helps, message me if you need any more help."
and:
“I forgot to mention (taking a total shot in the dark here) that keeping the size ratio of the “detail” bit (I typically use a 2 or 3 flute downcut endmill) to “clearance” bit (usually a 3 or 4 flute upcut endmill) to no more than maybe 3x. I usually run only a 2x ratio and add another one or two offset passes with the same small bit or with a third bit if the size of the project calls for it (which is way easier to handle in practice with a BitSetter or depth stop collars, frustrating without)…”
I hope this helps. If not, I know there was a nice write up/video about the proper way to do it in CC floating around here somewhere…
VCarve, (Pro or Desktop) by Vectric does have the option for large area clearance for both vcarves and pockets. When that is checked it allows you to choose your detail bit and one or more larger bits for faster clearance operations. It works well and there is no fussing around with various offsets.
I really appreciate that detailed reply. I really and truly do. It’s just a bit over my head right now lol. So it didn’t really help me as you asked. I wish you or someone had some step by steps or a vid. But I guess I’ll have to download or buy that VCarve, because most of my ideas were like that sign you made (not the skyline) where there’s a pocket “but” also something raised off in that pocket. I’m sorry I don’t know the terms yet, but lets say I wanted a pocket of .25 yet have some text or a shape in that pocket on that will then also have that .25 depth look to it. Boy oh boy do I have a ton to learn, I didn’t even know they “made” 1/32 inch bits or 16ths for that matter, I’ve been using the 8ths for years with my Dremel, but never seen anything smaller nor had a reason to research. But Wow, looking at your sign’s details on the buildings, I’m assuming those small bits had a LOT to do with that. Yet another purchase my Prime account will be seeing I guess lol
I use Carveco Maker Plus software. It has a “area clearance” tool path option that allows me to use a ½" end mill to clear the bulk of the pocket and then come back and remove everything that is left with say a ⅛" end mill.
Here is a video explaining how it works.
I guess Maybe I clicked on the wrong link. What I seen was thousands per month for the Carveco, but the Maker and Maker Plus were more affordable, but I did not see 50 bucks per month. Do you have a link you could share?
If you have a specific design you are working on and need help with reducing machining time, we can certainly help with that. But it might be helpful to download carbide create and play around with the settings. I think between what Microwave Monkey shared and different threads on the forum, there’s enough out there to get you going.
Also Winston made a video to do an intro to Carbide Create:
Hey thanks, I sure will. Thanks for the vid too, I like watching Chris work, he’s pretty creative and I imagine he’s only going to create even better with that new software
