I’ve watched the official YouTube video about tiling (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2o4CReNaDU), but the process failed miserably for me. It ended up cutting the same tile twice, and the second time I tried, I “ran out of stock” and was carving air. Can someone tell me what I did wrong? I did this on small stock as a test. C2D file attached. tiling test.c2d (68 KB)
Here’s what happened:
CC labels the tiles 1 Bottom, 2 Top, yet cuts the top first. So the numbering/labeling is confusing.
I measured 6.5" down from the top of the stock. I think that’s why I was carving air on the second tile. I should have measure 6.5 up from the bottom since that bottom tile is 6.5" and the top one is shorter?
After cutting the first (top) tile, the spindle moved to the rear but never prompted me to do anything. I assumed this was the time to reposition the stock - which I did - and then clicked Start. Well - that just started cutting the same tile again. As if only one tile was recognized by Carbide Motion.
I went back to CC, save a second version of the file with the other tile active. Ran that file and it carved the expected tile - but again I had measured wrong. The video didn’t take into account that the tiles may not be spread evenly across the stock. Is that a requirement?
Big questions:
Should I need a separate file for each tile? Or should Carbide Motion recognize tiles in a single file and prompt me when it’s time to move my stock and then continue? Is there a more complete video of the process?
I’m not sure how CC does it’s tiling as I’ve only used VCarve. But with that software you save each tiling section as a separate gcode. That gives you the ability to start with the bottom and work your way up with each section. Make sure that you don’t disable the tiling before you save the gcode. I accidentally did that before trying to hide the tiling panel for a better view.
I think that the tiles need to be the same size.
Yes, save one file for each tile with only that tile selected and active.
I have done a couple of tile operations on long projects that are rotated. I start with the “right most” tile (remember it is rotated so really it is the front tile. I measure bottom left as the start point and mark that on the fence I slide along. I also mark the center of the piece where the new tile should begin.
Once the first tile is cut I slide the piece forward so that the mark on the piece aligns with the mark on the fence. Then I load the second file and start the job. No need to rezero anything.
You do have to save a separate file for each tile. You load and run the appropriate file after each reposition of the stock. I have saved separate c2d files for each tile - I just name them Tile1.c2d; Tile2; etc.
The tiles will always be the same size - you are creating all the tiles at the same time and then saving them as separate files.
Basically:
Select Tile 1
SAVE tile1.c2d
Select tile 2
SAVE tile2.c2d
You could theoretically run them in any order (top to bottom or bottom to top - or start in the middle), but realize that each tile will have a little bit of the tile ABOVE and BELOW it (user side) within its file - the amount is determined by your overlap parameter. The idea is to cut air during the overlap and making even transitions.
I would like to add that if one does not want to go through the Save / Load process for each tile tool path, try CC Beta 761 with the Send to Motion feature. That feature does seem to be working now. Select a tile to cut and hit Send to Motion. I sent a 4 tile job with a group of two tool paths using two different tools, worked as expected.
Dropbox can be your friend. I share a dropbox folder between my design and shop computers. I also have the same version of CC on both machines - in case minor adjustments need to be in the shop. The version on the dropbox is a copy, only my design computer holds the “saved” version - which keeps the dropbox folder nice and small and well within the “free” range.
I use a PI for CM and the folder is mounted to my design computer but changes aren’t really possible on the PI. I would like to be able to see the job parameters so I don’t have to go upstairs to see if I zeroed on the top or the bottom.
I think Vectric allows printing a job setup sheet. I should probably print a screenshot from CC before heading down. It never seems critical until I get down there and start doubting myself.
It’s probably sacrilege, but could you put a cheap tablet in your Shop to give you access to CC from within there? I have a 10" Fusion5 with 8g, running Win10 ($149 two years ago) and it’s terrific. Runs CC, CM, Lightburn, and Dropbox access. Easy.
I had heard concerns about Windows updates in the middle of a job so I went the PI route. A cheap tablet to check on things and make quick changes is a good idea though. I don’t want to take my good laptop in there.
You can set the timeframe for Windows updates. Updates have to get installed at some point, so if you turn them off entirely, you run the risk that Windows will decide that you’ve waited too long and force the update at “any old time”. So what I did was set a window for updates for 1-3 am - and every once in a while, I either manually look for updates, or leave the machine on over night. I haven’t had that problem in years.
I am older and will never have a multi story home again. The problem is everything upstairs has to be carried up there (or down there) and as you get older that becomes more and more of a chore.
About a year ago I have a ramp for a portable building I keep my riding mower in. Also my washing machine and dryer are in there. I live in East Texas with a lot of pine trees. One drizzly afternoon I had a basket of clothes and was zooming to get out of the sprinkling rain. I hit the second step going up the ramp and my feet came out from under me and I went face first into the side and ground. I think the pine straw became rollers. Luckily the basket was thrown the opposite way and I caught myself with my hands. It still hurt. So be careful running up and down stairs because it only takes a second to fall.
I haven’t done tiling myself but I remembered that Aspire had a Tutorial on that. SEE AT: file:///C:/Users/Public/Documents/Vectric%20Files/Tutorial%20Files/Aspire%20V10.0/Index.html?video=Toolpath_Tiling_2D_Toolpaths
ALSO, you should be able to print out your JOB SHEETS after you SAVE your Tool Paths. That should have all the information you would need rather than running up/down stairs.
Sometimes we forget the simplest options when we get in a hurry to run a job.
Sorry, my bad! I haven’t opened CC for a long time, but I thought they had added Job Sheets.
Any way, the Vectric Tutorial could possibly give you some ideas about Tiling. I know it is different software, however the principles of Tiling are much the same.
There is not exactly a jog setup sheet in CC but they do have job notes. You can write anything you want. You just have to make up whatever you want in the notes.
The Vetric software generates the report based on input from the job but you can add whatever you want in the notes.
I’ve actually asked for a “Job Data Handshake” between CC and CM - where the Job information would be automatically saved within the c2d file and CM would have a way to present that information on screen before you start the job.
CM has some of it now (like which tools it’s going to use), but it would be great to know dimensions of the workpiece, location of origin, top/bottom reference, etc. Basically, all the things in the Setup Screen…In fact, it could be a read/only version of CCs setup screen,
