Pocket Toolpath Not working as expected

[markpsantos (Mark Santos)]

Hi All,
While I am awaiting further help from C3D support, I thought I would throw this one out there to see if someone else has seen it. I have a logo that I am trying to carve. All vectors are selected to give me the main area I want to machine out. When adding elements for the pocket, I get to the last letter, and if I add it, several parts of the drawing no longer pocket properly. Without this last letter being included, the rest of the drawing properly pockets. In the attached pic, the top shows the drawing without the “N” being included. Everything else looks correct. The bottom shows the N included, then the OO and the Brewing Company no longer machine properly. I would appreciated any insight into this weird issue.

Thanks,
Mark

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

Working on a work-around for this now — hang on, I’ll send what I have, then re-create it here.

[markpsantos (Mark Santos)]

Awesome Will and Eugene!

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

Here is a work-around for this.

First, Advanced V carving works as expected:

which indicates a potential work-around — offset so as to match the center of the narrow channel between the M and N at the beginning and end of the text and the surrounding geometry — measure this:

and inset to that width:

Apply

calculate the depth of the cut:

which may then have a Pocket toolpath applied:

Then it is a matter of determining what regions are left uncut and adding Advanced V carving toolpaths to clear those regions.

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

Select the small regions and offset to the outside:

For geometry which extends beyond where one wants, draw in a circle to represent where the tool can/cannot reach:

Duplicate the geometry:

and draw in geometry to define what is wanted:

and use Trim Vectors to isolate what is wanted:

Remove the drawn-in geometry:

and select the open geometry:

and Join Vectors:

and offset:

Apply:

then add that to an Advanced V carving toolpath:

and repeat this for each other such region.

[markpsantos (Mark Santos)]

Hi Will,
I think I get what you are saying there. What is the actual cause of the problem though? In your examples above, does that assume that I want to v-carve in those areas? Does the software have an issue with this sort of setup?

Thanks,
Mark

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

@robgrz would have to explain what is underlying all this.

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

A more expedient approach is to select the original geometry:

and offset by the necessary width of the V tool plus a smaller tool:

Then assign that to a an Advanced V carving toolpath:

which paired w/ the pocket toolpath has the desired appearance:

The balance of the design may then be incised at the bottom of the pocket:

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

If V carving isn’t an option, you could work out the appropriate size tool to use:

and select and cut out each section with offset geometry:

Apply

Deselect the outer geometry:

and delete the small bits which are not wanted:

Repeat this for each other area:

Note that some regions will require REST Machining, or isolating some regions to cut with a smaller tool:

It will then be necessary to duplicate the surrounding geometry:

and join it with copies of the inner geometry edges.

Yes

Eventually one arrives at:

[markpsantos (Mark Santos)]

Thanks so much WIlliam. I know this took a lot of time to get configured and I look forward to learning more about these more advanced techniques on manipulating the designs. I also look forward to a new CC release that fixes the issue with the original svg that I was using. Now I am going to optimize the toolpaths and do a test carve to see if it will all work.

Thanks,
Mark

[HaroldO (Harold Osmer)]

This is a terrific illustration of how tricky a relatively simple design can be to carve with cnc. I did not study this particular effort, but found myself wondering how I might attack it and decided I would make several separate files. They could all be combined into one of course, but when broken down one by one can be easier to produce.
One file for the letters.
One for the top circle.
Bottom circle.
Rings.

Don’t move your stock, no need to reset zero, easy to monitor the process. I used to think I needed a dozen toolpaths in my file before considering myself adept at this. I was wrong.

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

A similar effect can be achieved by using Layers and Toolpath Groups:

2D Drawing | Design into 3D

Toolpaths | Design into 3D