Super Simple Spoilboard Grid

Inspired by a request on the Shapeoko and Nomad Users Group (Unofficial) Facebook group.

How to create a grid for my 5 Pro 4x4?

Job Setup image

Your work envelope is 48.7 x 48.7. Let’s create a grid 48x48, and we’ll start 0.35" from the extreme lower left corner.

Set your Width & Height to 48, Thickness is not important here. Zero Height: Top. Toolpath Zero: Lower-Left. Retract Height: 0.1. Units: Inch

Grid image

Set the grid to 1.0, and check “Show Grid”

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Draw the grid

Create 2 Polylines image, one from the lower left to the lower right corner. And one from the next grid line up (1") but draw this one from right to left. (You’ll see why in a bit)

Select both lines (Hit Ctrl-A to Select All), then select the linear array tool image

We’ll make 25 rows, 1 column, and set both X & Y spacing to 2"

Now repeat the process to draw 2 polylines on the left edge, and 1" in from the left edge.
Draw the left edge from top to bottom, and the next one from bottom to top.

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Select them both and use the Linear array tool again. This time 1 Row, and 25 Columns.

Now let’s get rid of the 2 extra lines. Select them both using the Shift key to select the 2nd line. Then hit the delete key.

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Toolpath

Now go to the Toolpath tab. Use a rectangle or Ctrl-A to select all of the vectors. And create a Contour toolpath. Select “Use Current Selection”.
We’re going to select a Vee Bit tool. Select “Edit”, and then “Select Tool”. Set the “Machine” at the top to “Shapeoko” and the “Material” to “Soft Wood”. Select the #302 Vee (60.0 degrees) tool.

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We’ll accept the default parameters. But let’s change the Feed Rate to 60

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There should be 98 vectors selected. Leave Start Depth at 0.000, and change the Max Depth to 0.0001. If your post is set to 3 decimals for Inch, this will output a cutting Z of 0.000
Set the Offset Direction to “No Offset” to cut directly on our lines.

Hit “OK”, then in the Simulation panel set the material to MDF. Make sure all 3 checkboxes are checked, and “Show Simulation”. Rotate the part (Mouse button 1) so you can see the toolpath.
Zoom into the lower left corner. Notice the engage move has some green at the bottom. This is where the toolpath starts. Not always easy to see, but the final retract will be all red.

image image

Also notice the Red Rapids are all short & jump directly to the next line to be cut.
This is why we alternated the direction of every other polyline. Had we just copied a single line with the array tool, the rapids would be all over the place.

Pretty!! :slight_smile: But will waste a lot of time.

Save

Now save your toolpath. Select the “Save Toolpaths” button. Select “Save toolpaths to this file”
(If you have Pro, and want to use a G-Code file, you can select “Save as G-code”)

Send the file (Either the .c2d file, or the .nc file if you used G-Code) to the machine, after initilization move your machine to the extreme lower left. If you use the Quick Position, make sure you jog to the exreme -X & -Y until the machine stops. Set your X & Y zero, then jog 0.35" in both X & Y, and set your XY zero again. Touch off your tool to the top of the spoilboard. Set the Z zero, but instead of clicking the button, enter the depth of cut you want in the Z text box (0.010) and hit ENTER. Look at the digital readout to make sure Z says “0.010”. Now you’re ready to make your cut.

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Thanks for the wright up I really appreciate it. Couple of beginner questions.

What is “Post” referring to?

In your last paragraph it looks like we are shifting it and then changing the cut depth. Any reason this isn’t done in CC as we create the file?

1037 minutes vs 78 min cut from the football pattern above to what it takes by alternating the lines is concerning. Why does the order of how the lines are created in the software matter? Shouldn’t it look at the overall picture and determine the smartest route to follow?

Thanks for the help

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“Post” is the internal code in CC that formats the G-code output for the machine you are using.
In CC, Edit → Select Post Processor. You want the “Shapeoko” post.

I like to program clean-up, surfacing, and marking paths like this at Z0.0. It makes it easy for me to reuse them, and know where to set the Z zero. It’s arbitrary. You could program it at -0.010, then adjust your zero to go deeper or shallower. It’s just a standard I like to use.

I get 78 minutes with the vectors alternating, and 97 minutes with the ‘football’ shaped rapids.
19 extra minutes of cutting air. If that’s not consequential to you, don’t bother with alternating them.
P.S. CC & CM cut times are not remotely accurate. But they are relative. My way here is 20% faster, so on the machine the times may not be the same, but it should still be pretty close to 20% faster.

You would think, wouldn’t you?? When I program in NX it has a very good optimization algorithm.
CC is an ‘entry level’ CAM system. Free, or very inexpensive. So what can we expect?
Mind you, you can do a lot of great things with it, and I love using it for it’s simplicity.
Just that sometimes you have to get creative to get what you want.

Happy to help! Now go make some sawdust!! :laughing:

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