Hey all, I’m using the free version off CC and GRBL Candle on my Genmitsu 3018 clone. I noticed that with long straight cuts the router makes a pass from ‘point A to point B’ but then returns all the way to ‘point A’ before making the subsequent deeper passes. Is there any way within my software that would allow it to cut both ways and therefore speed the process? JD
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On what type of cut? The engraving & facing paths use a zig-zag/raster/lace pattern.
Pocket path completes a ‘lap’ of the area.
If you’re doing a contour & want to step down then cut back the other way, you’d have to set them up as separate paths.
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It’s a pocket path in a straight line. I was hoping to get it to go down the line, step down, and cut on its to the point of origin instead of pulling out of the cut and returning to the starting point before stepping down.
Best practice is to avoid cutting slots — possible to use a slightly smaller tool and cut as a pocket?
Make some lines with arcs on the end, and duplicate with equal spacing single depth and you have to duplicate the toolpath for each stepdown.
A pocket path will return to the start point on each level. (If it’s not making any stepovers)
A contour path cuts from one end to the other based on the parameters you specify.
So create a contour path to do the cut you want and set the max depth to the first cut level.
Then duplicate that path, change the max depth to the next cut level and switch the direction (Conventional/Climb). I would just set the depth per cut to something very large since it’s only a single pass per path. Or you could change the start depth as well.