Hey I was wondering if anyone on intricate pieces uses their V bit first and follows up with their quarter inch endmill to not damage the smaller features but still save time?
I wish there was an option for a dual pocketing system in which the largest dia cutter would be used first to rough most of the area out, followed by a smaller dia cutter that cleans it up closer followed by the V. I know this is possible manually albeit time consuming but wouldn’t that be a good one?
I have not as of yet, I do however set several tool paths to get detail on smaller text by starting with 1/16”, then 1/8” and then 1/4” bits vs using rest machining in a Vcarve tool path. It’s obviously more tool changes but it definitely allows for finer detail especially when pocketing smaller areas.
But, I have thought of this flow path wondering if the V bit first cuts cleaner in certain grains with the surrounding material still present and then pocket the rest.
Right I totally get that and how to do that, I’m just thinking efficiency wise it would be awesome. I could always just trim the g-code but that’s super high effort.
Agree, if I get a chance I’ll post the results.
If I make a detailed stamping block (a bit like the male part of an inlay project), end grain wood, with the narrowest tip of the print line down to 0.3-0.5mm, I will use a 30 Deg bit. I will pocket to an offset from the lines and vbit the rest. Takes longer as the vbit has more to do but my printing blocks are typically no more than 50x50mm.
I have found that doing the fine-detail Vbit first tends to “clog up” the fine details. Cutting the pocket gives the chips a better way to escape.
I just did the V carve first on my last Inlay, and I had to spend about 1 hour clearing all the chips packed into all the fine details. I am not going to do that again.