This is my first project on my CNC machine and I’m at a loss at what happened here. When I created the prototype out of pine it carved out fine. When I used walnut only part of the text was carved out. Anyone know what happened? TIA!
Which machine do you have? with what Z-axis?
How thick is your stock and where was zero set?
How did you manage the tool changes?
Post the .c2d file, step-by-step notes on how you set zero relative to the stock and managed all tool changes and a photo showing your clamping setup?
It looks like your test file has an extra cut at the left edge of the design which the walnut doesn’t have — same files?
Ill let the others with more knowledge help you out, but i had this problem with live wood which is fairly uneven. Although i plained it pefectly, sanded it nicely and clamped it to the waste board properly, i had some really nice fonts on v carve do the same as what you show.
I put my digital level on the stock and noticed a slight inbalance. Used a shim and checked both directions. Problem solved. Important tool for me has been the digital level. Maybe its that simple 
(Make sure to level the stock to the same angle as the waste board not to 0)
Amazon
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This is great information. I’ll definitely check it out!
I have the Shapeoko 4 XXL.
We thought maybe we should have cleaned out the spindle before replacing the bit??? Maybe the wood wasn’t as level as we thought.
Wood movement seems to be the issue, whether because of stresses in the wood where the pocketing operation allowed the piece to distort, or a clamping issue where the piece moved during the pocketing operation leaving a sloped bottom to the pocket. How did you have the piece held down? If you cleared the pocket with an up-cut bit and the part lifted even a small amount the v-carve would be shallow on the side that lifted. V-carving is very sensitive to flatness.
I had it held down with quite a few clamps. It seemed to be pretty firm but I’ll definitely pay attention to that next time.
This because carving requires a level surface. If it is still on the machine move off project and move z zero down a few thousands and reset z zero and rerun the vcarve tool paths. Repeat until carve is good.
Since you are new you may need to surface spoilboard and tram router. There are instructions on the forum. Keep going because all failures lead to success.
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Was the pocket carved on the machine? If so, was it removed before carving the letters and then put back on? My thought is, if everything was carved at the same time without removing it, then the letters should be parallel to the bottom surface and they should have carved just fine. Only way I see that happening if it wasn’t removed is that your bit on the pocketing operation pulled down slightly or v bit pushed up, or the wood stress relieved itself. Its also possible that the workholding allowed the piece to move, or your machine lost steps. What is the retract height set to?
It was carved on the machine at the same time we cut out the rest of the tray. I think you’re right about the bit. We didn’t clean out the spindle when we changed bits so I wonder if that was it. The retract height is set to .1181 inches.
Always clean the collet, nut, shaft, and tool at tool changes.
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I noticed that the date is in a different proportion to the rest of the carve in the walnut as compared to the pine. Did you create a design on a different computer than the one connected to your machine? If so, do both computers have the same fonts installed? If not, you can get some odd results in my experience.
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As a follow up, heres a couple of things i do to help myself with the bits, especially if they sit loose in the cullet when installing.
Always clean (air hose)
I was using painters tape to briefly hold the bit while installing. Ive moved onto a bobby pin. Hopefully the pictures explain myself. I always set it to the top
I thought it would be neat if the ‘tops’ to the endmills had the exact spacing so you could insert the endmill into in and then it would be the perfect but that would be specific to each unit.
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What a great idea! I’ll have to steal that! Lol!
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