What did you cut on your Shapeoko/ Nomad today?

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

For dimensional issues w/ wood, I’ve found that:

• calibrating for belt stretch (on belt-drive machines):

Calibrating the machines over long distances

The typical technique for machine calibration: https://carbide3d.com/hub/faq/belt-stretch/ depends on precision measuring tools, and is limited by the reach of the tools in question. EDIT: It also depends on access to the MDI — if using Carbide Motion v6 it will be necessary to enable this in Settings | Options: [image] It should be possible to cut strips from a suitable blank of material, one along each axis — so we set up a square file which matches an available blank of material: [im…

• and leaving a roughing clearance/making a finishing pass:

Best Bit for full cut through

One which has a cutting flute length equal to or greater than the thickness of the stock — pretty much any tool should work. Big thing is the toolpaths — if cutting out, rather than just cutting a slot: [image] Offset to the outside by endmill diameter plus 10% or so: [image] [image] [image] Then cut as a pocket: [image] down to tab height or the penultimate pass: [image] then move the contour down to below the pocket and start cutting at the bottom of the pocket: [image] and…

allows me to me to arrive at dimensionally-accurate/fitting parts despite the vagaries of tree growth — for more on that see:

Understanding Wood