Where to start cutting

[Guerra Cues]

Hey,

I am new to partworks and I am starting to get the hang of it. I still have trouble on starting the cut. How can I tell where my shopbot is going to start cutting?

The question relates to partworks as well...

Once I have the file done how do I know where is it going to start cutting after I zero the out the shop bot?

[garyc]

Tony...
Once you calculate the toolpath, the start point will be noted by a green block. You can also select a vector, enter node edit mode and place the start point anywhere you wish by pressing the [P] key.

[Guerra Cues]

Tony...
Once you calculate the toolpath, the start point will be noted by a green block. You can also select a vector, enter node edit mode and place the start point anywhere you wish by pressing the [P] key.

Gary,

Don't see that green block...
Also, how can I reference the part that I am cutting with the starting point? If I need to start cutting in a particular area like the pocket inlays I am showing here how can I tell the exact start point in relationship to the material. It's kind of a eye ball thing.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Capture-1.jpg

Gary,

Let me ask you another question. I am cutting let's say a 7/8" circle and I want to put text around a curve... I know how to do it, the problem is when I align the text on a curve only aligns it to the bottom of the circle, is there a way to align it to the top of the circle (vector)?

[garyc]

Tony...
Look at the 2D view on the design screen (with the toolpath checked) you will see the bit path, arrows showing the direction of cut, and the start point.

Yes, you can make the start point anywhere you wish.

You should spend some time with the tutorials and videos that have been developed for VCarve Pro. There is also an unlimited amount of information on the Vectric forum that is specific to this software.

ShopBot has inhouse, online (web based) and online (one on one) training for PartWorks in addition to training at your site.

http://www.vectric.com/forum/ Remember that VCarve Pro and partWorks are identical except that PartWorks only outputs to ShopBot, where VCPro outputs to most brands of CNC.

[Guerra Cues]

Tony...
Look at the 2D view on the design screen (with the toolpath checked) you will see the bit path, arrows showing the direction of cut, and the start point.

Yes, you can make the start point anywhere you wish.

You should spend some time with the tutorials and videos that have been developed for VCarve Pro. There is also an unlimited amount of information on the Vectric forum that is specific to this software.

ShopBot has inhouse, online (web based) and online (one on one) training for PartWorks in addition to training at your site.

http://www.vectric.com/forum/ Remember that VCarve Pro and partWorks are identical except that PartWorks only outputs to ShopBot, where VCPro outputs to most brands of CNC.


Hey Gary,

Thanks for the reply. I have seen the tutorials and the text alignment is getting me a bit puzzled :confused:

Here the 2D I see the direction of the cut but don't see the starting point of the cut.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/2d.jpg

[steve_g]

Tony

You have to be in node editing mode...

SG

[Guerra Cues]

Tony

You have to be in node editing mode...

SG


Steve,
I think I got it figured out.

I just thought that once you calculated the toolpath you could actually see where it would start cutting.
If I got this right I select the vector, Press "N" and and then "P" to select that starting point to cut and then I select all the vectors and create the toolpath, is this thought correct?

[wayne_walker]

Tony,

If you have the tool path box checked, yes you can see the start point. If you have any lines grouped it will not let you change the start point.

Good luck.

Wayne

[adrianm]

You will need to check "Use vector starts points (don't optimise)" in the toolpath as well if you change the start point by node editing.

The software chooses the most efficient place to start the cut so you have to explicitily tell it that you don't want it to.

You can see where the start plunges are by checking the relevant toolpaths (making them visible) and looking at the 3D view. The red lines are the rapid moves and the green lines are the plunges down to the material. The green lines show you where cutting starts for each vector.

[garyc]

Tony...
I am not sure if you have the option to change the start point for a pocket cut. Just the cleanup pass parameters. Raster is also a viable option.

If you zoom in, based on the arrows, you can see where the cut starts.

My advice above was intended to apply to profile cuts. In many cases I prefer them for machining as you have much more control over what the bit does.

[Guerra Cues]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I will post a picture of the final results. I will actually be using nesting to cut the inlays.

That design will be done on a wrapped job and I will be using ivory and 3mm abalone dots in the middle of the bigger dots. The cue will actually be done out of cocobolo with a nice kangaroo leather wrap.

By the way... Here are some pics of my shop:

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3321.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3324.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3325.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3326.jpg

[Guerra Cues]

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3327.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3328.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3329.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3330.jpg

[Guerra Cues]

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3331.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3332.jpg

and a lot of wood:

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3320.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Shop/IMG_3323.jpg

[steve_g]

Wow tony... If you're trying to impress me/us, it worked!
Tell me about the machine you have the cues mounted in. Something you made?

SG

[Guerra Cues]

Wow tony... If you're trying to impress me/us, it worked!
Tell me about the machine you have the cues mounted in. Something you made?

SG

Lol

Well the tapering machines are from a company called Unique Products. They cost about $3500.00 each they do all the tapering, point work, etc.
The 6 wing cutters are available from Whiteside and all my end mills are from Precision Bits and I do not anything else. The 6 wing cutters are custom ground for precision so each cutter hits the wood.

They also have a few CNC machines but even I don't have the whole travel length of the cue of 29" I thought that the Shopbot Desktop was one of the best in its class.

Now with the CNC my cues can be dressed up a little bit more.

Some examples of my work, all the ringwork is done on the CNC....

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3262.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3287.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3221.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3298.jpg

[Guerra Cues]

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3297.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3258.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj164/bestkites/Guerra%20Cues/IMG_3049.jpg