From Alaska

[Stephen50]

Trying to cut a slot on a piece of MDF but with operator error I have spent more time, attempting to find out what I'm doing wrong to no avail so I thought I will reach out to the experts for advice. My material is placed using the origin offset 3.5 inches from the x axis and 3.5 inches from the y axis. The size of my material is 18.0 inches x axis and 6.0 y axis and 0.5 inches z axis. The xy origin is in the lower left corner. After I draw my slot, select my tool and toolpath, save my file, calculate the toolpath, select my toolpath from the file load the plan, hit the start I get to watch the bit cut nothing but air as the bit is cutting 1 inch below my material.

[donek]

Trying to cut a slot on a piece of MDF but with operator error I have spent more time, attempting to find out what I'm doing wrong to no avail so I thought I will reach out to the experts for advice. My material is placed using the origin offset 3.5 inches from the x axis and 3.5 inches from the y axis. The size of my material is 18.0 inches x axis and 6.0 y axis and 0.5 inches z axis. The xy origin is in the lower left corner. After I draw my slot, select my tool and toolpath, save my file, calculate the toolpath, select my toolpath from the file load the plan, hit the start I get to watch the bit cut nothing but air as the bit is cutting 1 inch below my material.

Not sure how it can be cutting air and below the materials at the same time. Can you clarify that?

Have you zeroed your z to the table or surface of your material? What are the material values/dimensions when you program your tool path?

[myxpykalix]

Stephen,
I'm also confused by your explanation also. Maybe you have a screenshot of your file, a picture of the cut? Sometimes pictures tell more then words.
One thing to check is to make sure that whatever program you use to create your file with you have to make sure that you use the same X,Y Zero point in creating the file and when you set it up on the table.

So if you set your X, Y origin in the program in the center of your material then make sure you set your bit to the center of the material on the table.

[adrianm]

Why are you using an origin offset? I would just set the XY zero to be on the material (my preference is the lower left corner but the middle would be fine as well).

I expect you've got the XY zero wrong when positioning the tool as where you think it is and where you've generated it in the file are two different things.