Slow cuts revisited

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Does the problem still exist when air cutting?

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Yes

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Is the spindle on? How about when off?

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Both on or off

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Dust collection on or off?

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Both on or off

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Have you tried it with the spindle control USB converter unplugged?

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Yes

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Have you done a speed test to see what your comm rate is?

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67.7% - Chris dismissed this as an issue

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One more thing to try:
Make a rectangle in PartWorks that is the same size and position as your problematic part. Toolpath it using the same parameters. Aircut and see if that file cuts full speed all the way. The DXF import from Sketchup could be funky.

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Already did that several sheets ago and had a purely partworks vector do the same thing. Since I set up new machine in March, have experienced mild forms of this behavior and chalked it up to my inexperience. I've increasingly suspected Sketchup may be introducing issues, which is why I tried that very thing.
Again, Chris has run one of my problem files on a machine at factory with identical hardware to my new machine and had no issue.
BUT - he did qualify this AM that he's running the beta version of control software...
Now analyzing my toolpathing methodology, trying to see if there's a catch there, but Chris and I are suspecting my computer. Have 4 yr old laptop with XP-Pro at home, so may be trying that soon.

Jeff,
I have almost the exact some problem if I'm reading your post right. I see the problem when it first starts to cut a part but not always on the first part. It can cut several part normal speed and then in the middle of a job will move very slow even though the speed in the SB software shows normal speed until it hits another move command then the speed is back to normal. I haven't had the problem is a long time until a couple weeks ago then it happened one time but not again. Back when it was happening on a regular basis, if I was cutting the same file it would happen in the same point every single time.

I was tell that this is a known issue that doesn't happen on all machines and that SB was looking into it but didn't have a solution.

Andy B.

Andy,
Thanks - began to think I was all alone in this issue.
At this point, Chris in tech support is leaning towards a Sketchup hangup. Where do you start with drawing vectors?

At this point, I've run out of time to play much with this issue, but I am having a difficult time believing this is a remnant from 3 programs of workflow ago. Machine is not looking at the "brand" of vectors. Once processed through Partworks and converted to lines of code, it's just numbers.
If these numbers look acceptible to partworks and SB3, it seems to me it is an inability for the machine to properly process code or a glitch in software on that end. Uncertain why I'm not being told to run beta version, as my drawings work fine with it at factory.

Trying an older computer next that has windows XP Pro - hoping for best.

I can deal with an incident or two of this on occaision, as machine is wonderfully accurate - just not certain why I have both this and USB issues...

I had this issue once, about 5 or 6 software revisions ago. It cleared up when I updated (or maybe downgraded) the SB3 version. It would seemingly randomly slow way down in a cut, then speed up sometime later, when it changed direction.

Jeff,

You've already tried and stated that it behaved the same way with a rectangle drawn and processed in PartWorks, so it's not a SketchUp issue.

Your speed test is border line to below.

Scott,
I agree speed test seems slow. Tried a hub directly on laptop to no avial, but again, support team not concerned in the least about that number, probably as it pertains to this issue (may still be pertinant for other symptoms).

HOWEVER - Frank and I just had a moment of clarity.
Noticed Z plunge rate was @.50. Why? because one of the defaults for entering new bits is that rate. As a newbie, defaults rule until further enlightened.

PROBLEM: known bug in SB3 - sometimes issues occur when plunge rates are slower than .6 ips.
Frank had me manuallly edit part file to 1ips plunge rate for all tools in file.

RESULT: I am unable to get machine to slow on lines that consistently slowed in all previous tests!!

I am cautiously optimistic that we have exorcised the ghost from my machine.

Obviously, anyone else with this issue should look @ plunge rates. I will be erradicating all decimal points from my tool database.

Simple solution, steep curve. Hope everyone else has realized some benefit from this thread !

jeff

I'm glad that worked for you but there are many materials that must be cut with fractional plunges and even many wood products that a plunge move that fast will dull a bit very quickly. This is the first time I have heard of this one and I am curious what version SB3 you are using as the fastest normal plunge I do is .5 IPS

Jeff,
I don't think it is Sketchup. I use Aspire. Most of my files that is happens on are imported DXF files to cut cabinet doors.

I use a plunge rate of .5 also. Some of my tooling have a .75 plunge and I never go faster that .75 except on some 3D. The next time it happens to me I will try to remember to look at my plunge rate. I agree with Dave. A .5 plunge shouldn't be the issue.

On a lot of the files I cut I do a ramp and it normally happens on the ramp until it get to the bottom then the speed is back to normal.

Andy B.

Dave,
I agree, I'm more inclined to be gentler to my machinery - perhaps I'll simply adhere to .65 to .75.
My machine is 3 months old from factory - latest SB3 software loaded/re-loaded numerous times during this process.
Almost went to beta until we found this.

Note: this is what cured my issue, and as I understand, it is not an issue with all machines - I evidently had the right combination for this to occur.

By the way Dave, Frank relayed a story of a gentleman running 10 ips plunge rate:eek:

jeff

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I don't think it is Sketchup. I use Aspire. Most of my files that is happens on are imported DXF files to cut cabinet doors.

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Andy,
I've been fairly certain of that assersion for a day or so now as well. In fact, I've gotten quite comfortable with the whole conversion process lately, but had quite a struggle finding a smooth path from Sketchup to SBParts.

Evidently the slow plunge rate lingers from the plunge into next movement.

jeff