[FoxCNC1]

how can i control the retract distance between passes ?
my machine will plunge or ramp to make the first cut, then raise up quite far and come down for a second or subsequent passes.
this adds u necessary time to my jobs. I would like to minimize the z travel or just get rid of it.
anyone know where this is set?

also the machine likes to go back to zero between programs. Is there a way to make it start from wherever i jogged last ?

thanks

[FoxCNC1]

I forgot to mention that I use aspire, I would appreciate some help if anyone knows.

[ger21]

how can i control the retract distance between passes ?

Material Setup in the Toolpath tab.

also the machine likes to go back to zero between programs. Is there a way to make it start from wherever i jogged last ?

You'll need to edit the post processor to keep it from going to the home position. In the same place you edit the retract distance, you can change the home/start position to someplace other than zero.

[FoxCNC1]

Material Setup in the Toolpath tab.



You'll need to edit the post processor to keep it from going to the home position. In the same place you edit the retract distance, you can change the home/start position to someplace other than zero.

I was playing with the Plunge (z2) and Z1 but no luck.
Here is "the problem" I am having, This only happen with the pocket paths. Let's say I want to make a 1/2" deep pockets. My tool's depth pass is configured to 1/8".
Well the machine will come down cut the first 1/8", then go up to my safe Z (z1) and then come down to the next 1/8" and so forth. So in this example, it goes up and down 4 times. The other paths just continue to do down from the last z elevation.

Since I use 1/8" bit to make all king of pocket and holes, I use the pocketing quite a bit rather than peck drilling. As you can see, I end up wasting tons of time (and then add the fact that I run the machine slow..)

Here is a sample file if anyone wants to try.

[ger21]

Unfortunately, that's just the way that the pocketing algorithm works. There are tons of posts about this on the Vectric forum, but there's really nothing you can do about it.

[FoxCNC1]

oh wow, what a pita.. maybe its fixed on V4

[ger21]

Nope. I don't think there are any plans to change it in the foreseeable future.

[FoxCNC1]

I'm sure there is a logical reason why the do it that way.
And to add to that, maybe My process is wrong. Maybe I should not use a pocketing operation for wholes but instead just use a regular path set to cut on the inside of the whole.

If the tool is 1/8 and the hole is to be 1/8 there really would not be any material floating after the cut. If go and cut a 1/4" then I may.

Um..

[ger21]

From what I understand, the reason it does it this way is in case there are islands in the pocket, and the start and end points of the pocketing toolpath are on opposite sides of the island, then the tool needs to retract to clear the island.

If you need a 1/8" hole and are using a 1/8" tool, then you should be using the drilling toolpath. For larger holes, an inside profile toolpath will usually be much faster than a pocket. Be aware that this method can leave a plug in the middle, though, that can damage the workpiece or even break the bit if it comes loose and get's grabbed by the bit.

[FoxCNC1]

Yeah, your last statement is what I am afraid. The challenge always is tolerances. So that is why I use the pocket or inside cut for and 1/8 inch hole, because sometimes I tell the machine to go 0.005 larger. I find that my bit (freud) cut a tiny bit smaller and the stuff I plan to work on needs pretty high tolerances (hence all my efforts to make this machine as accurate as I can).