Detailed v-carve preview perfect in easel, carve not so much

RonPeters · February 12, 2018, 7:06am

Hi all,

I’m still a noob at this but came up with a process that seemed to work but the detail wasn’t quite right.

I know I’m doing something (or multiple things) wrong but I’m not sure where it is. I’ve used the easel generated gcode in a couple senders with the same results. This is the process I used to get where I am and the gcode is attached.

I’d appreciate some advice to clean up my mess.

Downloaded a simple logo (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ke0QbQqHtCY/WeJDIROqKbI/AAAAAAAAOgg/w7BbCYiDXGkHeEwBQliyg2O77mZ63WMWQCLcBGAs/s1600/Free%2BMini%2BCooper%2BLogo.jpg)
Pulled it into Inkscape and did a bitmap trace and then exported to svg
Imported the svg into easel and moved/resized for the material (MDF), 1/8" depth and 90deg v-bit I’m using
Exported gcode for use in UGS

Sorry about the rotation but the major bad parts are:

Dots outside the perimeter of the logo (top of image/logo left)
Outer circle has vertical lines on left and right instead of continuing the curve
Legs of the “M” are screwy and there’s a notch out of the top-right “V” of the “M”
“N” legs are straight
Overall not a very clean job.

Mini Cooper Logo.nc (379.2 KB)

Thanks in advance.

HaldorLonningdal · February 12, 2018, 9:26am

Skim your wasteboard (add a second layer of wood if you want to preserve the Xcarve wb)
Tram your router to ensure it is truly perpendicular to the X/Y plane
Overall tightening of your machine, it has slop

SamGironda · February 13, 2018, 4:05am

Remember that the software assumes the machine is perfectly calibrated, so sometimes, what you see is not what you get.

RonPeters · February 14, 2018, 5:01am

Thanks for the help. Initially the idea of tuning the machine didn’t quite make sense since plenty of the lines look perfect. Then I thought about it a bit more and noticed that the problems really show up a lot when the movements are small and not large/sweeping which does imply it’s got some slop.

I’ll do some tuning and see if I can improve my accuracy. Not sure what type of adjustments my system has. It’s a Fireball V90 I picked up at auction that I run with an Arduino. Time for some more learn’n

Thanks again

RonPeters · February 17, 2018, 9:39pm

Ha. I was looking closer at the incorrect paths and notice that they seem to be mostly related to the X axis. I was going to look into tuning or see what’s up this weekend but had to move the CNC for another project to get it out of the way. What I found was 6-8 nuts and flat washers that had worked their way out and fell off the machine while in use. I think I have my culprit.

Time to take it apart and make sure everything is correct.

Thanks again.