Tried using parallel tool path with a diamond drag bit - almost worked

Easel Easel Pro
1

I was experimenting with a diamond drag bit on my X-Carve and got the idea of using the Easel Pro parallel tool path to shade in a filled object. Things I noticed:

  1. When using a spring loaded diamond drag bit you need to make sure the incremental depth of cut is the full cut depth (2mm in my case).
  2. I then set the cutting diameter to 1mm with the Easel Pro parallel tool path to create a cross hatching effect - it almost worked. The problem was at the end of the fill operation Easel Pro did not raise the bit as it crossed the shape to start doing the outline - a totally reasonable assumption that once the bit had cleared the shape that it could stay at that depth and cross that shape in a travel move, but that doesn’t work for a spring loaded drag bit.

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3 Likes
2

Can you try changing the safety cut height ? You would have to go higher than the spring forces the knife down if that makes sense.I think that might work.

3

yeah, feasible in F360. unsure on Easel, but you’d adjust your height offsets. you could ramp up your speeds to compensate for the extra movement to keep the speed.

4

Not sure I’ll get to play more before the weekend. I didn’t see the bit lift at all during that travel move so I’m not sure changing the safety height will make a difference if the gcode generator thinks it can keep the bit down.

I was really playing with the drag bit to see if my recent Z axis upgrade would make a difference with the wiggle problem I had the last time I tried to engrave a monogram - turns out it made a big difference and looks pretty good now. For that test case I had created the monogram as an SVG and was using Easel to carve/etch it. While I was doing that I got a sudden urge to etch a Death Star (admit it, it’s happened to you) so I tried the Easel Pro parallel path thing and figured I’d document the results here in case anyone was interested.

If I was doing anything “for real” I’d be using Fusion 360.

5

Hi. i know it’s been a while but I am trying to do a similar thing and encountered the same issue at the end of the fill with the diamond dragging accros the shape. Have you found a solution? thanks

6

Sorry no, haven’t played with it since and don’t use Easel much anymore.

7

ok thank for getting back to me. I’ll keep experimenting.