Trying to cut a complex path with a T-Slot cutter, please help

Projects
1

As a picture paints a thousand words, here is a picture

puzzle.jpg567×567 38 KB

I can easily work out how to cut the initial pocket using a standard end mill but I would like to send in my T-Slot cutter and cut the path of the red line then reverse the path to bring it back out again. I have been using Vectric Aspire with great success on other projects but can’t figure out a way to achieve this.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

3

Not sure.

What If you made each path into a kind of loop maybe? Tool enters, travels down one side, around the end and then returns back up the other side.

I use VCarve, but haven’t tried anything like this…

4

That would work for the first part of the carve but not the second step down after moving accross.

6

I thought I could perhaps make several gcode files and mix them up to create the desired path but seems like hard work and potentially disasterous.

7

I found this it might help.

8

This wouldn’t be possible cause the T slot would tear everything else out on top

9

I have manually edited a gcode file. Anybody know a good way to simulate this in software before I tell my X-Carve to try?

T1
G17
G21
G0Z20.0000
G0X0.0000Y0.0000S12000M3
G0X100.0000Y170.0000Z3.0000
G1Z-10.0000F128.0
G1X99.2821Y169.9960F254.0
G1X98.5640Y169.9846
G1X97.8458Y169.9660
G1X97.1277Y169.9400
G1X96.4096Y169.9066
G1X95.6919Y169.8659
G1X94.9744Y169.8179
G1X94.2575Y169.7626
G1X93.5411Y169.6999
G1X92.8255Y169.6299
G1X92.1106Y169.5526
G1X91.3967Y169.4680
G1X90.6837Y169.3762
G1X89.9720Y169.2771
G1X89.2615Y169.1708
G1X88.5523Y169.0573
G1X87.8446Y168.9365
G1Z-15.0000F128.0
G1X87.1395Y168.8088F254.0
G1X86.4355Y168.6738
G1X85.7327Y168.5315
G1X85.0311Y168.3819
G1X84.3310Y168.2250
G1X83.6324Y168.0609
G1X82.9354Y167.8896
G1X82.2402Y167.7111
G1X81.5468Y167.5255
G1X80.8554Y167.3327
G1X80.1661Y167.1328
G1X79.4790Y166.9258
G1X78.7941Y166.7118
G1X78.1117Y166.4908
G1X77.4318Y166.2628
G1X76.7545Y166.0280
G1X76.0799Y165.7863
G1Z-10.0000F128.0
G1X75.4051Y165.5370F254.0
G1X74.7327Y165.2806
G1X74.0626Y165.0173
G1X73.3951Y164.7471
G1X72.7303Y164.4699
G1X72.0682Y164.1858
G1X71.4090Y163.8949
G1X70.7528Y163.5972
G1X70.0997Y163.2928
G1X69.4498Y162.9816
G1X68.8031Y162.6638
G1X68.1598Y162.3394
G1X67.5200Y162.0085
G1X66.8839Y161.6711
G1X66.2514Y161.3272
G1X65.6226Y160.9770
G1X64.9978Y160.6205
G1X65.6226Y160.9770
G1X66.2514Y161.3272
G1X66.8839Y161.6711
G1X67.5200Y162.0085
G1X68.1598Y162.3394
G1X68.1598Y162.3394
G1X69.4498Y162.9816
G1X70.0997Y163.2928
G1X70.7528Y163.5972
G1X71.4090Y163.8949
G1X72.0682Y164.1858
G1X72.7303Y164.4699
G1X73.3951Y164.7471
G1X74.0626Y165.0173
G1X74.7327Y165.2806
G1X75.4051Y165.5370
G1Z-15.0000F128.0
G1X76.0799Y165.7863F254.0
G1X76.7545Y166.0280
G1X77.4318Y166.2628
G1X78.1117Y166.4908
G1X78.7941Y166.7118
G1X79.4790Y166.9258
G1X80.1661Y167.1328
G1X80.8554Y167.3327
G1X81.5468Y167.5255
G1X82.2402Y167.7111
G1X82.9354Y167.8896
G1X83.6324Y168.0609
G1X84.3310Y168.2250
G1X85.0311Y168.3819
G1X85.7327Y168.5315
G1X86.4355Y168.6738
G1X87.1395Y168.8088
G1Z-10.0000F128.0
G1X87.8446Y168.9365F254.0
G1X88.5523Y169.0573
G1X89.2615Y169.1708
G1X89.9720Y169.2771
G1X90.6837Y169.3762
G1X91.3967Y169.4680
G1X92.1106Y169.5526
G1X92.8255Y169.6299
G1X93.5411Y169.6999
G1X94.2575Y169.7626
G1X94.9744Y169.8179
G1X95.6919Y169.8659
G1X96.4096Y169.9066
G1X97.1277Y169.9400
G1X97.8458Y169.9660
G1X98.5640Y169.9846
G1X99.2821Y169.9960
G0Z3.0000
G0X0.0000Y0.0000
M30

10

I use CAMotics to view/simulate G-Code.

11

Here is your code…

Untitled.png1600×900 57.3 KB

12

Looks like it might work, the Z starts high but I know what that is, the green cut path looks perfect, thanks.

13

CAMotics is free, grab a copy. I use it all the time when I am tweaking gcode by hand.

14

I was just thinking the visualize function in UGS would show the same sort of thing.

15

A real pain to go editing the gcode so if anybody has a more elegant solution, I would love to hear it.

17

Yes, that makes perfect sense. I will make all 3 sections longer for this project to make it stronger. The above example is a work in progress and you just saved me at least 1 itteration so thank you Robert.

18

Another option might be to create a template out of MDF, use a handheld router with with a guide bushing installed. I use my DW611 for similar work all the time.

19

I was really looking for a software solution but thanks for the tip.

20

Even if you get a toolpath that does the job, I think you will run into another problem : how will the chips be evacuated from the slot ?

My recommendation would be to make this in two parts :

  1. A bottom half with the lowest part of the slot as simple pockets
  2. A top half, which you machine upside down and as such also has only simple pockets

Good luck!

21

I was planning to first use a 1/8" end mill and cut to the correct depth the whole arc and initial circle as pockets then send in the t-slot cutter in to finish off hoping the chips would evacuate from the previously cut pocket. I’ll feedback my attempt(s).

22

I see, but a typical rule of thumb is to set depth of a pass to ‘cutter diameter / 2’, in order to have sufficient evacuation of chips. In your case you’ll be cutting a lot more, resulting in a lot more chips and the evacuation path will be ‘narrow’…

In case you lower your feedrate, chips will be smaller, and you could maybe vacuum them out so your tool doesn’t overheat from friction.

24

The slot bit has a cutting edge underneath so should be ok plunging.