[Solved]How would you cut this pattern?

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pathfinder
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[Solved]How would you cut this pattern?

Post by pathfinder »

Hello,

I'm currently working on a project where I have to carve lots of different shallow patterns. I have found a solution that works more or less, but I'd love to have your input to see how I can optimize the process. I added a file with a rough example of the things I intend to carve.

As you can see in the file, I created the pattern using pads and created a tool bit that emulates the point of the engraving tool I intend to use. The tool is a 15 degree engraving bit, so I tried to find a median thickness I can work with. Due to the way everything is set up right now, the path will have two passes on everything. I don't think this will be an issue, maybe except for time on bigger projects.

Anyway, what I'm wondering and why I'm making this post in the first place; I'd really like to have peopl give their input. I can imagine that there's better solutions to what I want to do here, what is really just engraving repeating single line patterns (e.g. I saw the engraving operation, but it just seems to work on letters…?). Maybe there's even a different program that's more suited for this?

Looking forward to your ideas!
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Last edited by pathfinder on Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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onekk
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Re: How would you cut this pattern?

Post by onekk »

Maybe a profile, with tool compensation turned off, so it follow the profile.

A developer has told the this is the "correct way" to force Path to follow a profile with tool in center, but as my machine is on reparation I have not tried for real.

See:

https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 19#p559319

You have to set Z height to cut the V groove larger as you want, maybe is simply of some math, and a perfectly flat surface :).

Hope it helps

Carlo D.
GitHub page: https://github.com/onekk/freecad-doc.
- In deep articles on FreeCAD.
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pathfinder
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Re: How would you cut this pattern?

Post by pathfinder »

onekk wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 5:50 pm Maybe a profile, with tool compensation turned off, so it follow the profile.

A developer has told the this is the "correct way" to force Path to follow a profile with tool in center, but as my machine is on reparation I have not tried for real.

See:

https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 19#p559319

You have to set Z height to cut the V groove larger as you want, maybe is simply of some math, and a perfectly flat surface :).

Hope it helps

Carlo D.
Thanks for your input.

Yeah, finding the right z-height to account for the tools diameter is the way to go here. It's math but not particularly hard math.

I tried to understand the other part you sent, but I'm too Gui bound to understand this, I'm afraid. There's the slot path, but I think the issue is that with shapes like the one in the sample, there is no single path to follow and the forks throw off the algo.

It's all good though, I found a method that works well enough, although it's not perfect. I'll manage.
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Re: How would you cut this pattern?

Post by onekk »

the advice was only for the part where Russ4262 was telling me the workaround.

Sorry for having troubled you.

Regards

Carlo D.
GitHub page: https://github.com/onekk/freecad-doc.
- In deep articles on FreeCAD.
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jescombe
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Re: How would you cut this pattern?

Post by jescombe »

@pathfinder

Have you looked at Path Shape? https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Path_Shape

It sits a bit outside of the usual Path workbench workflow, but can be useful for creating a simple toolpath to follow lines..

(You'll find a few posts here in the foum discussing how to use it).
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pathfinder
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Re: How would you cut this pattern?

Post by pathfinder »

jescombe wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:10 pm @pathfinder

Have you looked at Path Shape? https://wiki.freecadweb.org/Path_Shape

It sits a bit outside of the usual Path workbench workflow, but can be useful for creating a simple toolpath to follow lines..

(You'll find a few posts here in the foum discussing how to use it).
I haven't and it looks a bit too experimental to me. I think I'll stick with what I found works.

Thanks for the input though!
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