Mach 3 vs Shopbot vcarving

[dhouse]

First of all V carving for us is awful.
I am using mach 3 v 3.042.020 with an Ascension 1000 control box. We converted to this from a shop box PRT around 2006.
I have finally got our arc cutting smoother by turning off all the CV settings and adjustments but the v-carving is another story. I am using the Archs inch PP. We had smother v carving cuts when we were using the shopbot controller and software. I have noticed that the files created for the shopbot PP uses a M3 command that allows the router to "lift" smoothly out of the corners. The code generated with the Mach3 inch arcs PP does not use G3 G2 commands it only uses G1 commands for v carving unless there are curves in the fonts, bit the straight portions and the "lifting" out of the corners are real " jerky", not smooth and flowing like I the Shopbot code.  Does any one have any insight?

In our general config settings , motion mode is set to Constant velocity and Distance mode is Absolute and the IJ is set to Inc. CV controls are all unchecked and the Settings Alt 6 page that has the Angular Limit CV is turned off

thanks

[ger21]

Try using the Tempest planner. No pause or FRO, but it's very smooth. Not sure what the latest version is, but it should be in the first few pages of the thread. I'd start with a tolerance of .005 or so. Fine tune if needed.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,12042.0.html

[khalid]

It depends.. Your basic vectors should be of polyline, the Vcarving created with such a vectors are also smooth... I have done a lot of vcarving stuff you can see my following blog... and Mach3 never disappointed me..

www.my-woodcarving.blogspot.com

[dhouse]

 Hi ger21

Does the tempest program install into mach 3?
I downloaded a file from the thread and i am not sure what I am supposed to do with it , I must be missing something here.

[ger21]

Use this file.
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=12042.0;attach=17759

Unzip into your Mach3 folder, and run it. Pick your profile, and it'll look like mach3. Go to Config>Select Planner Type. Check Tempest, and set the blending radius to .005 or so. That's it. Remember, Pause doesn't work. The only way to stop it is to hit stop, which may cause lost steps.

[dhouse]

Thanks  ger21

I will go and test away

[khalid]

Hi Gerry,
I have seen the above thread by ART on tempest Planner.. Its too much information..Can you briefly explain what purpose is it for.. What benefit it gives us?.. Can we increase the speed IPM?

[ger21]

It's main purpose is to try to get faster 3D carving I think. But it's not faster in the current version, although different g-code will give different results. It uses S-curve accel which is smoother. And I've found that it gives much more accurate and smoother 2D cutting when compared to Mach3's CV mode, with no corner rounding.

[khalid]

Thanks Gerry:).. I am currently using QuantumMill...When i installed the Planest, the Anti Jerk Menu was disappeared and the SELECT PLANNER TYPE appear...
I will see what can i get out of this new Tempest !!!... After reading the ART thread, i somewhere studied that it is fast for only two axes and when the 3rd axis involve the whole system becomes slow...

PS:
For tempest, should i use EXACT STOP mode??

[ger21]

Took me a while to find the answer.

>>Some questions:
>>WHen I use CV together with tempest, will tempest blend setting override CV settings? or how it is going to work?

   When CV is on, the blend radius is used, when off it is zero. Same as exact stop but with Jerk limitation. Don't use zero.. Ill make it kill zero's in future.

So, you should have CV on.