Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: mlk1950 on February 13, 2011, 08:27:25 PM

Title: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 13, 2011, 08:27:25 PM
I'm getting an uneven cut on letters in some spots. Everything is snug with no play on the machine, with all axis running smoothly. I noticed when it changes direction it has a bit of a jolt to it. I have Exact Stop enabled, with CV unchecked.
Acme 10 single start screws with Dumpster leadnuts
305 steppers 1/4 stepped
At present I'm running at 35 IPM on all axis

(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg188/440volare/th_May292010001.jpg)
(http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg188/440volare/th_May292010003.jpg)
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Sam on February 13, 2011, 11:15:11 PM
Run in CV mode. My thoughts are that the letters are made up of segmented lines, and your getting a bit of bouncing of your router when it starts and stops at each segment.
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 13, 2011, 11:22:18 PM
I just went and checked, and I was wrong. It is set in the CV mode, but distance and feed rate are off. The letters I am cutting were designed in a friends Vcarve Pro software.
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 16, 2011, 05:39:48 AM
If you post your GCode I can check it on my machine and this will at least rule out the possibility of a problem with the code.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 16, 2011, 08:20:14 AM
How do I go about posting that?
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Hood on February 16, 2011, 10:12:09 AM
Use the  additional options button on the reply page to browse your drive and attach the file.
Hood
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 16, 2011, 10:15:16 AM
Same way as posting pictures.
The file must have a name that has not been used before on the forum and a file extension must be from the approved list shown.

Tweakie.
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 16, 2011, 01:31:11 PM
Here ya go Tweakie. This was done in a profle tool path. I noticed when I did a dry run the Z was creeping up and then sometimes it would drop. I made some letters in my Cut2d in an inside profile tool path and the Z stayed steady as a rock. The only time it raised and lowered was going from one letter to another. Which I think is what it should be doing. Correct?

Thanks Mike
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 16, 2011, 02:16:32 PM
Went and bought VCarve Pro 6. Did an inside profile on some large letters, an the Z was steady. Must have been bad code. All is good now, Thank you for the help.

Thanks Mike
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Mike E on February 16, 2011, 02:22:55 PM
Here ya go Tweakie. This was done in a profle tool path. I noticed when I did a dry run the Z was creeping up and then sometimes it would drop. I made some letters in my Cut2d in an inside profile tool path and the Z stayed steady as a rock. The only time it raised and lowered was going from one letter to another. Which I think is what it should be doing. Correct?

Thanks Mike

Mike, if it is "single" line text I believe you should run the toolpath "on" the vectors. If the vectors are true type fonts you should use a "vcarve" toolpath. If you would like you can PM me and send me the Vcarve file and I'll take a look at it for you.

Mike
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Overloaded on February 16, 2011, 02:28:59 PM
After looking at the code closer, it was a bit goofy.
The Z made a jump at roughly every 256 lines ... from -.0625 to -.1125
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: kmacht on February 16, 2011, 02:32:36 PM
Your friends v-cave sofware is an illegal copy.  There are some copies floating around on the net of the vectric software and they all have this problem.  They all work fine except for the z-axis which is set to constantly either ascend or descend from the intial dept set.  Vectric was smart and leaves out certain parts of the code for their software until you actually purchase it from them.  The correct post processor code is one of those pieces left out.

Keith
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 16, 2011, 06:31:13 PM
Well that explains that. I was going to buy it anyway, but thought I'd give it a try to see if it was as good as everyone says it is. And It is. I thought it was strange that my Cut2d ran steady and his VCarve didn't. Man, this was starting to drive me crazy.   Now I have to learn how to read G-code. Thank's for the help.
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 16, 2011, 10:05:08 PM
Would I be smart to buy the VCarve pro manual? I think the one they've got for sale is for 5.5, but do you think it would be a wise purchase anyway?

Thanks Mike
Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on February 17, 2011, 02:23:49 AM
Hi Mike,

Glad you got it sorted and working OK.

The Vectric online help / manual / tutorials are pretty good and should answer any questions you have using VCarvePro. Alternately the Vectric forum is an excellent source of info for all their products.

(it has taken me some 18 months of savings to buy VCarve Pro and I don't have enough left for the manual  :'( :'( )

Tweakie.


Title: Re: Uneven cut on letters
Post by: mlk1950 on February 17, 2011, 08:23:00 AM
I know what you mean. None of this stuff is cheap. But compared to some of the other software and the features this has, it's pretty reasonable for the money. It's all I'll probably ever need. But still didn't really want to spend the money on it right now. I've got a few sign orders to do, so really didn't have a choice. I used to freehand them. This will be nice not having to do that anymore.