I have been hobby cnc’ ing for a few years. To deal with these water lines, I use a very light full DOC finish pass as the last pass. I also run this full DOC finish pass at half of my regular cutting speed. I know, this isn’t optimizing the cnc machine or doing my chip load any favors, but it saves a ton of time. I am thinking, as I write this, that I should try a ball nose bit for contours as the lack of perpendicular cutting edges should eliminate the water lines. This would, of course, add a tool change to the mix and probably negate or even increase the overall cnc time.
A best practice is to use a separate end mill for the finishing pass. This produces the best possible surface finish and lets you get the most value out of end mills used for roughing.
That’s exactly what I do too! Granted if you don’t have a machine with an automatic tool changer it can be a little more time consuming (for some people & depending on the job/projects being done), but to me you’re always saving time (& money too) whenever you’re able to do it on the machine VS doing it manually! 💯
Thank you Andy for this tip. I knew this feature was in Vectric but I didn’t know where to find it or how to use it. This will help me with some craft show items I want to make for Christmas.
It's like doing a finish pass like I do on the bridgeport not the same kind of meteral as wood I have to put together my small cnc / laser knowledge is power
I have been hobby cnc’ ing for a few years. To deal with these water lines, I use a very light full DOC finish pass as the last pass. I also run this full DOC finish pass at half of my regular cutting speed. I know, this isn’t optimizing the cnc machine or doing my chip load any favors, but it saves a ton of time. I am thinking, as I write this, that I should try a ball nose bit for contours as the lack of perpendicular cutting edges should eliminate the water lines. This would, of course, add a tool change to the mix and probably negate or even increase the overall cnc time.
In most CAM software, you would add radial stock to leave, in your case 0.03, then do a finishing pass, which cuts to final dimension.
A best practice is to use a separate end mill for the finishing pass. This produces the best possible surface finish and lets you get the most value out of end mills used for roughing.
That’s exactly what I do too! Granted if you don’t have a machine with an automatic tool changer it can be a little more time consuming (for some people & depending on the job/projects being done), but to me you’re always saving time (& money too) whenever you’re able to do it on the machine VS doing it manually!
💯
Bro Ive been cutting for years and never once thought of this. Big thumbs up
You've got it!
Thanks for this! I'll be revising my files to incorporate this... great timing as I'm starting my holiday season work now!!
Thank you Andy for this tip. I knew this feature was in Vectric but I didn’t know where to find it or how to use it. This will help me with some craft show items I want to make for Christmas.
Glad to help!
It's like doing a finish pass like I do on the bridgeport not the same kind of meteral as wood
I have to put together my small cnc / laser knowledge is power
Love this idea, was also wondering what the sanding wheel is that you use in your drill press??
unable to join discord, comes up Woops Unable to invite
Try this:discord.gg/ufUfwaXD
Why I’m watching this video? I don’t have a CNC machine! Oh! 👎🏻