Step 2: To carve-out the plaque's border and Reception text

Step 2: To carve-out the plaque's border and Reception text

Step 2: To carve-out the plaque's border and Reception text

This section describes how to create the first profile toolpath, which applies to the offset vector and to the vector text. Use this toolpath to carve-out small amounts of material for the plaque's border and the Reception text using a 5 mm end-mill tool.

To create the first toolpath:

  1. In the Project Tree, select the Toolpaths item. The Toolpaths panel is displayed.
  2. In the 2D Toolpaths area, click the Create Profile Toolpath  button. The 2D Profiling panel is displayed.
  3. Select the vectors to be machined:

    1. In the Profile Type & Vector Association area, select Outside and Selected vectors in the Profile lists.
    2. Hold the Shift key, then select the vector text and the offset vector. The vectors are displayed in purple:



      Click the       Isometric View 1   button on the 3D View toolbar to display this view.

  4. Specify the tool for profile machining the selected vectors:

    1. In the Profiling Tool area, click the Click to Select control bar. The Tool Database dialog is displayed.
    2. In the Tools & Groups area, select Tools & Groups > Metric Tools > Wood or Plastic > Roughing and 2D Finishing > End Mill 5 mm. The tool's details are displayed in the Tool / Group Description area.
    3. Click Select. The dialog closes.
  5. Specify the settings for the toolpath:

    1. In the Profile Type & Vector Association area, enter an Allowance of 0 to specify the distance between the tool and the selected vectors.
    2. In the Cutting Depths area, enter a Start depth of 0 to specify the depth from the material's surface at which the tool begins machining.
    3. Enter a Finish depth of 10 to specify the depth from the material's surface at which the tool stops machining.
    4. Enter a Tolerance of 0.01 to specify how closely the tool follows the selected vectors.
    5. In the Profiling Tool area, select Climb in the Cutting direction list to specify climb milling instead of conventional milling. Climb milling means the tool's cutter rotates in the same direction as the feed motion. This often provides a better finish and prolongs the life of the tool.
    6. In the Options area, click the Safe Z and Home control bar to display its settings.
    7. Enter a Safe Z value of 10 to specify the height above the material's surface at which the tool can make rapid moves between toolpath segments.
    8. Enter a Home X value of 0, a Home Y value of 0, and a Home Z value of 10 to specify the tool's start and end position.
  6. Specify the dimensions of the sheet of material from which the plaque is to be machined:

    1. In the Options area, click the Click to Define Material control bar. The Material Setup dialog is displayed.

    2. Enter a Material Thickness of 20.
    3. Click OK. The dialog closes and a transparent sheet of material is displayed in the 3D view.
  7. Enter a Name of Profile 1 for the toolpath.
  8. Click Calculate Now.

    Carveco calculates the toolpath and adds a Profile 1 item under the Toolpaths item in the Project Tree:


    The toolpath (red) and rapid moves (blue) are displayed:


  9. In the Project Tree, click the lightbulb  icon next to the Profile 1 item to hide the toolpath. The icon changes to .
  10. Click the 3D view to deselect the selected vectors.


    • Related Articles

    • To machine a plaque from vectors - example

      To machine a plaque from vectors - example This example describes how to create two profiling toolpaths from vectors to machine the following Reception plaque from a 500 x 300 x 20 mm sheet of material: The toolpaths use two different-sized end-mill ...

    • Step 3: To cut-out the plaque

      Step 3: To cut-out the plaque This section describes how to create the second profile toolpath, which applies to the vector representing the plaque's edge. Use this toolpath to cut out the plaque from the sheet of material using a 10 mm end-mill ...

    • Step 1: To create the model and vectors

      Step 1: To create the model and vectors This section describes how to create the model and the vectors for the Reception plaque. To create the model and the vectors: Create the model: Display the New Model dialog. Select mm as the Units. Enter a: ...

    • Step 3: To smooth the relief

      Step 3: To smooth the relief This section describes how to create the second machine-relief toolpath, which applies only to the relief itself, as defined by the vector boundary. Use this toolpath to surface finish the relief using a 1.5 mm ball-nosed ...

    • Step 2: To remove the bulk material

      Step 2: To remove the bulk material This section describes how to create the first machine-relief toolpath, which applies to the entire block of material. Use this toolpath to remove the bulk of the material using a 3 mm ball-nosed tool. To create ...