Disconnected and Rounded Engraving Issues

[tommyrennscot]

NOTE: for some reason the forums wouldn't let me attach the .f3z for this, so I renamed it to an .f3d, you'll have to change it back to .f3z to be able to open.

Having engraving issues on our UMC500SS; seems to be a post-processor issue and figuring I would post here to see if anyone had any input. I will include the .f3z file along with the post I am using (post works great for everything else; we were told it is just a UMC750 post modified to reflect the smaller work envelope in the 500).

Below is an image of what is happening. Basically our engraving is getting horribly rounded corners on small details and ends up with disconnects in all of the closed shapes. I have never had this issue with this toolpath in the past on our other machines (SMM2 and VF4SS) which is why I believe it is a post-processor issue. Not sure if anyone has any possible solutions for this or some sort of workaround to get these made without looking like a toddler engraving them with a full-fist grip on a scribe.

[Richard.stubley]

This had me stumped for a bit but I think I might have spotted the problem, the engraving toolpath is not perpendicular to the surface. This is my guess on where the issue is.

Original Toolpath

New Toolpath

Just choose the surface with the letting on as the Z Axis.

[tommyrennscot]

Hi Richard,

I should have mentioned in the original posting that I have also tried this already; no luck. I reverted it back to being at the angle as it should help with tool life/burrs created on this op.

I have also tried using a trace tool path with identical results.

[daniel_lyall]

This is the output of your file and post shown in NCviwer there are mostly straight moves in the G code.

If you zoom into the letters most of the corners are rounded.

Have you tried doing the same text on a dummy file to see if it happens on another model?

As you said this is the first time it has happened.

[tommyrennscot]

Hey Chris,

I've engraved this exact SVG in our mini mill with good results. I am thinking this may end up being a question for Haas; maybe there is some kind of in-machine smoothing that is not allowing sharp corners and is rounding them out to allow for higher speeds.

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

I'd be looking to Haas to solve this. Trace ONLY outputs point-to-point line moves, so those arcs that are showing up are quite likely (99%) a result of servo tuning on your machine. I'd involve the HFO and get them to sort this out.

As you can run it on other machines with no issue, we can deduce that it is NOT a post processor issue.

-EDIT-

Have you tried any of the G187 settings at your machine?

[tommyrennscot]

Hi Seth,

I spoke to Haas and we determined there is a default smoothing radius in machine which was set to .025"; but, the proper way to solve this was the utilization of G187 on this operation to tighten up the machines tolerancing.

Thanks,

Tommy