Finger joints, kerf, compensation... and getting a DXF.

[wlappe]

Hi! I'm quite sure it's solved for many people, but after reading everything I found about it, I don't get a solution.

I'm doing the typical box with finger joints. And I would like to cut it with the laser. It's well designed in Design area, and I'm trying to get the DXF with kerf compensation using the Manufacture area. I use post process-Autodesk DXF.

I define the tool, put 0.2mm kerf, select the path and I'm struggling with the "Sideways compensation" Center is doing nothing, and left and right are doing the same, but not correctly (I guess).

I only get the desired results with the Save DXF for Laser Cutting plugin. Here it gives half of the kerf to the "male part" and half to the other one.  The CAM left/right compensations put all the kerf to the "male tabs".

Here are the different trials summarized and the settings I have now.

(I don't understand quite well the direction of the path and the relationship with left-right compensations, but I don't see differences in several trials)

Thanks in advance. And sorry if the topic is repeated, please let me know the thread, as mentioned I didn't find a right answer

[wlappe · Accepted solution]

Mainly the measures were badly done. I didn't realize a small rounded part affecting the 0.1 difference.

For out or inner cuts, the arrows are important.

Till now, left or right doesn't matter, center is doing nothing. The important parameters are the arrows and the "always outside-inside".

Just mentioned for the next one coming here.