Ghost Cuts on this engrave toolpath? How do i get rid of them!

[CuttingEdgeManufacturing]

this 3d steep and shallow toolpath is causing some random lines around my text. cant really figure out the problem as it takes forever to generate the code.

anyone have an ideas?

[Ketherton21]

I was going to mention it in your other thread but Ive always used 2d contour or 3d project for engraving. kind of hard to tell by the photo, and im not familiar with that tool path, but I would guess its the max distance you have your tool set to stay down.

[mathew.hutton]

Hi @CuttingEdgeManufacturing 

I would avoid using steep and shallow for engraving as it's not the intended purpose for that toolpath, it's more of a finishing strategy for parts that have steep walls and shallow areas so it can machine the whole component with 1 toolpath instead of having to create multiple toolpaths. I would strongly suggest using trace for this application using the sketch as the selection in the geometry tab. You should get a single line toolpath on each letter. 

Hope this helps

Mat

[mathew.hutton]

Hi @CuttingEdgeManufacturing 

I didn't see that you had a project attached, I've added a trace toolpath on their so you can see what that does, hopefully that toolpath gives you what you're after. By the way, I haven't messed around with any of the parameters other than selecting the sketch geometry so check these before running it if you choose to do so (check the heights, feeds and speeds etc). 

Hope this helps

Mat

[CuttingEdgeManufacturing]

trace doesnt follow centerline unless its a certain font. the program you gave me follows the outside shape. making it like a double line. is there a better way to do this.

[mathew.hutton]

Hi @CuttingEdgeManufacturing 

I think 2D engrave works on the centreline, give that a try? 

Mat

[CuttingEdgeManufacturing]

engraving text only works the way you describe if you pick a text font with a ".shx" format. otherwise it will just follow the outline and create a double line(inside and outside edges of letters) as pictured below.

I still ended up running it this way, and was ok with how it turned out. and no i wont share my grandmas secret recipe 😂

[mathew.hutton]

Hi @CuttingEdgeManufacturing 

Oh okay, i used 2D engrave a while back and it stayed on centreline but that was a different text style to your one, it must behave differently for different styles i guess. Glad you like how it turned out anyway

Mat

[mathew.hutton]

P.S. i thought that was the deal, offer help in exchange for the secret recipe? 😂

Mat

[CuttingEdgeManufacturing]

Yea, like i said, if you stick to the specific file format, of ".shx" it will perform a single line text. very useful for engraving parts for companies. but when it comes to aesthetics i have issues.

either way job is done and over with. id still like to see how people go about doing some really nice engraving work though.

[CuttingEdgeManufacturing]

honestly its pretty hilarious. this recipe is what my dad has always called a family recipe but its literally spaghetti noodles tomato juice and cheese... THATS IT. no spices, no nothing but those 3 items LOL

[mathew.hutton]

Simple but effective 😂 

[dylan_smith]

Hi @CuttingEdgeManufacturing

Another possible solution that can be used is 2D Contour, if you turn 'Compensation type' on the passes tab to 'none', this will produce toolpath which will follow the selected contour on the centre line of the tool. Then to adjust the height of the tool, either change the axial stock to leave to a negative, or manually change tool wear in the controller. 

Project attached.

Thanks.