First cut..Not so good

[napsternova]

Well this is the first actual decent carving I've done. I don't understand why on tool bit is so far off. I used a 1/2 mill and 1/8 mill for the roughing. I then used a 1" 90degree V for the edges. It seems that the 1/2 mill and V are ok but the 1/8 bit is way off. Could it be a setting in the software, or could it be the tool itself. I am using a HobbyCNC machine. I made sure to cut really slow. This whole carving, 4" X 4" took 3 hours.

[todd71]

Does the "Tool Path Simulation" look like that? "3 Hrs" Wow that sucks. Shouldn't take more than 3-4 minutes tops. Looks like the 1/2 "Stock Allowance" is not being removed by the 1/8. What tool path strategy
did you use? "Area clear" "Bevel Carving". Is your tool dia. the same as dia. in your tool libary? i.e. if your tool is smaller dia than library info the tool will "back off" the cut.
Looks like you used "Area Clear" with 1/2 and 1/8. Try "Area Clear" with the 1/2 tool. Then "Profile" using the 1/8. Be sure to adjust the final depth of the "Profile" pass to the same depth as the "Area Clear". Or you'll cut all the way through your material thickness,if its set.

[napsternova]

todd71,
Thanks for the help. What I did was, I used smart engraving, I tried again with area clear and then profile and it worked out much better. I think the size of the piece makes a big difference as well. I have been carving real small trial pieces and the detail gets a bit lost. The time it takes though is driving me nuts.

[todd71]

Try using "Offset" instead of "Raster" on the area clear. Set your step over at 70% and that should knock some time off. I usually leave .04, or so, for finish "Profile" pass.