V Carve

[tangocc35]

Hi Everyone:

I have seen that many of you are using Vcarve. I downloaded the Demo and have been playing with it.

I'm confused about the need to use "Stepover" when programming a "Profile" tool path. In my current CAM program it's called "Contour" and all I do is plunge 50% of my Cutter Diameter until I'm through the material. Like 4 cuts of .125 for a .5 piece of "Baltic Birch". All the tool does is descend .125 for 4 consecutive passes. With VCarve I have to enter a "Stepover" value for the same operation. Now if I were to do a "Pocket" I would need "Stepover".

I think that this means that the 2nd pass moves in the "XY" plane by the "Stepover" amount as well as plunging the programmed "Z", and so on. Since I can program this "Stepover" to .0001, I suppose it's Academic, but the question is "Why" is this necessary??

Any imput on this subject is appreciated,

Thanks very much,

John

[ger21]

Profile toolpaths don't have "stepover"? Unless your talking about in the tool files. But it's not used for profile toolpaths. At least not in Version 4 that I have.

[beone]

I believe you set the stepover in the bit definition. Vcarve decides if it is needed on a given cut.

[Tony Mac]

Hi Everyone:

I'm confused about the need to use "Stepover" when programming a "Profile" tool path. In my current CAM program it's called "Contour" and all I do is plunge 50% of my Cutter Diameter until I'm through the material. Like 4 cuts of .125 for a .5 piece of "Baltic Birch". All the tool does is descend .125 for 4 consecutive passes. With VCarve I have to enter a "Stepover" value for the same operation. Now if I were to do a "Pocket" I would need "Stepover".
John

Hi John,

The Stepover is not used (thanks Gerry and Dave) when cutting with any of the Profile Machining options - the toolpaths are simply offset for the tool radius / shape.

You need to Edit the Pass Depth to create multiple Z level passes - using your example of cutting through 1/2" material with a Pass Depth = 0.125 " will result in 4 passes.

The Stepover parameter is visible in the Tool Database because any of the cutters may be used for Profile, Pocketing, Engraving etc.

I hope this makes sense and helps,

Tony

[tangocc35]

Thanks Tony:

That answers the question. I tried to find that information somewhere in the Tutorials, but was unable.

It didn't make sense to use "Stepover" in Profiling mode, but I was confused because it demands that you enter one, when selecting a tool.

Thanks again

John