Engraving output varies depending on quant. of entities

[Kirk Holland]

Hi, Im an MC user for a few years now.

Im using X2 MR2 SP1.

 

Im engraving text.

It is a fairly complex font called Stampa.

I thinned the data to lines and arcs only.

The full data set is about 30000 entities.

 

When I run the engraving toolpath some of the nested chains are ignored in the calculated toolpath also some of the detail in the corners of other chains is ingnored.

 

If I select less data the output picks up more detail.

 

when I reduce the data to a few letters.( less than 300 entities ) then it produces an accurate path.

 

I can't select the data in chunks because all of the letters are close together so at the boudaries of different selections the path will gouge its neighbor.

 

QUESTION:

Are there any parameters to affect the accuracy or depth of the calculation?

 

Any ideas what is going on with the calculated toolpath.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Kirk

Pacific Woodworking

Vancouver B.C.

[Kirk Holland]

I find if I decrease the final depth of the routing - in this case from 6.35mm to 1mm - then it calculates a more detailed path around the letters. This suggests it uses the diameter of the tapered tool at the final depth as its reference diameter. This diameter will fit into all of the detail that is can as a normal contour cut. The calculations for climbing up the part is where the limits of the routine take place. There doesnt seem to be any parameters to control this part.

 

I tried to do two passes. The first shallow to get the detail I wanted and a second to get the depth but this didn't work. The second deeper pass approximates the path and gouges out some details.

 

I will keep trying....