Yeah, we need to go through the machine and check it out. We keep up on the machine maintenance and laser calibration. Probably time to get someone out here and give it a once over. Here is the code after running it through HighFeed. This may help us out next time we run some sheet goods. Anyone else using the HighFeed option? I like the looks of the feed output but I will have to give it a try and see how it goes. % HF , MX , ; PROGRAM - T ; DATE - 29-11-08 TIME - 16:40 N100 G70 N102 G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 N104 G53 N106 M73 ; CONTOUR ; T2 .375 X 6.961 C FEM TOOL - 2 PIVOT LEN. - 16.73 N108 T2 N110 M6 N112 S9000 N114 M3 N116 G54 N118 G0 G90 B0. C0. N120 X8.2418 Y51.6718 N122 G43 N124 Z1.25 N126 G51 A75 E0.030 N128 Z1.1 N130 G1 Z.5 F40. N132 X8.2347 Y51.7292 F5. N134 X8.204 Y51.8048 F25. N136 X8.1559 Y51.8688 F45. N138 X8.0943 Y51.918 F65. N140 X8.0235 Y51.9498 F85. N142 X7.9576 Y51.9617 F105. N144 X7.9372 Y51.9624 F125. N146 X7.7551 Y51.9651 F145. N148 X7.5729 Y51.9677 F165. N150 X7.3908 Y51.9704 F185. N152 X7.2086 Y51.9731 F205. N154 X7.0265 Y51.9757 F225. N156 X6.8443 Y51.9784 F245. N158 X6.6621 Y51.9811 F265. N160 X6.48 Y51.9837 F285. N162 X6.2978 Y51.9864 F265. N164 X6.1157 Y51.9891 F245. N166 X5.9335 Y51.9917 F225. N168 X5.7514 Y51.9944 F205. N170 X5.5692 Y51.9971 F185. N172 X5.387 Y51.9997 F165. N174 X5.2049 Y52.0024 F145. N176 X5.0227 Y52.0051 F125. N178 X4.9539 Y51.997 F105. N180 X4.8791 Y51.9676 F85. N182 X4.8151 Y51.921 F65. N184 X4.7687 Y51.8647 F45. N186 X4.7532 Y51.8361 F25. N188 X4.7455 Y51.823 F5. N190 X4.7453 Y51.8236 N192 X4.7449 Y51.8292 F25. N194 X4.7474 Y51.994 F45. N196 X4.7498 Y52.1587 F65. N198 X4.7522 Y52.3234 F85. N200 X4.7546 Y52.4881 F65. N202 X4.757 Y52.6528 F45. N204 X4.7594 Y52.8175 F25. N206 X4.7605 Y52.8261 F5. N208 X4.7619 Y52.8242 N210 X4.768 Y52.8117 F25. N212 X4.7958 Y52.7636 F45. N214 X4.8286 Y52.7254 F65. N216 X4.8867 Y52.6793 F85. N218 X4.9594 Y52.6473 F105. N220 X5.0262 Y52.6363 F125. N222 X5.0431 Y52.6358 F145. N224 X5.2252 Y52.6332 F165. N226 X5.4074 Y52.6305 F185. N228 X5.5895 Y52.6278 F205. N230 X5.7716 Y52.6252 F225. N232 X5.9537 Y52.6225 F245. N234 X6.1358 Y52.6198 F265. N236 X6.318 Y52.6172 F285. N238 X6.8643 Y52.6092 F265. N240 X7.0464 Y52.6065 F245. N242 X7.2286 Y52.6038 F225. N244 X7.4107 Y52.6012 F205. N246 X7.5928 Y52.5985 F185. N248 X7.7749 Y52.5958 F165. N250 X7.957 Y52.5932 F145. N252 X8.0268 Y52.6014 F125. N254 X8.1025 Y52.6318 F105. N256 X8.1669 Y52.6795 F85. N258 X8.2163 Y52.7409 F65. N260 X8.2486 Y52.8115 F45. N262 X8.2607 Y52.8773 F25. N264 X8.2615 Y52.8958 F5. N266 Z.6 N268 G0 Z.75 N270 X8.2418 Y51.6718 N272 Z.6 N274 G1 Z0. F40. N276 X8.2347 Y51.7292 F5. N278 X8.204 Y51.8048 F25. N280 X8.1559 Y51.8688 F45. N282 X8.0943 Y51.918 F65. N284 X8.0235 Y51.9498 F85. N286 X7.9576 Y51.9617 F105. N288 X7.9372 Y51.9624 F125. N290 X7.7551 Y51.9651 F145. N292 X7.5729 Y51.9677 F165. N294 X7.3908 Y51.9704 F185. N296 X7.2086 Y51.9731 F205. N298 X7.0265 Y51.9757 F225. N300 X6.8443 Y51.9784 F245. N302 X6.6621 Y51.9811 F265. N304 X6.48 Y51.9837 F285. N306 X6.2978 Y51.9864 F265. N308 X6.1157 Y51.9891 F245. N310 X5.9335 Y51.9917 F225. N312 X5.7514 Y51.9944 F205. N314 X5.5692 Y51.9971 F185. N316 X5.387 Y51.9997 F165. N318 X5.2049 Y52.0024 F145. N320 X5.0227 Y52.0051 F125. N322 X4.9539 Y51.997 F105. N324 X4.8791 Y51.9676 F85. N326 X4.8151 Y51.921 F65. N328 X4.7687 Y51.8647 F45. N330 X4.7532 Y51.8361 F25. N332 X4.7455 Y51.823 F5. N334 X4.7453 Y51.8236 N336 X4.7449 Y51.8292 F25. N338 X4.7474 Y51.994 F45. N340 X4.7498 Y52.1587 F65. N342 X4.7522 Y52.3234 F85. N344 X4.7546 Y52.4881 F65. N346 X4.757 Y52.6528 F45. N348 X4.7594 Y52.8175 F25. N350 X4.7605 Y52.8261 F5. N352 X4.7619 Y52.8242 N354 X4.768 Y52.8117 F25. N356 X4.7958 Y52.7636 F45. N358 X4.8286 Y52.7254 F65. N360 X4.8867 Y52.6793 F85. N362 X4.9594 Y52.6473 F105. N364 X5.0262 Y52.6363 F125. N366 X5.0431 Y52.6358 F145. N368 X5.2252 Y52.6332 F165. N370 X5.4074 Y52.6305 F185. N372 X5.5895 Y52.6278 F205. N374 X5.7716 Y52.6252 F225. N376 X5.9537 Y52.6225 F245. N378 X6.1358 Y52.6198 F265. N380 X6.318 Y52.6172 F285. N382 X6.8643 Y52.6092 F265. N384 X7.0464 Y52.6065 F245. N386 X7.2286 Y52.6038 F225. N388 X7.4107 Y52.6012 F205. N390 X7.5928 Y52.5985 F185. N392 X7.7749 Y52.5958 F165. N394 X7.957 Y52.5932 F145. N396 X8.0268 Y52.6014 F125. N398 X8.1025 Y52.6318 F105. N400 X8.1669 Y52.6795 F85. N402 X8.2163 Y52.7409 F65. N404 X8.2486 Y52.8115 F45. N406 X8.2607 Y52.8773 F25. N408 X8.2615 Y52.8958 F5. N410 Z.1 N412 G0 Z1.25 N414 M5 N416 G53 Z0. N418 M30 %

Matt, Thanks for taking the time to help. Here is another section of code where I have the I and J and the G2 interpolating you referred to. I tried slowing down the feed to 30% and it didn't make a huge difference. Thanks for running the code through your backplotter. I'm not discounting your theory on feed rate and slop, but we can't run it too slow or we wouldn't make any money on cutting out parts. As far as I know there isn't a way to slow feed rate on short curvey sections and full bore on straighter sections (within in your code, unless manually editing). We don't have a person at the controller manually adjusting feed rate. ; CUT OUT N180 X93.4596 Y13.8155 N182 Z1.1 N184 G1 Z.5 F40. N186 X90.5422 F600. N188 X90.4735 Y13.8245 N190 X90.3991 Y13.8551 N192 X90.3358 Y13.9026 N194 X90.2902 Y13.9595 N196 X90.2752 Y13.9883 N198 X90.2676 Y14.0016 N200 X90.2671 Y13.9992 N202 X90.267 Y13.9973 N204 Y13. N206 G2 X90.0795 Y12.8125 I-.1875 J0. N208 G1 X87.5825 N210 X87.2075 N212 X86.8325 N214 G2 X86.645 Y13. I0. J.1875 N216 G1 Y75. N218 G2 X86.8325 Y75.1875 I.1875 J0. N220 G1 X87.2075 N222 X87.5825 N224 X90.3945 N226 G2 X90.5809 Y75.0201 I0. J-.1875 N228 G1 X90.5827 Y75.0031 N230 X90.5829 Y75.0038 N232 X90.5833 Y75.0112 N234 G2 X90.7705 Y75.1875 I.1872 J-.0112 N236 G1 X93.5825 N238 G2 X93.77 Y75. I0. J-.1875 N240 G1 Y67.1155 N242 X93.7607 Y67.0458 N244 X93.7293 Y66.9706 N246 X93.6805 Y66.907 N248 X93.6184 Y66.8584 N250 X93.5474 Y66.8272 N252 X93.4811 Y66.816 N254 X93.4596 Y66.8155

Matt,

We were cutting plywood and have lost some detail in the finished product. Some of the cuts aren't nice and straight compared to the drawing. I understand the notches not being round due to the cutter size (first image). But the rounded corner shouldn't happen (first image). I'm not sure if it because some of the entitys are arc, splines, lines, etc. Or if it is in our post. Sometimes we have I and J and sometimes we don't. From reading other posts it seems I and J are a good thing. From looking at the code it looks like the places where we had problems did not have the I and J. I included a sample of the code cutting the small square section with the radiused corners (second image). We got the same results if we were running a high feed rate or if we slowed down the feed. Thanks for your help and suggestions!! File on ftp t.mcx % TEST , MX , ; PROGRAM - T ; DATE - 28-11-08 TIME - 17:40 N100 G70 N102 G0 G17 G40 G80 G90 N104 G53 N106 M73 ; CONTOUR ; T2 .375 X 6.961 C FEM TOOL - 2 PIVOT LEN. - 16.73 N108 T2 N110 M6 N112 S9000 N114 M3 N116 G54 N118 G0 G90 B0. C0. N120 X5.0743 Y47.7355 N122 G43 N124 Z1.25 N126 G51 A75 E0.030 N128 Z1.1 N130 G1 Z.5 F40. N132 X4.386 Y48.4443 F300. N134 X4.3634 Y48.4713 N136 X4.3489 Y48.4951 N138 X4.3382 Y48.5207 N140 X4.3314 Y48.5475 N142 X4.3286 Y48.5747 N144 X4.3299 Y48.602 N146 X4.335 Y48.6286 N148 X4.3439 Y48.6541 N150 X4.3563 Y48.678 N152 X4.3729 Y48.7011 N154 X4.3885 Y48.7179 N156 X5.0973 Y49.4062 N158 X5.1243 Y49.4288 N160 X5.1481 Y49.4433 N162 X5.1737 Y49.454 N164 X5.2004 Y49.4608 N166 X5.2277 Y49.4636 N168 X5.255 Y49.4623 N170 X5.2816 Y49.4572 N172 X5.3071 Y49.4483 N174 X5.331 Y49.4359 N176 X5.354 Y49.4193 N178 X5.3709 Y49.4037 N180 X6.0592 Y48.6949 N182 X6.0818 Y48.6679 N184 X6.0963 Y48.6441 N186 X6.107 Y48.6185 N188 X6.1138 Y48.5918 N190 X6.1166 Y48.5645 N192 X6.1153 Y48.5372 N194 X6.1102 Y48.5106 N196 X6.1013 Y48.4851 N198 X6.0889 Y48.4613 N200 X6.0723 Y48.4382 N202 X6.0567 Y48.4213 N204 X5.3479 Y47.733 N206 X5.3209 Y47.7104 N208 X5.2971 Y47.6959 N210 X5.2715 Y47.6852 N212 X5.2448 Y47.6784 N214 X5.2175 Y47.6757 N216 X5.1902 Y47.6769 N218 X5.1636 Y47.682 N220 X5.1381 Y47.6909 N222 X5.1142 Y47.7033 N224 X5.0912 Y47.7199 N226 X5.0743 Y47.7355 N228 Z0. F40. N230 X4.386 Y48.4443 F300. N232 X4.3634 Y48.4713 N234 X4.3489 Y48.4951 N236 X4.3382 Y48.5207 N238 X4.3314 Y48.5475 N240 X4.3286 Y48.5747 N242 X4.3299 Y48.602 N244 X4.335 Y48.6286 N246 X4.3439 Y48.6541 N248 X4.3563 Y48.678 N250 X4.3729 Y48.7011 N252 X4.3885 Y48.7179 N254 X5.0973 Y49.4062 N256 X5.1243 Y49.4288 N258 X5.1481 Y49.4433 N260 X5.1737 Y49.454 N262 X5.2004 Y49.4608 N264 X5.2277 Y49.4636 N266 X5.255 Y49.4623 N268 X5.2816 Y49.4572 N270 X5.3071 Y49.4483 N272 X5.331 Y49.4359 N274 X5.354 Y49.4193 N276 X5.3709 Y49.4037 N278 X6.0592 Y48.6949 N280 X6.0818 Y48.6679 N282 X6.0963 Y48.6441 N284 X6.107 Y48.6185 N286 X6.1138 Y48.5918 N288 X6.1166 Y48.5645 N290 X6.1153 Y48.5372 N292 X6.1102 Y48.5106 N294 X6.1013 Y48.4851 N296 X6.0889 Y48.4613 N298 X6.0723 Y48.4382 N300 X6.0567 Y48.4213 N302 X5.3479 Y47.733 N304 X5.3209 Y47.7104 N306 X5.2971 Y47.6959 N308 X5.2715 Y47.6852 N310 X5.2448 Y47.6784 N312 X5.2175 Y47.6757 N314 X5.1902 Y47.6769 N316 X5.1636 Y47.682 N318 X5.1381 Y47.6909 N320 X5.1142 Y47.7033 N322 X5.0912 Y47.7199 N324 X5.0743 Y47.7355 N326 Z.1 F500. N328 G0 Z1.25 N330 M5 N332 G53 Z0. N334 M30 %

heavycheavy2155 thanks for sharing the positive message and good luck in your new job. Everyone else keep on pounding the pavement, making calls, giving presentations, etc. The work is out there but you have to be lean, speacilize, etc. Like CNC said go after the stuff that is more challenging.

We cut a couple prototype foam coolers for Coleman. It was a fun project with all the details and cup holders in the lid. Here is a link to our website that shows an image. link

Busy at our shop with composites. Just picked up a few weeks ago. Daniel M, did you pick up at all from the Boeing strike?

jm2c 5 axis toolpaths take a lot of head scratching and trying different toolpaths until you get one that works best; continue head scratching and modifying until you get the perfect 5 axis toolpath. I'm working on a couple 5 axis toolpaths for trimming out a large composite part. I just had a Tony moment when it came out the way I wanted to!

I've also been getting some poor results using contour to cut out circles. I've tried the filter and it didn't help either. I will try the new arc filter, but why is it so hard to cut a circle when the geometry looks good?

HEED, Thanks that made things much easier!

That is funny! I wonder what joker added that in X3? I never had to go into settings and click tab all in the past! I should have asked this question earlier! Or I should have clicked on the settings earlier. Thanks for the info Trevor.

I have a spline (simple rectangle) I want to break so I can easily and accurately grab the corner or end point of the line. I analyzed the entity properties and it shows NURBS Spline When I goto simplify spline it does not change or break into individual lines. I can go into Rhino and explode it but that is an extra step I don't want. Thanks!

We are cutting some plywood panels and use tabs to keep parts from moving around. It has always worked in the past versions, but in X3 I can't get it to work in automatic mode. I can get it to work in manual. Just using a simple contour toolpath. I can take the same file and use automatic mode in X2 with the same file.

Thanks, I agree about the memories.

Welcome Deadhead! I'm a Grateful Dead fan! Seen some shows and love the music. Sure do miss the experience of going to such an event.

Maybe hire a consultant to come in for a week or two, if you have the resources. They could check out your setup, posting, programming, etc.

JET and Wilton make a decent mill with DRO's.

Here is another good thread to read.

If you guys get together drop me an email. I'd love to go over some of this stuff. I'll bring some coffee and doughnuts. Bill

5-axis Quintax but we use MC Mill for programming.

At a previous employer we bought only from Dell. But the first thing the IT department did was reformat the hardrive to get rid of all the crap Dell puts on there, like free software trials, music players, etc.

Robert Brunson might be familiar with them since he is also in Oregon.

Relocation in part/full should be paid for by the company, but if you really want to move and pay for it yourself Bend would be worth it. Plus moving expenses for a job relocation is tax deductible. Winner, winner chicken dinner.

I've said it before! Bend, Oregon is a beautiful part of the country with all the mountains, fishing, hiking, skiing, sunny weather,etc. I almost moved down there about 8 years ago.

gcode, where were the problem surfaces? Was it the small surfaces below the top flange (on one side)? I noticed a couple small surfaces that looked suspect. So it wasn't the red flange area that was added for toolpathing. Seems like it kept going to 72 of 74 surfaces. If I can isolate the problem surfaces than I can fix it. But no surfaces were bad when I analyzed them. It isn't a big deal because I'm working around the problem with a different toolpath that works fine. But I prefer the results of the blend toolpath if it worked. Why does finish parallel work and blend doesn't? Anyway I really appreciate you looking at the file for me. Have a good day! Bill