Thanks Roger , That makes sense, I'll give it a try.

Hi, I would like to be able to cut a 2 inch dia. hole through 3/4 inch thick material.It has to have a 1.5 degree taper ,with the 2 inches being the smaller.I have router 8.1 . My router is only 3 axis.Is this possible? I am cutting into HDPE.Thanks in advance.

Some of the ideas to pirate programs, starts in the school system.Students get to use the very best that there is to offer in school.When it comes to doing assignments , they don't have the same programs at home so they get creative.I know of a school who has 1 computer with MC on it, and 60 students.This is because they have a tech who does the programming,and doesn't want students playing with his machine.I hired a sudent out of univer. and his first day he handed me a list of software he wanted me to buy,about 20k worth.These were the ones he was using in school and figured that was what he needed to do his job.We have MC, Rhino,and a few lesser programs.We have never felt the need to steal the means to do our job.Sooner or later everyone has to pay their way.

As far as the source of the chatter,I'd have to guess, part and machine.The edges are rather choppy looking, espacially on smaller radius.I am using a Vortex single edge "0" downcut spiral (carbide).I always start out with a new bit but doesn't seem to matter.I don't have a vaccuum table.Just a few clamps and some well placed screws.My cutter is only .1875,so am using only one pass,no finish pass.Maybe thats the problem?

We use HDPE copolymer plastic for some of our furniture parts.Usually .220 thick.I am getting chatter marks along the edges,mostly on arcs.Sometimes on straight cuts as well.Some people say to cut as fast as possible,others say slow it down.Does anyone have experience with plastics,and how fast should I go?I've tried 50ipm,and up to 200ipm.My personal theory is that it is too soft and tends to flex,thus causing the chatter marks,but what do I know.

Yes I did post to Jay's ftp , and he is working on it. Do you want to see the drawings and codes? I haven't generated codes because it won't do what I want it to.I can do codes but they won't be correct.Do I have 3D capabilities with Router basic?

Not that I don't believe what I am reading here,but this doesn't sound like something Robin Williams would say.Where did this come from?Also I did a little homework, and Robin Williams has a degree in Political Science, and studied acting at Juilliard.

Well I've tried all the different ideas that were suggested but it still wants to come back up to the top before doing the counterbore.the codes look like this. G00 X3.4033 Y12.6541 G00 Z-.875 G01 Z-.875 G00 Z.875 G00 X.875 (this is the line I don't need) G00 X.1875 Z-.875( then this line doesn't need Z) G02 X-.375 Y0. I-.1875 J0. G02 X.375 Y0. I.1875 J0. G00 Z.875 This is with a clearance of .750 , cutting into 1" mdf,with a 3/8" bit.If I change the clearance to .100 then it still comes up to that point.

Thanks cadcam, I have a file all ready to go, where do I send it?

Thanks Bucket, or should that be Mr. Bucket lol. I tried all those settings and no matter what I set the clearance to, the bit comes out to that point then comes back down to do the counterbore.If it is possible I would like the bit to stay at the .8750 point to do counterbore before coming to the top.Also I don't have circ.toolpth,so I used contour and my machine only uses 4 gcodes G00,G01,G02,and G03. Codes look like this G00 X1.3766 Y2.2864 F200 G01 Z-.8750 G01 Z-.8750 G01 Z.8750 G01 Z.8750 G00 X.1982 Y.0924 W-.8750 G02 X-.3965 Y-.1849 I-.1983 J-.0924 G02 X.3965 Y.1849 I.1983 J.0924 G01 Z.8750 This is for the single hole,obviously. Maybe it is the way my post is set up?? I couldn't find the "Keep tool down " feature. I only have router basic

I'm having a small problem programming toolpath the way I would like it. I have the clearance set at.75 above 1" mdf. I am using a 3/8" upcutting spiral to do the whole operation. I would like it to drill a 3/8" hole right through the 1",and come up to .8750 and do a 3/4"by .125 deep hole.then come up another .8750 and move to next hole.It keeps wanting to come up to the .75 clearance then back down to do .125 recess.This is ok, but I'm just trying to speed up cutting time.By the way I was able to save to library, and get from library,not quite right but getting there.Thanks to those who helped.

I have a specific hole pattern I use on all my table tops,to be able to put threaded inserts for assembly.There are 5 holes in a pattern, around each leg . So on a four foot square table, four groupings of 5 holes.I use a single 3/8"upcutting spiral bit to do the whole operation .The top is 1" thick and I start .75 above the material.Each hole ,I want to drill a hole through the 1", then come up to a height of .9844, move over .218, do an indent, radius of .218,then move back .218, and raise up .7656. Then move to next hole and repeat again.It repeats 20 times.So how do I save this in a library so each time I design a new table it is all ready to go? It can save as a group of 5 holes but then it has to rotate each time as well.Or do I save it to do one hole?I looked in HELP and under save to library it said when Nesting, I don't have nesting.When all the holes are done I use same bit to cut out table shape.

I am going to try to explain one last time, then I will admit defeat. If your boss comes and says build this. You know what tools you have at your disposal with which to do the job.He doesn't tell you how to build it, just that he wants you to.That is what I would like to know. What tools do I have within this program to do what I need to do.I don't need to know how to apply it to my own personal projects. I simply would like to know what it is capable of.I will take as many courses as time and money will allow,but for now, I have to figure it out on my own. One person says it is so simple even a monkey could use it,others say it too sophisticated to be put into words.For a nonmonkey where do I look ?

Quote: You would be amazed at how much stuff there is in the software that you wouldn't find on your own. I took a V9 mill course and for 3 days all you could here was guys saying "Wow, that's really a time-saver" and "Geez, I wish I'd known about that before now" This is my point exactly.If I don't know that a certain feature exists then how do you find it?I admit to the fact that I am not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to CAD/CAM but I am as willing to learn as the next person.A simple page to list what Router Entry has to offer would do wonders.

I should add, that the reason I have not taken a course to make my life easier,is not because i don't want to.There is simply no money left in the budget to do so. I have successfully programmed several parts on MC but only basic ones.Using my old program I have written about 2,000 programs or more.As much as I would like to I have not been able to achieve the same results with MC. I am using the program called "router entry 8.1"