1. Hey guyz. Welcome to the All New Phlatforum!



    Sign Up and take a look around. There are so many awesome new features.

    The Phlatforum is a place we can all hang out and

    have fun sharing our RC adventures!

  2. Dismiss Notice
Welcome to The Phlatforum PhlatPrinter III

How to set the cutting depth?

Discussion in 'SketchUcam Help' started by Peterv3210, May 18, 2016.

  1. Peterv3210

    Peterv3210 New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Netherlands
    Hello,

    I've created a simple file with a 30 mm circle set the material thickness to 3,2 mm but when i generate the gcode it only does one pass over the top of the material without cutting in/through the material. I attached all the files.

    Am i overseeing something?

    Peter
     

    Attached Files:

    Peterv3210, May 18, 2016
    #1
  2. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    808
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Grahamstown, South Africa
    Hi
    The top of the material is Z zero , so you need to set Z to zero with the tip of the tool on the material surface.
    Then the cut will be 3.2mm below that zero level.

    (edit: but it cannot do that if you have limited Z down travel to 0, see below!)
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2016
    swarfer, May 18, 2016
    #2
  3. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    808
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Grahamstown, South Africa
    You also have another problem.
    In the Gcode we see lines like
    Code:
    (PLUNGE limiting Z to min_z @min_z)
    This means you have failed to follow the instructions for setting min_Z and max_Z.
    Click the big blue question mark in the toolbar to open the help
    then click the RED link that says 'After install - things to do'
    now you see:
    afterinstall.png
    You need to set Min_z to '-yourZmaxtravel' (negative)
    and set Max_z to 'yourZmaxtravel' (positive).
    You can read more about these settings by clicking the 'that dialog here' link.

    If your computer will not open the link to the help from the toolbar, you can open the file manually by going to the Sketchup plugins folder, then open the file
    Phlatboyz/html/help.html

    in your browser.
     
    swarfer, May 18, 2016
    #3
  4. Peterv3210

    Peterv3210 New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Netherlands
    Yes, i've done that but than it just scores over the surface. If i open the sketchUcam gcode file in CAMotics to preview it, you see it does one pass. And when i generate the gcode file with easel e.g. and open that one in CAMotics you see it does multiple passes through the material.

    I attached both gcode files.

    Peter
     

    Attached Files:

    Peterv3210, May 18, 2016
    #4
  5. Peterv3210

    Peterv3210 New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Netherlands
    sorry :) was busy typing my reply i wil try your solution first
     
    Peterv3210, May 18, 2016
    #5
    swarfer likes this.
  6. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    808
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Grahamstown, South Africa
    No, you have not set min_Z to a negative number, it is still ZERO, that is why your Gcode file is full of warnings about not being able to move below 0
    Code:
    G01 Z0.000 F250
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
 X23.090 Y22.100
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
 X23.788 Y21.815
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
 X24.545 Y21.666
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
 X25.341
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
 X26.099 Y21.815
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
 X26.796 Y22.100
(move =  -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)
    You should never see those lines like
    (move = -0.126 LT min of 0,0mm)

    Also, you have not ticked the 'Generate Multipass' box so it will only do one pass anyway.
    But first it needs to be able to move below 0, so min_Z has to be at least negative material thickness
    Why?
    because with the material top Z=0, all cuts are in negative Z
     
    swarfer, May 18, 2016
    #6
  7. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    808
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Grahamstown, South Africa
    EDIT, was speaking nonsense, it is the Z problem

    Please watch this
     
    swarfer, May 18, 2016
    #7
  8. Peterv3210

    Peterv3210 New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Netherlands
    That make a lot of sense! I didn't know those were warnings, so i ignored them.
    I was "playing" with the multipass checkbox that's why it was not thicked.

    Now it works like expected :) many thanks!
     
    Peterv3210, May 18, 2016
    #8
    swarfer likes this.
  9. swarfer

    swarfer Moderator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    808
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Grahamstown, South Africa
    great stuff
    maybe I should change the wording to make it clear that 'something is wrong' (-:
     
    swarfer, May 18, 2016
    #9

Share This Page