Hi,
Sorry to say but I can only detect 2 drill paths ... Sort of, because their type is reported to be a 'Profile'.
Beside that, you are using a metric post processor for a drawing in inch with a custom metric paper size of 8.5 by 11mm.
Not that this last matters.
To be honest, I don't use the CAM addon of QCAD, my controller has a build-in CAM and accepts DXF files in direct.
Perhaps it is simply a limitation of a QCAD/CAM trial version.
Note that the green rectangular shape is about 7.25 by 11 units but it is not really a rectangle.
Horizontal lines are not equal and near but not at an angle of 360 or 0 degrees.
The same for the vertical lines but then near and not at an angle of 270 degrees.
The top red shape suffers from similar faults and only that red shape.
Only the lower right red rectangle is a polyline but still has the start point in a corner.
Your drawing origin is (nearly) bottom center of the 'distorted' shape in green.
QCAD has no relative origin feature, meaning that you must zero your CNC setup at that position on the substrate.
Best done with zeroing first in XY with the cutter a little above the substrate.
Then in Z ... Top of your material is Zzero.
Your setup is a manual tool changer.
Also meaning that you must re-zero your Z-axis after a tool change to compensate for the tool length.
You are using a generic metric post processor that supports G41/42 modes or cutter radius compensation:
G-code (G41/42) [mm].
If I look up the
Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 V2 then I read that it is a
GRBL v1.1h-Based controller.
GRBL does not support G41/42 as far as I know, only G40 to turn these modes off.
True, with G41/42 support we export the required contour.
It is then the controller that ensures for a left or right offset trajectory.
For example
G41 P2 would compensate the cutter trajectory 2 units to the left seen in the direction of the cutter motion.
If these modes are not supported the processing should fail with a warning, ignoring these codes may look like milling
'on the contour'.
I would advise to use the
GRBL (offset) [mm] or
[in] post processor.
Not aware if this the best suited for your setup, as QCAD post processors are incredibly versatile and may require custom adjustments.
It is then QCAD/CAM that generates the offset path.
Select inside for holes and outside for the exterior contour (After fixing
).
As direction we can use Conventional or Climb milling.
See pros and cons on for example this
link.
Routing is more related to groove cutting, your milling tool is engaged with the material for about 180 degrees.
Conventional/Climb is then of less importance but depending your setup one side of the groove will have a neater finish.
In this price range I don't expect a robust or very stiff machine.
Your best option is then a pre-cut followed by a finishing pass of less than 1/4 of the tool diameter.
Use the best solution of Conventional vs Climb cutting for finishing depending your setup, the material type, the mill type and so on.
For now QCAD/CAM supports 2 types of tool paths: Profiling or Drilling.
Generate a individual Drilling toolpath for the yellow and the orange layer.
Drill diameter and the circles on the yellow layer are a match: 0.1495in.
On your orange layer you have holes with: 0.0625, 0.096 and the oddball 0.11954358220110403 diameter.
All drilled with diameter 0.098in.
Convert all contours to polylines (
OC) and set a good start point (
OR)
Generate a Profiling toolpath for the red layer as cutting inside, direction as per above.
Generate another Profiling toolpath for the green shape cutting outside.
Choose a Lead in/out and overcut what suits you, the defaults of 5 units = inch are too large.
Without a vacuum table or a sticky surface, you have to hold down the excess material.
When a contour is almost cut, this excess can shift and the cutter can grab and throw it away.
Tool breakage is then the least of your worries ...
Extra clamps are usually not an option as they are in the way of the cutter path.
We can add
TABs or short uncut portions that bridge the gap of the groove.
Efficiently retaining the left over.
Afterwards you need to cut that out manually or simply break it out.
Other solutions include for example to fix it down with at least 2 screws.
Double sided tape is not really reliable for this purpose and the thickness is not uniform.
Regards,
CVH
