Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

Not 3d printer related, much. I did print the dust shoe, but what I'm really happy with is the clear top plate! Cut it out on my cnc router and it actually fits!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtqhBiFaDpQ


Looks like youtube embedding is still broken..

is the trochoidal cutting supposed to minimize burring?

It helps with heat. I don't have speed control at the moment, so my router runs at full speed. There's no way I could cut plastic like that. So it cuts in small loops to give a bigger cut path for chip evacuation. It also lets you cut faster than just a straight cut.

I had figured it was about the heat, also allows you to cut at full depth. SheetCam, nor V-Carve offer that cutting solution.

V-Carve will allow you to cut at any depth you like...

g.

geneb wrote:V-Carve will allow you to cut at any depth you like...

g.

And so will SheetCam, and Meshcam. I don't think they've included trochoidal cutting.

Okay, don't use trochoidal cuts on plywood. At least not with my cnc.... Goes along okay on the straights, but when it gets to a curved part it really really, really, slows down. Think it's a memory thing, but not sure. Also, plywood will kill a carbide bit really fast!

What are you using for a controller? I assume its not a PC.

The brain is an arduino with a ramps shield. Ryan designed it to be anything-ish you want it to be, so we use repetier to run it. You can stick a hot end on it and make really big prints(if they don't curl), or a small laser head to engrave/burn stuff.

This is still one of my favorite videos of this thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJfYTv88YvI

That's a very odd toolpath. (trochoidal) Then again, I can cut 1" plywood full depth at 12in/sec, so...

g.

geneb wrote:That's a very odd toolpath. (trochoidal) Then again, I can cut 1" plywood full depth at 12in/sec, so...

g.

Yea, but your router is quite a bit bigger than mine. And more expensive.

Oh hey. What end mill do you use for plywood?

I'm kind of partial to the Centurion Tools "O" flute mills. They cut baltic birch very nicely. If you've got tear-out problems, you can use a 2 flute compression cutter - it's half upshear and half down-shear.

Centurion Tools makes really great and affordable cutters for CNC routers. See here: https://www.centuriontools.com/router-b ... -bits.html

g.

Sweet! Thanks dude. Not too worried about tear out, not making "pretty" parts yet, but I really need to get a speed controller for my router.

Even one of those little router speed control boxes you can find on Amazon would work in the short term. Long term, you REALLY need to get a spindle. Your cuts will be better and so will your hearing.

g.

Yea, I stopped by Menards today and picked up a speed controller. I still have my hardshell ear defenders from working on jets, so I wear those when the router is going. Whenever the router is going, so is the shop vac, so it's quite loud in there.