Profile Toolpaths in RhinoCAM Profile toolpaths being cut. If you were to want to cut out your shape instead of removing material inside the lines, the toolpath to use would be called a profile (or contour). The blue shaded area indicates where material will be removed. The red lines are “pen up” travel lines, where the router lifts the cutter and travels above the surface of the material to get to the next cut point. If you want to remove more than 1/8 of an inch simply pause after the first pass, lower the bit, and remove a second pass 1/8 of an inch lower and so on. In your first pass you will remove everything inside your lines to a constant depth of 1/8 inch below the surface. The process described in the handheld example above is called a “pocket” toolpath. They are represented on the screen by lines and curves which represent the path of the bottom center of the cutting tool. Pocket toolpaths etch the surface of the material, while profile toolpaths cut all the way through. What are Toolpaths?Ī toolpath is the user-defined coded route which a cutting tool follows to machine a part. As you work your way toward the sketched lines, try making both clockwise and counterclockwise motions and notice that one direction provides far more control and accuracy. Use a bit smaller than 3/8 inch and use a step of less than the radius of the bit.īegin the cut at the center of your shape and work out in a spiral-like pattern, this will provide support for your router if your shape is larger than its base. Be advised that using a router bit/depth not specified could be potentially dangerous. Set the bit so that it cuts no more than 1/8 of an inch deep per pass, and be sure to secure the plywood to your table. If you are working with a fixed base (not a plunge router) be sure to drill a 3/8-inch hole to enable you to safely start the router in the material. Make a quick sketch on a 12”x12” piece of scrap plywood and use a ¼-inch bit to cut it out. If you have access to one, go play with it before attempting to create toolpaths on the computer. When you use a noncomputerized router you see, hear, and feel how the tool can cut with instant haptic feedback. Your typical router has a motor (possibly a variable speed motor), height adjustment (either fixed, or plunge), and a collet, which is a tapered spring that when compressed creates the friction necessary to hold your cutting tool in place. Subscribe to the premier DIY magazine todayĬommunity access, print, and digital Magazine, and moreīefore discussing or using a CNC router it is helpful to know how to use a handheld router. Skill builder, project tutorials, and moreĪ podcast from Make: founder, Dale Dougherty Get hands-on with kits, books, and more from the Maker Shed Read about the latest maker projects, skills, tool reviews and more. Initiatives for the next generation of makers.
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