SheetCam tools for routers

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CleanCutCreations
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SheetCam tools for routers

Post by CleanCutCreations »

I'm wanting to try the router attachment on my plasma table, but I'm unsure of how to use it.

What are some tools I need to create in SheetCam for using the router?

Does Mach3 pause when youre cutting and the tool is supposed to change?
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by WyoGreen »

You should have a separate Mach3 profile for routing, and use a different operation in Sheetcam to generate the g-code.
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by djreiswig »

I think you'll want to turn on the mill function in SheetCam so you can use the rotary operations.
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by acourtjester »

You can just use the generic Mach 3, as all you need to to move the axis to do routing. you can also add a simple touch off for the change tool function.
You can make a new profile like router and have the added function to make it easy to switch between plasma and routing. I use the same profile for diamond etching and drag knife as they are the same function as routing. Attached is the router program page I made a few changes to for tool changes probe led and button.
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by CleanCutCreations »

acourtjester wrote: Sat Aug 03, 2019 10:18 pm You can just use the generic Mach 3, as all you need to to move the axis to do routing. you can also add a simple touch off for the change tool function.
You can make a new profile like router and have the added function to make it easy to switch between plasma and routing. I use the same profile for diamond etching and drag knife as they are the same function as routing. Attached is the router program page I made a few changes to for tool changes probe led and button.
mach 3.JPG
How do you input the size of the bit, or if you're using a v carving tool, how do you input that?

For instance (and this may be stupid questions), if i'm using a small bit for very detailed work, how do i input the size of it so that the router knows to carve out the area. Let's say im making a star, and i have a small bit and it carves the edges. How do i make sure it carves out the inside as well?

Or if im doing a large design, such as a word on top of a circle. And I carve out the words, then want to shave everything down shorter than the letters.

This may be a lot more than someone is willing to answer, so if anyone knows where I can find videos on this, that would also be helpful.
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by robertspark »

you tell sheetcam it's a milling tool, give it the diameter

then when you call your operations some are profile cuts (outer edge only) and some are pocket cuts (inside pocket)

vcarve is a little different and you need to pay for the plugin
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by robertspark »

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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by acourtjester »

Well what the video shows is actually called 2.5 D because you cut one depth and then cut the same path at a deeper depth no different path.
To do real 3 D and carve things you need a different software to use a "V" bit, I use 2 different ones. One is free called "F-Engrave" and the other is Estlcam (about $55. from Germany on-line order). There are videos showing both but not many I have had some very good results with Estlcam doing signs. But I am still learning to do inlays with both, I know the concept just falling short on the finished product. (Yes I know I miss spelled rest) :HaHa
When doing carving or 3-D type routing all 3 axis are used at the same time, and 2 or 2.5 D move the Z first and then separate movements of the X and Y axis.
Both use inside offset, outside offset, and pocket routing they generate their own G-codes. F-Engrave has some very neat other functions like engraving on a non-level surface, by plotting (probing) the shape of the surface at the start of an operation.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZSYP_W ... sp=sharing if you watch the router bit you can see it lift to make the bit tip cut finer details :Yay
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by CleanCutCreations »

robertspark wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2019 1:33 pm you tell sheetcam it's a milling tool, give it the diameter

then when you call your operations some are profile cuts (outer edge only) and some are pocket cuts (inside pocket)

vcarve is a little different and you need to pay for the plugin
Thank you for this info!
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by CleanCutCreations »

acourtjester wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2019 5:55 pm Well what the video shows is actually called 2.5 D because you cut one depth and then cut the same path at a deeper depth no different path.
To do real 3 D and carve things you need a different software to use a "V" bit, I use 2 different ones. One is free called "F-Engrave" and the other is Estlcam (about $55. from Germany on-line order). There are videos showing both but not many I have had some very good results with Estlcam doing signs. But I am still learning to do inlays with both, I know the concept just falling short on the finished product. (Yes I know I miss spelled rest) :HaHa
When doing carving or 3-D type routing all 3 axis are used at the same time, and 2 or 2.5 D move the Z first and then separate movements of the X and Y axis.
Both use inside offset, outside offset, and pocket routing they generate their own G-codes. F-Engrave has some very neat other functions like engraving on a non-level surface, by plotting (probing) the shape of the surface at the start of an operation.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZSYP_W ... sp=sharing if you watch the router bit you can see it lift to make the bit tip cut finer details :Yay
DSCN3678.JPG
DSCN2679.JPG
DSCN2796.JPG
Thank you very much! Very helpful information! I will look into F-Engrave.
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Re: SheetCam tools for routers

Post by robertspark »

acourtjester wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2019 5:55 pm Well what the video shows is actually called 2.5 D because you cut one depth and then cut the same path at a deeper depth no different path.
To do real 3 D and carve things you need a different software to use a "V" bit, I use 2 different ones. One is free called "F-Engrave" and the other is Estlcam (about $55. from Germany on-line order). There are videos showing both but not many I have had some very good results with Estlcam doing signs. But I am still learning to do inlays with both, I know the concept just falling short on the finished product. (Yes I know I miss spelled rest) :HaHa
When doing carving or 3-D type routing all 3 axis are used at the same time, and 2 or 2.5 D move the Z first and then separate movements of the X and Y axis.
Both use inside offset, outside offset, and pocket routing they generate their own G-codes. F-Engrave has some very neat other functions like engraving on a non-level surface, by plotting (probing) the shape of the surface at the start of an operation.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZSYP_W ... sp=sharing if you watch the router bit you can see it lift to make the bit tip cut finer details :Yay
DSCN3678.JPG
DSCN2679.JPG
DSCN2796.JPG
nice work acoutjester, thanks for Estlcam, never heard of it before, I'll check it out
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