[bradyfb]

Im tring to put lines on a Oak board with a 1/2" vee bit and at one end of the board (Starting point) the bit is on top at 0,0,0 and the grove im tring to make is 22" long with the grove being nothing at one end and .375" at the other end of the line. just a grove gouged out by a 1/2" vee bit. any how when you pan around in autocad i get this effect. but when i put it in deskcnc it show the line being at the same depth the whole length of the line, (its all on the same plane)... would really like to know how to do this in autocad, let me know what im missing or what im doing wrong;Any help would be appreaciated, Thanks Brady

[ger21]

Are you drawing a 3D polyline, or just manipulating the view to look like it? Not sure if even the 3D polyline would work. Why not just hand code it?

G1 X0 Y0 Z0
G1 X22 Y0 Z-.375

[bradyfb]

Hey, Thats what i like easy solutions, and believe it or not i thought of the. but #1 I have know clue where to go in deskcnc to start to write this code , nor have i ever done that. do you write this in deskcnc or do you write this in notepad and then open it under the file menu (open nc) And here is the clincher; at the end of each flute i wanted to have this 1/2" vee bit come back out of the wood at an arc around the rosette. Know i am really lost as to what the code would be written like with these arc's. this is why i thought if i could figure outthis one problem; it would solve the problem with the arc's. And no its not a 3D polyline... Thanks Brady

[ger21]

Yes, you can write it in Notepad and import the file. I've never used DeskCNC, so can't help much. I'd try the 3D polyline, and see if it works. Not sure if you'll be able to get it to exit on an arc without manually editing the code. The easiest way might be to have it create the paths at .375 deep, and edit the start and end of the exit to Z=0

[bradyfb]

Just tried the 3D polyline and it gives the same effect so i will try the editing of the code right now. Thanks Brady

[bradyfb]

Well it was worth a try, But the arc's are all messed up when viewing it 3D. It gives -# like the arc is continuing out and of the table in deskcnc... Yet i still have a positive attitude, this is a great site. and surely someone out of the thousands on this site has run across a similiar problem like this. Thanks Brady

[imserv]

Most cam programs won't cut 3d from a poly line or any 3D curve for that matter. Some like Vector Cad-cam will. DeskCNC won't. It can machine 3D surfaces, or 2D DXF.

The other problem is that most machines won't cut 3D arcs outside of a normal, such as G17, G18, or G19.

If you have a cad-cam program that will cut 3D, interpolate the arcs into line segments and then you won''t have to worry about the plane settings.

One of the exercises that I used when we were training Shopbotters to use Vector, was a 3D carved willow leaf rosette. It was done with 3D arcs, rotated about a center point.

DeskCNC will cut these programs just fine, it won't however create the NC programs.

One last comment about this. DeskCNC has in integral program editor. Use File-Open NC-New.

As you enter G-code it is immediately displayed on the screen. You can adjust the view to either a 2D or 3D display. My advise is to ignore suggestions to use notepad to write any G-code.

Fred Smith - IMService
http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby

[bradyfb]

I really appreaciate all the help, Now which cad-cam program would you recommend? or do I even need cam program since this is already in deskcnc, and just get a cad program or do these type of programs go hand in hand? any how which would you suggest, and as always money is an issue. Also I been woundering if there is someplce you can buy older versions or versions of these cad-cam programs that people no longer use or maybe they have swithched to a different program... Just woundering....