I’m using a DeskCNC 2nd generation controller card to interpret my cutfiles, and drive my CNC router. I’m having problems with it interpreting the cutting of arcs. Using the DeskCNC software to generate the contouring cutfile, or VCarvePro to generate the same cutfile, the result is the same, so I’m thinking the problem is with the program setup that controls the G-Code file interpretation.
If I set my X and Y axis steps/mm values to the same, all is fine. Loading a G-code cutfile containing straight lines and arcs shows the linear moves in blue, and the arcs in green, all OK. The card and machine executes the cutfile effortlessly, with the arc cutting moves just as fast as the linear cut move. The steppers sound fine, all humming along.
The problem is my machine has a slight accuracy problem with the Y-axis, I don’t know why, but I have to add a miniscule value to the Y-axis steps/mm value, to make it cut spot-on. I have no backlash to compensate for. With this updated Y-axis value, the cuts are spot-on. Problem is, now the interpreter does not cut arcs any more, it changes the arcs into linear lines. Loading a cutfile displays all the cuts as blue linear cuts. When I run the cutfile, the steppers kick up a racket, the arc moves are extremely slow, and the finish real rough.
I’m having problems interpreting the software settings that influence this arc cutting. Can anyone help with the following, and explain their effect?
1. Under the Setup, Options, Tolerance tab, what is the effect of the values entered under Rough Passes, namely the Min Arc Length, the Min Arc Radius, and the Tan Deviance? Are these values a length, a scale, how do I interpret the difference between entering 0.0100, and 0.0001?
2. Under the Setup, Machine Setup, DeskCNC Setup tab, what is the effect of ticking the Read Absolute Arc Centers selection?
3. Under the Setup, Machine tab, what is the effect of ticking or unticking the Break Arcs into Lines selection? What is the interpretation of the value entered into the data entry box, ie the difference between entering 0.10000, and 0.00001?
Any assistance in this matter will be highly appreciated.