. .
  1. #1
    Hey folks

    I've got some weirdness going on with the machine and 3D profiling.

    Take a look at this:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	CNC Steps Dir.jpg 
Views:	380 
Size:	148.3 KB 
ID:	8714

    The arrows show the tool path direction along the profile. What I'm getting are ridges that run perpendicular to the step over (ie. if you step over top to bottom, the ridges run left to right). Just to be clear this isn't a step over ridge I'm talking about and something else is going off here.

    What could be causing this sort of thing?

    I can say this -

    • The pattern is consistent and almost looks part of the g-code?
    • It doesn't matter which axis you step over in X or Y.
    • Also doesn't matter what the profile shape is or the angles involved.
    • Its speed independent I've tried 1m/min upto 10m/min and nothing changes.
    • I'm using Mach v3.43.66 with Solidcam.


    My first first I thought I might have some backlash somewhere but the pattern is very consistent even over a large area with many hundreds of step over passes. I've also ruled out loosing steps as the overall finish piece is as intended and doesn't deviate from the original model. Lost steps would normally be very easy to spot by the end of a large 3D job. No problem with that here.

    Hope someone can help.

    Ps. There's no jerky movements and machine is smooth whilst running the 3D profile as shown in this vid:


  2. #2
    In picture, right hand side long profile.
    You say you are cutting up down and querying the pattern that lies horizontal ?

    If I have read this right then the pattern is very regular, in fact it looks cyclic.
    One clue would be to measure the ridges and see if the measuremet tied in with say ball screw pitch.

    Another thought is that on that profile it will be working Y and Z can you try a sample using X and Z ?

    Last thought is to post a section of code that covers one of these passes.
    Don't post the whole code we only have until 2020.
    John S -

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by John S View Post
    In picture, right hand side long profile.
    You say you are cutting up down and querying the pattern that lies horizontal ?
    Yep exactly that.

    If I have read this right then the pattern is very regular, in fact it looks cyclic.
    One clue would be to measure the ridges and see if the measuremet tied in with say ball screw pitch.

    Another thought is that on that profile it will be working Y and Z can you try a sample using X and Z ?
    Its working on both. Also in that pic you can see the same pattern on the other face although this is more tightly spaced. Could this have something to do with ball screw pitch as there's more Z movement there and that's 5mm pitch whereas its 10mm on the others?

    ast thought is to post a section of code that covers one of these passes.
    Don't post the whole code we only have until 2020.
    Here's a section from the very start of the 3D operation.

    N45 G0 G54 X788.686 Y1145.549
    N50 G43 H5 Z2.
    N55 G0 Z1.93
    N60 G1 Z-0.07 F7000
    N65 G1 X788.85 Y1146.901 Z-0.259
    N70 G1 X788.891 Y1147.24 Z-0.309
    N75 G1 X788.932 Y1147.578 Z-0.377
    N80 G1 X788.952 Y1147.747 Z-0.418
    N85 G1 X788.973 Y1147.916 Z-0.465
    N90 G1 X788.993 Y1148.085 Z-0.517
    N95 G1 X789.014 Y1148.254 Z-0.575
    N100 G1 X789.034 Y1148.423 Z-0.639
    N105 G1 X789.055 Y1148.592 Z-0.708
    N110 G1 X789.075 Y1148.761 Z-0.783
    N115 G1 X789.239 Y1150.114 Z-1.38
    N120 G1 X789.26 Y1150.283 Z-1.457
    N125 G1 X789.28 Y1150.453 Z-1.54
    N130 G1 X789.291 Y1150.537 Z-1.585
    N135 G1 X789.301 Y1150.622 Z-1.631
    N140 G1 X789.321 Y1150.791 Z-1.728
    N145 G1 X789.332 Y1150.875 Z-1.779
    N150 G1 X789.342 Y1150.96 Z-1.833
    N155 G1 X789.362 Y1151.129 Z-1.946
    N160 G1 X789.373 Y1151.213 Z-2.006
    N165 G1 X789.383 Y1151.298 Z-2.068
    N170 G1 X789.403 Y1151.467 Z-2.199
    N175 G1 X789.414 Y1151.552 Z-2.268
    N180 G1 X789.547 Y1152.651 Z-3.179
    N185 G1 X789.568 Y1152.82 Z-3.32
    N190 G1 X789.578 Y1152.904 Z-3.392
    N195 G1 X789.588 Y1152.989 Z-3.467
    N200 G1 X789.609 Y1153.158 Z-3.625
    N205 G1 X789.619 Y1153.243 Z-3.709
    N210 G1 X789.624 Y1153.285 Z-3.753
    N215 G1 X789.629 Y1153.327 Z-3.797
    N220 G1 X789.636 Y1153.387 Z-3.861
    N225 G1 X789.644 Y1153.446 Z-3.927
    N230 G1 X789.752 Y1154.342 Z-4.931
    N235 G1 X789.793 Y1154.68 Z-5.31
    N240 G1 X789.814 Y1154.855 Z-5.506
    N245 G1 X789.834 Y1155.018 Z-5.69
    N250 G1 X789.855 Y1155.187 Z-5.88
    N255 G1 X789.875 Y1155.356 Z-6.071
    N260 G1 X789.896 Y1155.525 Z-6.263
    N265 G1 X789.916 Y1155.694 Z-6.455
    N270 G1 X789.937 Y1155.864 Z-6.647
    N275 G1 X789.957 Y1156.033 Z-6.84
    N280 G1 X789.979 Y1156.213 Z-7.046
    N285 G1 X790.06 Y1156.878 Z-7.81
    N290 G1 X790.07 Y1156.963 Z-7.907
    N295 G1 X790.08 Y1157.047 Z-8.005
    N300 G1 X790.101 Y1157.216 Z-8.202
    N305 G1 X790.111 Y1157.301 Z-8.302
    N310 G1 X790.121 Y1157.385 Z-8.402
    N315 G1 X790.142 Y1157.555 Z-8.604
    N320 G1 X790.152 Y1157.639 Z-8.706
    N325 G1 X790.162 Y1157.724 Z-8.81
    N330 G1 X790.409 Y1159.753 Z-11.305
    N335 G1 X790.491 Y1160.429 Z-12.137
    N340 G1 X790.511 Y1160.598 Z-12.349
    N345 G1 X790.696 Y1162.12 Z-14.305

  4. #4
    What happens if you run it at much lower speed? You could be getting bounce back from the material?
    If the nagging gets really bad......Get a bigger shed:naughty:

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Swarfing View Post
    What happens if you run it at much lower speed? You could be getting bounce back from the material?
    I've played around with the feedrate as low as 1m/min which is as gentle as a mill pond. Same results.

  6. #6
    D.C.'s Avatar
    Lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 05-01-2016 Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 326. Received thanks 30 times, giving thanks to others 24 times.
    Could it be the material itself and not the cutting process, in other words is it lamination showing through?
    Last edited by D.C.; 11-04-2013 at 12:39 AM.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by D.C. View Post
    Could it be the material itself and not the cutting process, in other words is it lamination showing through?
    I get the same pattern on both high density polyurethane block, mdf and valchromat so I don't think its the material.

  8. #8
    dsc's Avatar
    Lives in Lincoln, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 17-06-2020 Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 252. Received thanks 1 times, giving thanks to others 11 times.
    What I'm about to type might be stupid, coming from a person with no CNC experience, but isn't this caused by the movement being done in two steps, rather than simultaneously? so instead of moving say 1/4 step up and 1/4 step left at the same time to get an angled movement, it first does 1/4 step up and later on (scan later?) a 1/4 step left, which results in a step made in the material.

    Regards,
    dsc.

  9. #9
    Since the ridges seem so consistent, they could be part of the original CAD model. For instance if you imported the model into the CAM program as an STL, then that approximates the surface with triangles. If the resolution of the file is insufficient, then you will see the flat surfaces left by the straight line approximations to a curve. Look very carefully at the model imported into the CAM program to see if you can discern any pattern.
    Similarly it could be the G-code being generated at too low a resolution, so using lines a few mm long, instead of arcs and lines which are too short to see. It's hard to tell from the code you posted. Can you post a bit from the main profile section, i.e. somewhere in the middle?
    Old router build log here. New router build log here. Lathe build log here.
    Electric motorbike project here.

  10. #10
    m_c's Avatar
    Lives in East Lothian, United Kingdom. Last Activity: 3 Days Ago Forum Superstar, has done so much to help others, they deserve a medal. Has been a member for 9-10 years. Has a total post count of 2,908. Received thanks 360 times, giving thanks to others 8 times.
    Check Jonathan's suggestion.

    If you look at the code, there are jumps in the Z.
    It starts of with relatively small steps around 0.05 rising to about 0.2, however there are 3 distinct jumps.
    Line 110-115 Z moves 0.597, 225-230 it moves 1 and 340-345 it moves 1.965. I know those big moves also correspond with big steps in X and Y, but it does mean the code is a bit inconsistent, and may cause havoc with the projectory planner.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Hair growth device. DIY version
    By gavztheouch in forum Electronic Project Building
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 30-03-2014, 08:55 PM
  2. edge finish - ripples and ridges
    By dsc in forum Metalwork Discussion
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-07-2013, 08:53 PM
  3. AM882,s and Mach3 ......plus hair removal !!!
    By Buba b in forum Motor Drivers & Controllers
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 26-10-2012, 05:11 PM
  4. Milling Continuous Profiles?
    By Tenson in forum Dolphin
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 15-02-2012, 04:53 PM
  5. Aluminium Profiles
    By wizer in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 10-03-2010, 11:41 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •