in calculating the tool path

[routercnc]

Hi Mike,

I suspected it was, but posted anyway. I wondered if the approach of simultaneous equations (for arbitrary shapes which can be defined by an equation, such as circle, rectangle, ellipse, lines, parabola etc.) might be useful in the future. Anyway, glad you're sorted. Thanks for posting - it was an interesting puzzle!

I'm impressed you do some of this by hand. When I got started on CNC I went straight to AutoCAD > dxf > toolpath generation > CNC so have never had to do much gcode creation, other then tweaking a few existing codes.

Wobblybootie - panic not! Assuming you can draw stuff in CAD, I suspect you can cut anything you want without getting bogged down in maths. I think there is a contingency of users who not only enjoy making stuff, but also enjoy the ownership and general challenge of CNC in general. I'm trying to resist falling into this latter category, and using it as a means to an end, but I must admit that it is drawing me in dammit. . . .

[Grumpy Mike]

Thanks, I have now sorted out that bit, although that only generates the drawing on the screen rather then the G-code but I am working through that now.
You might want to see a first trial of my MF70 conversion, with just a pen tapped to the side of the miller.

My ultimate aim is for small PCBs but I am working on automatic levelling correction at the moment as the Y axis tilts by about 0.2mm ever 40mm. I prefer to correct it by making corrections to the Z axis coordinates as I am more comfortable with that.

To Wobblybootie, it's never too late to learn. My wife does home tutoring for kids and I was discussing some mathematical formula with my son (on a visit home). One child overheard and apparently was amassed that this maths stuff was actually really used at work. By the way I spent a year living in Dorset (Weymouth) back in the 70s.
Thanks again for the support.