Profile Modeler Question

[Kerry Fullington]

I had my first chance to play with the Profile modeler yesterday and ran into a problem. Fluting single line tool paths were no problem, everything worked as expected but when I tried to flute this "Chain" around an arch,

the modeler would only verify the single straight line that I started the profile on in eCabinets. It would not turn a corner.
I was using a Custom Tool (.625 diameter fluting bit with a .3125 corner radius set) I am sure it is something I am missing but the machine I am using is 90 miles away so I have limited time to play with things. Any help would be appreciated.

[Brian Shannon]

Kerry,

I made this from MDF a few years ago. It was modeled in PM and did not use a custom tool. I think that I had to offset my tool by half of its dia. to make it work. I think you suggested that to me at the time. I do remember that my problem was showing up in eCabinets. I'm not sure when I'll get to the shop today but will try that on your part when I do. Hope this helps.


Brian

[Ryan Hochgesang]

Kerry,

Here is an update to the file you supplied. I took into Part Editor and created a profile cut using the CHAIN option, made sure chain went around entire perimeter of part, then saved and loaded into Profile modeler to verify. I used a general CMT default tool for profile and specified a cut depth.

When you chained perimeter in Part Editor, did the entire outer edge of part highlight green to show chain went completely around?

[Kerry Fullington]

Ryan,

I took the part into contour to create the tool path (I didn't use the perimeter of the part because I used two differnt offsets from the edge of the part for the path)
When I select the chain to profile it looks like this

If I take it to the control and verify the path it will only show the vertical line on the left that I started on.

[Ryan Hochgesang]

Kerry,

Please find the word doc. attached with some pictures showing the PM screen prior to verification process. Make sure you've addressed the shown settings. I'm seeing a full chain for tool path when verifying your file here.

Thanks!

[Will Williamson]

Hey Kerry
if your machine is 90 miles away maybe you should consider purchasing the control nesting software option to be installed on your home PC. it will save you a lot of trips. As you are finding out just because it works in ECab does not mean it works in PM. or you can try the remote desk top option if the machine is not in use.
Pm me or call 810 310 1111 for more info
Looking at Ryans post I never use the custom tool option. I only use PM for profiles i do not have the tool for
If I owned the Custom tool I would use DXF in Control nesting

[Kerry Fullington]

Ryan,

I performed all the steps you list and when I click to verify there is only a red line on the line that I started the profile on in eCabinets. I ran the program cutting air and it only cut the one segment.
If I went back to eCabinets and started the profile chain on a different segment it would verify and cut that segment only.

I even drew a simple rectangle and created a tool path around it and the profile modeler would only verify and cut a single segment. Fluting single segments using the same custom tool worked perfectly.

Don't waste a lot of time on this. I will re-draw the part and try it again next time I am in Amarillo.

When I verify the tool path and I zoom in on the part, it should show a red line around the whole profile not just the starting segment?

I need to do as Scott and Will suggest and get the Thermwood desktop to be able to try this at home.

[Kerry Fullington]

Will,
I was able to model the flute with a 1/4" ball nose but of course it took multiple passes. I wanted to specify the single tool to cut in one pass.

I won't be using a core box to cut this in the future it will be a classic profile so I want to be ablle to select a custom tool.

[Ryan Hochgesang]

Kerry,

Yes, you should see the RED, continuous chain in Verify of PM as seen in doc I provided. I will try to find your scenario to see what would keep the tool to one segment of the chain...