Part editor cuts

[Paul Ellis]

I must confess I haven't really studied this, but I was hoping for a 'simple' answer to this.
When in the parts editor, you use one of Paul Huff's tools (sorry Paul, I am only using your tools as an example) or any 'one-sided' tools for that matter, how do you determine which side of the tool will actually make contact with your piece that you want cut? In other words, left or right side plus the 'cut path' ? I have had random success with these kind of tools and as I said in the beginning have'nt really paid attention to this!

Thanks in advance

[Michael Yeargain]

This can be confusing, depending on the actual location of the bit itself in relation to the x,y axis during it's creation.

In other words if the bit is made solely in the upper right quadrant of 0,0 then you may need to do an offset to comp for the placement of this bit to cut center line. On the otherhand if the bit was created in the absolute center of the 0,0 axis then no offset would be needed.

In relation to 0,0 the material is in the lower right quadrant of the tool.

Hope this helps.

The image below is a simple chamfer with a plunge depth @ -3/4\" Note the yellowish color in the image which is the material. This tool was created @ 0,0 as the tip.

[Mike Seisser]

Paul,

Another thing to consider here is how you choose the 'cut path'. If you choose the right side of the cube pictured below, near the bottom right corner, the path will take you North, turn West, turn south, then turn East. The little red ball at the end of the line is your direction indicator, it appears at the opposite end of the path you choose. When you choose a 'chain' or 'partial chain' it shows the first edge that will be profiled in red, then the rest in green. If the tool you choose is only 1 sided and the profile you want is in the lower left quadrant like the tool I've shown below, then the selection that I show here would be correct.

If you select the path as I show in the 3rd picture below without changing the offset, it won't cut at all as no part of the tool is in the lower right quadrant. You can profile either left (blue quadrant) or right (yellow quadrant) depending on which way you select your path. Also, any part of a tool that is in the gray area will be above the piece you are trying to profile, and won't cut either.

I try to visualize the tool as a router bit on a handheld router, and then select my path as if I'm going to push the router along the correct edge.

[Paul Ellis]

Thank you both Mike and Micheal. I have just one more Q, Mike, if you now take your square and first make it a circle and then you want to make a profile cut...where on the circle do you click to get the cut path right? Do you 'imagine' it still being a square and click approximately where you would have clicked?

Thank you

[Mike Seisser]

Thank you both Mike and Micheal. I have just one more Q, Mike, if you now take your square and first make it a circle and then you want to make a profile cut...where on the circle do you click to get the cut path right? Do you 'imagine' it still being a square and click approximately where you would have clicked?

Thank you

Paul,

Ah, good question, I should have covered that. As far as I know, the exterior path of a circle will always profile in a counterclockwise direction. If you were to cut a hole in the center of your circle and need to profile that as well, it cuts in a clockwise direction. (For some strange reason.)

Mike

[DanEpps]

Ah, good question, I should have covered that. As far as I know, the exterior path of a circle will always profile in a counterclockwise direction. If you were to cut a hole in the center of your circle and need to profile that as well, it cuts in a clockwise direction. (For some strange reason.)

Mike

Bit rotation...