Maximum design size for 24" router

[winggo]

I have a 24" x 36" machine.  I have a project where I want to cut a 24" wide design but it won't do that because, with a .25" cutter it is outside the size parameters.  So I downsized the design to 23.5" and it still will not let me cut that.  I still get "out of limits" error.  How much less than 24" do I have to go?

[loren]

I'm assuming that it's more than 24" high, otherwise you could just rotate 90 degrees and carve it. Sounds like you're very close. If the 23.5 inch dimension is critical, consider using a 3/16 inch bit for the clearance you need.


Also look into tiling, which vcarve does well. You could machine something 26" wide by shifting the material and carving each 1/2 separately. I regularly use tiling for carves on long pieces that don't fit on my bed.

[Bob]

Also, Are you using the same X_Y datum on your machine as you are using in the VCarve design software. For example: the lower left side when designing, and the center on the machine. This would also give the same error.

[joeblow]

Dec 31, 2023 14:48:12 GMT -5 Bob said:

#2.If your profile cut is on, or inside the 24" boundary, you should be able to cut. If the center of the bit goes around the outside of the 24", you will get an error message.  
If your profile cut is set to “On” and you are using a .25”EM, your cut path will be beyond your limits by .125” and you will trigger an out of limit response.

#3.Cutting limits are set from the center of the bit. This is what allows a 1.25" surfacing bit to cut beyond the table size limits when resurfacing the spoilboard.
This is just entirely incorrect.  Cutting limits include the complete cutter path.  Use the 2D solid toolpath preview (if using Vectric products) and if your cutter exceeds the working envelope of your machine an out of limit warning will be triggered when attempting to cut that file.

To the OP…you have a 24” x 36” machine which is better to look at in metric when pushing the working envelope.   In reality, you have a 610mm x 910mm machining boundary.  That is the absolute max you can cut to including the cutter diameter.  In imperial this translates to 24.1” x 35.82” as stated in the manual.  

[Bob]

I apologize for the misunderstanding.
I have edited the post to correct this.

[winggo]

I solved the problem. I put the design in a 24x24 box with the design completely inside. The problem was not on the left or 24" side but on the right. The design was sitting at less than 0 so once I got it situated inside the box it ran.

[Bob]

Jan 1, 2024 8:37:46 GMT -5 joeblow said:

Dec 31, 2023 14:48:12 GMT -5 Bob said:

#2.If your profile cut is on, or inside the 24" boundary, you should be able to cut. If the center of the bit goes around the outside of the 24", you will get an error message.  
If your profile cut is set to “On” and you are using a .25”EM, your cut path will be beyond your limits by .125” and you will trigger an out of limit response.

#3.Cutting limits are set from the center of the bit. This is what allows a 1.25" surfacing bit to cut beyond the table size limits when resurfacing the spoilboard.
This is just entirely incorrect.  Cutting limits include the complete cutter path.  Use the 2D solid toolpath preview (if using Vectric products) and if your cutter exceeds the working envelope of your machine an out of limit warning will be triggered when attempting to cut that file.

To the OP…you have a 24” x 36” machine which is better to look at in metric when pushing the working envelope.   In reality, you have a 610mm x 910mm machining boundary.  That is the absolute max you can cut to including the cutter diameter.  In imperial this translates to 24.1” x 35.82” as stated in the manual.  

Well Joe...

I tested my original statements by setting up a large rectangular toolpath on the exact limits of X Y travel. I used a 1.25" diameter surfacing bit for the test. Here are the results:

I set up 3 profile cuts, Inside the lines designating the maximum work area, On the lines, and Outside the lines.

1. When cutting inside the rectangular limits, the cut worked within the the limits with a 1.25" wide cut on the inside of the line..
2. When cutting on the line, no errors messages and the cut worked. (It extended the surfaced area .625"to both sides of the line.)
3. When attempting to cut in the outside of the line, I got the expected out of limits message.

These results agree with my original statements.
Try it, it really works.

Bob

[Bob]

Jan 1, 2024 15:27:39 GMT -5 winggo said:

I solved the problem. I put the design in a 24x24 box with the design completely inside. The problem was not on the left or 24" side but on the right. The design was sitting at less than 0 so once I got it situated inside the box it ran.

Thank you for the update.
Bob

[jgarciaa]

Dec 30, 2023 17:57:20 GMT -5 winggo said:

I have a 24" x 36" machine.  I have a project where I want to cut a 24" wide design but it won't do that because, with a .25" cutter it is outside the size parameters.  So I downsized the design to 23.5" and it still will not let me cut that.  I still get "out of limits" error.  How much less than 24" do I have to go?

Certainly! The Monport laser could be an excellent solution for your project needs, given its reputation for being user-friendly, high quality, and affordable. Regarding your issue with cutting a 24" wide design on your 24" x 36" machine, it's essential to consider the clearance required for the cutter's diameter. Since you're using a 0.25" cutter, it's likely that you'll need to account for some additional clearance beyond the design width to ensure successful cutting without hitting the machine's limits. To address this, you may need to reduce the design width by a bit more than the cutter diameter. Experimenting with slightly smaller dimensions, perhaps starting with a reduction of around 0.5" from the original 24" width, could help avoid the "out of limits" error and allow for smooth cutting within your machine's parameters. If you encounter any further issues, consulting the machine's manual or reaching out to Monport's customer support for assistance would be advisable. monportlaser.com/collections/co2-laser-engravers/products/monport-40w-lightburn-ready-12-x-8-co2-laser-engraver-cutter-with-fda-approval?sca_ref=5031521.ka374VZjm3