Programming cone shapped part

[farmall]

Hi all:

I'm fairly new to my Axiom AR-6 elite and to vcarve pro.

Had a job thrust upon me that is above my current skill level.

Trying to figure it out.

Need to program a "cone" shape on the outside of a wooden mold part. (See picture)

1) Can Vcarve Pro even handle something like this?

2) If so, how would I go about programming it?

3) Could I digitize something like this with my machine, what equipment would that require?

Advice appreciated, thanks, Jeff

[grossmsj]

We'd need to hear more details. I'm not sure I understand the job. Is the cone separate from the part you showed, or carved from it? What is the size (approximately) of the finished part to be carved?
I use Vectric Aspire, and it has some pretty powerful 3-dimensional model forming tools. I don't know if V-carve had that or not.

One practical problem is the vertical height of Axiom AR series machines is pretty constrained. It's 5.8 inches from the deck to the top of the gantry, but you won't get anything close to that with a bit in the spindle.

I've attached a Vectric Aspire image of a what a cone would look like from a simple model that took about a minute to set up. So stuff like this can be done within limits.

I don't believe you can digitize with the Elite. I know you can't on the AR6 Pro with RichAuto. The machine is certainly capable, but the RichAuto controller is built for simplicity, not maximal capabilities.

Attachments:

[farmall]

Hi Grossmsj:

Thanks for replying.

It looks like they started with a 5" square block that was 3" tall.
Then they probably put it in a lathe & turned a taper on it.
It was barley touching corners at the bottom, as the taper increased, it become almost completely round at the top.

I was hoping to program it using a ball end mill & small step over to get the taper on the OD of the block.


Thanks, Jeff

[grossmsj]

This is a chamfer tool path with a 34 degree angle from a 5 inch block 3 inches high. So, pretty straightforward. Again, I did this in Aspire so I don't know if V-Carve has the same capabilities.

One practical problem is whether the collet or spindle will hit the block before the bit bottoms out. You could calculate that angle.

[farmall]

Great, that's what I am after.
Can you tell me what icons you used to create this chamfer tool path?
Then I can look in my V Carve pro to see if it is capable of doing this.
Thanks, Jeff

[grossmsj]

The one named "Chamfer Toolpath". :>)
Its under Toolpath Operations on the Toolpath screen.

[farmall]

OK on the toolpath.
Next question.
How did you generate the vectors for the 34 degree angle?
This is the area I am still new at.
Thanks, Jeff

[grossmsj]

Vectric does a great job of showing how to use virtually every feature of their software. Videos and the manual.

[farmall]

Thanks Grossmsj, you have been a lot of help!
Jeff