Hi @christian-knuell , I just started using V12 a bit more. I think I have found some things I believe to be bugs.
First one is - The new rounded tabs feature is great, it does seem to break the plunge speed though. Using rounded tabs my machine dives in the material at full speed initially and when cutting the tabs. It seems like is should still obey the plunge rate set, I understand it skipping plunge angle? I would prefer to have control over how fast the endmill plunges, bare minimum at the initial plunge but ideally at the rounded tab as well.
rounded tabs are intended to avoid ugly notches at the beginning and end of tabs by maintaining a uniform cutting speed.
Plunge feedrate is intentionally ingored as those changes also create notches (not as bad as plunging at a 90° angle, but still usually very visible):
It even ignores it at the initial plunge nowhere near a tab, If that is your intent that is okay I will just use regular tabs. In metal the plunge is much slower than the cutting rate.
The next thing I noticed the plunge on helical holes the plunge seems very slow for some reason. I even tried to use drill, then hole to open it up further and if there is a ramp angle it seems extra slow.
I can’t seem to fine tune the downward speeds properly. In wood and plastic this is not a big deal but metal is extra sensitive.
Why? Did you miss the point of the v11 video (Estlcam 12 Alpha - #117 by dalrun) promoting the restoration of the Add/Insert function or the just above mentioned adding a custom SVG engraving to a specific location on a reusable (otherwise ready to machine) .e12 project? How do I do either w/ v12? The registration of the Added/Inserted file to the existing project is the most important aspect.
@christian-knuell is there any plan to add “Move DXF” like in V11? Its nice to be able to add the file but I cant find a way to move it. Right now I have to create the tool paths and then move those. It makes for a very easy to get confused situation.
Also when I have a bit set up for Trochoidal Milling and also have the Drill section set up it ignores the tool path depth for drill and just does a straight plunge with no pecks. Is there something I need to do differently for this to work?
If the file opened with Update is an updated version of the original file, v12 does not have the v11 limitation of changes having to be in the original X+,Y+ quadrant and I stand corrected… Any additions outside X+,Y+ will require a Zero : Margin = 0 to recover the left-bottom origin.
Maybe it’s a language issue, but replacing one version of the file with an updated version (VS “replaces one drawing with another one”) is the only practical use for the Update function. Anything else will require paying attention to the embedded source file origin.
Update is a much better way to add objects to a project than the v12 Add function because the objects can be added to precise locations anywhere in the drawing. How is Adding objects that sit atop the X axis (original or reset?) and 10mm to the right of the original drawing elements a useful function?
Yes you can use the Move function, but how do you move them to “precise locations” when you don’t know where they are, i.e. what their precise location is relative to the origin point?
…How did you read and reply to my post within seconds?
…with the v11 Insert function there is no need to Move anything and, once the origin of the Inserted file (e.g. that custom SVG engraving) is set, the file is editable and reusable (just like the saved .e10).
Because of changes/losses in v12 I am doing just that. The only thing I currently use v12 for is setting my origin point. I love my new center finding macro (so much faster and more consistent than manual probing) and was starting to think about how I might live w/ the v12 out of order Carve pocketing (to have the importance of that issue, and apparently this one, not understood is disheartening) by switching doable tasks to v12. The Add function not working like Insert has me back to thinking I’m stuck w/ v11.
I found a possible solution that may be of some help.
I had a CAD file with multiple elements in it, all situated where I needed them.
I wanted to add another element (just for testing) and I used the add function.
When I did that, the original file shot off to the left and down.
What I did then was to start over with my CAD program and I drew a bounding box around the elements of the first drawing, (added a line box) loaded it into Estlcam again and then proceeded to add the other element as before.
Once again the first CAD file shifted off to the lower left again, but this time I had a bounding box line that I could easily and accurately position the zero point at the lower left corner
I could then add and then shift the added element to where I wanted it within the original CAD drawing layout,
I allways draw a small cross to set the milling origin in the original drawing. this is because I often mill text into planks of uneven shape and use the center line as a reference. In combination with a good layer stucture it is not neccessary to add “elements”
I usually add a small circle to the centre of a CAD file for the same reason. Most times I use crosshair laser to position the tool for quick jobs that don’t need perfect accuracy, like for cutting a keyhole for hanging a plaque.
This small circle becomes my reference point that I can come back to if needed for setting up again. I physically draw a diagonal cross on the stock with a pencil to reference the crosshairs
