flatcam

Open full view…

Retrace last path (partially).

davidkitson
Sun, 29 Apr 2018 05:07:52 GMT

When creating 0.2mm isolation grooves, I sometimes find that the the copper is flexible enough at the start and finish area, that a small piece isn't removed, but is left in place - I'm not sure of the exact cause - whether it's just a piece that bends, or whether it's due to the extremely fine tolerances and lash exceeding this in the Z axis, but I often end up with a trace that looks perfect but when I check with a microscope, there's still copper where the track geometry started and finishes. I've written a basic post-processor that adds the first segment of any geometry again at the end so it covers it's tracks a little to try to correct this. I realize this is a hardware issue, but it would be great if the last part of the geometry around a track could be gone over twice, to ensure that the isolation track is perfectly broken with 0.1mm 10-degree engraving tips. Just a tick-box option to do this would be perfect.

Marius Stanciu
Sun, 29 Apr 2018 09:10:20 GMT

If I understand correctly, what you are suggesting is that for each isolation path to append to it the first point in path. Therefore, what you asked for can be implemented as some sort of post-processing. Or function linear2gcode, where Gcode is generated, from camlib.py can be modified. Or create a new similar function that is called in case that the mentioned "tick-box" is ticked.

Marius Stanciu
Sun, 29 Apr 2018 09:35:30 GMT

Wrong post. Above is true.

Marius Stanciu
Sun, 29 Apr 2018 10:49:56 GMT

I just added this functionality in the fork that I've created. I will issue another Nightly this evening that will have this functionality. [Cut over 1st pt](//muut.com/u/flatcam/s3/:flatcam:HlPq:cutover1stpt.jpg.jpg)

davidkitson
Sat, 26 May 2018 02:31:04 GMT

Hi Marius - Thank you very much for that - I really feel stupid asking this next question, but I can't find the build with this update - All of the downloads were 2016 or earlier - Is there a location where this file is already built or does it need to be compiled from scratch?

davidkitson
Sat, 26 May 2018 06:08:26 GMT

OK, Figured it out - the nightly build wasn't showing on my browser - Managed to get it and download it ( when I did mouse-over the link, it went crazy and began selecting and unselecting the link... Must have been a browser bug ). - Yes, that works perfectly. Just checked the tool path step by step and it seems to be doing exactly the same as my edited files - ! Perfect...