Dbfox947

1. Jul 21, 2021 Tool Database. The Tool Database is used to make cutter management and selection very quick and easy, and reduces the possibility of programming jobs with incorrect cut depths and speeds and feeds. It allows pre-defined tools and settings (speeds, feeds, stepover etc.) to be selected from a list for a given machine / material. The Tool Database.
2. This 3D design tool offers many powerful 3D editing, sculpting and blending tools to use to boost your production. Vectric Aspire provides an easy to use batch processing. The software is widely used by millions of users around. Make a tool in Aspire to represent the laser, I use an endmill of 0.2mm dia.
3. Make a tool in Aspire to represent the laser, I use an endmill of 0.2mm dia. This way you can allow for tool offset just like routing. Use a profile toolpath. Set depth of cut to 1. Depth does not really matter because we are not really using Z axis commands in the traditional sense. Commands to turn the laser on and off are M11P0 and M10P0.

These machine will however be able to use the “laser tools” in the database and also the “Laser Cut & Fill” toolpath. The GRBLmm and the GRBLinch post processors included in 10.5 versions of Aspire, V Carve, and Cut2D will work with GRBL machines with version 1.1f or higher firmware.

The Tool Database is used to make cutter management and selection very quick and easy, and reduces the possibility of programming jobs with incorrect cut depths and speeds and feeds. The Tool Database is accessed from the button every time you create a new toolpath and allows pre-defined tools and settings (speeds, feeds, stepover etc.) to be selected from a list.

New tools can be added, copied from existing tools, deleted and organized. All of the cutting parameters are stored in the database.

Opening the tool database

To access the Tool Database you can click on the Database icon on the Toolpaths Tab:

Alternatively, select Toolpaths ► Tool Database from the main menu bar.

A window similar to that shown will appear displaying a list of the tools that are currently defined on the left and the parameters for the currently selected tool from the list over on the right. Below this image is a list of all the actions that can be executed from this dialog:

Tool List

The Tool List is located on the left-hand side of the Tool Database. Click on items in the list to see or edit their properties using the Tool Info section of the database window. The Toolpath list is arranged hierarchically to allow you to organize your tools according to common properties or use.

You can click and hold down the left mouse button to drag items up or down in the list. If you drag them into a tool group, they will be placed inside the group.

Tooltip of group hierarchy

When a tool is selected within a toolpath strategy page, the tool name does not always provide enough information for you to know whether the tool's settings are appropriate. This will become particularly significant if you import a toolpath template (see Toolpaths Templates) with a tool that has been pre-defined (perhaps by a 3rd party) when the template was created. It is always possible to click Edit and see the full set of the tool's properties and settings. However, if you hover your mouse over the tool's name, a tooltip will pop-up telling you what the location of this tool was in the tool group hierarchy when it was added to the toolpath strategy or template. This can be extremely useful for quickly distinguishing between tools in your database that have similar names, but have been grouped according to their properties.

Adding a New Tool

Selecting creates an empty tool in the list that can have any user definable name.

Copying a New Tool

Copy adds a duplicate of the selected tool to the list and prefixes the original name with (1). Edit the Name and properties for the new tool and click the Apply button to save the changes to the list.

Deleting a Tool

Deletes the selected tool from the database.

Creating a new tool group

Click on the add button then give your new group a name and press to add it to the database. Click and drag tools from the database over the top of the newly created group icon in the tool database tree to add them to the group. Alternatively, select the group and then click the button to create a new tool directly within the selected group.

Importing and Exporting tools

Individual tools or complete tool group hierarchies can be saved to disk using the button. Similarly, you can import previously saved tools, groups or even entire tool databases using the button.

Tool Info

When a tool or group is selected in the Tool List, its properties are displayed in the Tool Info section on the right-hand side of the Tool Database.

Here you can modify any of the properties of the currently selected Tool or Group. Click the button to save the changes to the Tool List.

Name

Use this field to enter a suitable name to describe your cutters.

Tool Type

Various cutters can be specified in the database.

When specifying the geometry for a tool, the angle specified is different for V-Bit and Engraving Tools.
V-Bit Tools are defined using an Included Angle (A)
Engraving Tools are defined using the Half Angle (A) and the Flat Diameter (F)

Notes

The tool notes section simply allows you to save any additional text descriptions, special instructions or relevant information you may require, within your tool definition.

Geometry

Laser Level

Diameter

The diameter of the tool in either inches or mm. The tool image will indicate where this dimension is taken from. If you change the tool diameter but do not change the tool name then you will be warned.

Cutting Parameters

Pass Depth

The maximum depth of cut the tool can cut. The Pass Depth controls the number of z level passes that are calculated for a toolpath. For example, creating a pocket 1 inch (25.4 mm) deep using a tool that has a Pass Depth of 0.25 inches (6.35 mm) will result in the toolpath making 4 passes.

Stepover

The distance the cutter moves over when doing area clearance cutting. For example, when raster machining the cutter will machine along the X axis, stepover in the Y direction and return parallel to the first line of cut. The greater the stepover the faster the job will be machined, but this must be balanced with the material being cut and the tooling being used, to ensure that the tool does not break.

When stepover's greater than 50% of the cutter / tip diameter are used the software automatically adds 'Tail' moves in the corner regions of toolpaths to ensure material is not left on the job for offset based strategies. When using V-Bit Tools, the Stepover fields automatically change to use the following options.

Final Pass Stepover

The distance the cutter moves over when finish machining and is usually set to be a relatively small distance to produce a smooth surface finish on the job.

Clearance Pass Stepover

Only used when a V-Bit tool is being used to rough machine at multiple Z levels down to a specified flat depth. This stepover can be much larger than the Final Pass Stepover because the tool is only rough machining material away. Increasing the Clearance Pass Stepover will reduce the machining time, but you must be careful to ensure it is not too great for the material being cut.

Feeds and Speed

Spindle Speed

Speed of tool rotation, specified in revolutions per minute

Feed Rate

The surface cutting rate at which the cutter is moved in the material. The units can be specified in distance per second or minute.

Plunge Rate

The cutting rate at which the cutter is moved vertically into the material or during ramping moves. The units can be specified in distance per second or per minute.

Maximum Burn Rate

This is the maximum speed at which the tool, when at 100% power, will still burn the material. This value is used for simulation purposes only. It should be calibrated to match your laser and material. A larger value will result in the simulated toolpath appearing darker.

Tool Number

This is the number of the tool needed to machine the job. When using a CNC machine with an Automatic Tool Changer (ATC), it is critical that the correct tool required to cut the job is located in the corresponding carousel location.

Using Form Cutters

Form Cutters can be added to the Tool Database so that industry standard Ogee and Round-over type cutters, plus user definable custom shapes can be used for edge profiling and decorative carving. Examples of these types of cutters and the kind of cuts they can be used for are shown in the images below:

Adding your own custom form cutters

Adding a Form cutter to the Tool Database is straightforward and the procedure is,

Only draw the Right-hand side of the cutter geometry to the correct size and scale as shown in the image above.

The shape can be a combination of Lines, Arcs and Bezier spans. With the vector Selected open the Tool Database (using the command icon on Toolpaths tab or from the main menu, Toolpaths ► Tool Database In the Tool Database window, click Select Form Tool

The selected geometry will be imported and a profile displayed in the window.Give the Cutter a meaningful name and enter the cutting parameters - speeds and feeds etc. Click the button to save the new cutter into the database list so it can be used at any time.

I recently picked up the JTech 2.8W laser kit plus the additional shroud and thought I’d share my new post processor for VCarve/Aspire in case anyone else finds themselves in need. I’m aware there was a much older version hanging around in this forum, but it does not have the ability to adjust the laser power from the CAM software, and this has some additional updates.

VCarve/Aspire laser commands (M106/M107):
Just a quick note: The Z axis should be zeroed at the appropriate firing height, not the work piece height. I did this since different lasers may have different firing heights, and this should work for everyone.
Marlin_mm_Slow_Z_with_Laser_Commands.pp

I have also updated my other VCarve post processors with comments to make things easy to understand and some additional tweaks, while removing some extraneous commands from the original test files. Also, there was a unit discrepancy on one of the feed rates which has now been accounted for. Everything is on DropBox, so these get updated automatically when I make new changes if you feel like following along.

VCarve/Aspire default spindle commands (M03/M05):
Marlin_mm_Slow_Z.pp

VCarve/Aspire custom spindle commands (M106/M107):
For use with a voltage triggered power relay.
Marlin_mm_Slow_Z_with_Custom_Spindle_Commands.pp

Now for the fun stuff…

Tool settings:
The spindle speed can be adjusted from 0 to 255 depending on the material and type of work (cutting vs. engraving). The woods I sampled generally produced the best results at somewhere between 30/255 and 60/255 power at a feed of 200mm/min. But I have found that each material has its own sweet spot for engraving and this is simply something you will have to test on your own. It will also depend on how “burnt” you want things to look, as I feel this is subjective.

Hatch fill:
Hatch seems to work best for larger areas that do not require tight, rapid changes in direction.

Offset fill:
Offset seems to work best for tight/thin areas, as this prevents the laser from getting stuck in one spot when moving back and forth across fine detail, which can ultimately cause hot spots.

Vectric Aspire Laser Tools

Rig and testing:

Vectric Aspire Laser Tool Download

There is certainly more testing and tweaking to do, but I thought I’d share my progress in case anyone is looking to jump in with this laser. Overall, I’m very pleased with the kit and since I’ll be focusing on engraving over cutting, 2.8W seems to be more than enough power for me.

Vectric Aspire Laser Tool Free

I hope this helps someone!