I am trying to create a cut-out template into polycarbonate of a 39mm round circle for medallions.

I set the tool to a engraver tip, .05 width, set overlap.

But, it is engraving the circle smaller than 39mm.... any idea why? I know the engraver tip is at a 30* angle, and it is compensating for that?

Anyone know how to engrave out a circle 39mm using a engraver too with 30* angle tip?

Thanks.

Meh... it just isn't working.

As it goes deeper, obviously, the top of circle I'm engraving gets wider, since the tip is as well. Now, the template circle is too big, as I get it deep enough to be a template.

I'll just wait for my parallel cutter to arrive in the mail next week... that'll make it a cinch.

Thanks

Okay, I need more help.

I bought a .125 parallel cutter. I have the circle set to 39mm in Engravelab, and I have it set to "fill" when creating the tool path.

Now, when I select the cutter in Engravelab, there is no "parallel engraver cutter" to select - only and end mill, so I've selected the 1/8" end mill. Is this the correct size? When I select it, it indicates the width of the end mill as 3.175?

Anywhoo, I have it set up to overlap, etc. but it's making the circle too big... for some unknown reason. It's supposed to take the tool width into account, and adjust the tool paths accordingly. This makes me think I have the tool size set incorrectly?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

The 1/8 Engraver tool assumes that it is a normal engraving tool, with the edges angles at 30*, so that wouldn't work for a parallel cutter, as it takes the angle into account, where the deeper it goes into the surface of the material, the wider it gets.

I do believe (in the graphic I supplied earlier) that the width equivalent of 1/8 inch is a little over 3mm, which is why d1 is indcating 3.xx

If I select 1/8" end mill, I get the sizes that are listed in my screen shot I took.

The d1 width is coming in at 3.175, which does appear to be mm, and using an online converter, that equates to .125 inches or 1/8 inch, which is the width of my parallel cutter.

Go figure. There's got to be something I'm missing, and I've gone over the manual several times.

Not being familiar with this software I can give only generic advice.

Do you want the circle as a hole or as the finished piece? That will make all the difference in the world.

If the circle is the final piece this might work.
Make a .001" cutter mill tool, this will keep the settings within .001". Make the circle .125" larger than needed. Then cut it out.

If the circle is a hole.
Again make a .001" cutter.
Then make the circle .125" smaller than needed. You will now have a cutout within .001" diameter of your needs.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

ok varn
3.175mm equals .125 in. 2nd i have never see a cad/cam software that allows you to work in metric and decimal at the same time. i have never used engrave lab but it shouldnt be much different from the others. as long as you use and convert all the values to metric or decimal everything should work out. as for your question in most cad/cam softwares you can set the tool path to the outside, centerline and inside the line you are machining, and some softwares allow you to fudge the inline and outline. my question would be: how much oversized is the part you cut. if your centerline cutting it would be .125 to big......so how much to big is it

Okay, I figured it out (this is called "learning curve"...

The symbols that you create in EL automatically have the tool path applied unless you tell it not to engrave it, or delete the symbol, after you create the proper tool path.

So, although the tool path using the "fill" was set correctly, taking the width of the tool into account, the symbol that I used originally was not - it was not taking the tool width into account.

So, I deleted the symbol, which just left the tool path, and it engraved at precisely 39mm.

Thanks for the help.