2D Slotting

2D Slotting can be applied to open planner curves. The tool will follow the curves as direct guide of cutting motion. Slotting is best done with small step down values and ramping applied. The tool will move back and forth along the guide curve ramping deeper into the material, with a final pass flat in the bottom of the slot.

You will need to place the curves to be cut into the following layer in the Rhino document:

KaroroCAM/2D Slotting

Tolerance

KaroroCAM uses polylines (collections of line segments) to create toolpaths. All curves are converted to segments using this Tolerance setting as a guide. The Number represents the maximum deviation from the input curve to the final polyline.

TIP: Use a tolerance one decimal place better than your machines smallest movement step - ie for most CNC routers 0.01 is recommended Tolerance

NOTE: Tight tolerances can lead to large file sizes and slow machine movement while cutting 

Tool

Tool Shape

2D Slotting uses Flat End Mill tools  

Tool Diameter

Sets the diameter of your tool bit in mm.

Tool Number

Select Tool number that matches the tool spec'd in your tool path - mostly important for machines with auto tool change ability.

Spindle Speed

Sets the spindle speed for this operation in your GCode output file

Slotting Depth

Slotting Depth Position

Selects the reference position for the Slotting depth. Can be:

Selected Curves - the cutting depth will be referenced to the curves in the 2D Slotting layer in the Rhino document. These can all be at different Z heights

Stock Top - Slotting depth is referenced to the top of the current stock - all engraving will be done to the same depth

Stock Bottom - Slotting depth is referenced to the bottom of the current stock - all engraving will be done to the same depth

NOTE: Slotting Depth Offset is a Z offset from this selection

Slotting Depth Offset

Offset in mm in the Z direction from the selected Engraving Depth Position of the final cutting depth. 

Multiple Depths

USE MULTIPLE DEPTHS

Check this box to enable multiple depth slotting paths

Max Step Down

Maximum step down in mm per pass when doing multiple depth cutting. 

NOTE: If the total cutting depth (Stock top - Cutting Depth Position + Cutting Depth Offset) is not an even division by this number the deepest pass will be less than this number.

Ramping

USE RAMPING

Check this box to enable ramping tool entry into the stock.

NOTE: When is selected Ramping in Slotting Tool Paths there will be an extra pass added to the end of the slotting operation at full depth to clears the material left due to the ramping movement. 

Ramping Angle

Sets the angle the tool will enter the material at the start of each slotting pass.

NOTE: You may get a warning if one or more of the slotting paths is too short to contain the ramping motion. Either increase the ramp angle and/or reduce the slotting depth per pass to allow for a ramping motion that is suitable for your Slotting Curves. 

Post Process

Post Process 2D Slotting 

Click this button to proceed to the Post Process Selection and Gcode File saving

VIDEO - 2D Slotting in KaroroCAM