Offsets when milling

[tecteach]

I have drawn a 20mm x 20mm square using techsoft 2D design and cut it out using a 2.5mm diameter cutter. I got a 22.5 x 22.5mm square as expected. However, when I used the tool offset when I came to the plot option and pen settings plot I put in 1.25 and then -1.25 nothing changed. I still got a 22.5mm square.

So, two questions here :

1) How do I get a 20mm milled square pocket with a 2.5mm diameter cutter, make the vector line 17.5mm square ?

2) What is the tool offset for in the plot menu pen set up ??

Any help appreciated

[Denford Admin]

AFIK to get the right size square you have to actually draw the toolpath required, so your're back to using the offset path function.

(Note that there are two options here for graphical path or tool path offset - I think the difference being that the toolpath version will stop the tool going into sharp corners)

I'm not sure what the tool offset value is for in the pen setup - possibly to do with roland machines Is it in the help ?

[Steve]

If you have VR Milling 5 then there is a Drawing Import (DXF) that will accept DXF files from Techsoft.

This import will allow you to follow the line, machine inside or outside of the line.

This will let you make whatever you want and is much more intuitive than the older Techsoft post processor.