Quickcam 2D only allows =>10% step down of tool diameter

[el$syd]

Hi ,
Quickcam 2D will not allow me to have a lower rate than 10% for step down in the material editor section - is there a way of getting around this?
I am cutting a 31.75 diameter hole in an aluminium block and want to use a 17mm end mill for stable cutting. The lowest depth cut would mean 1.7mm per pass. I do not think that my Triac can take that depth of cut reliably. Short of drilling holes all the way around and then edge milling is there anything I can do to reduce the cut with Quickcam 2D - I know I can edit it with VR Milling 2.31 - but would prefer that Quickcam did it as I may have several more blocks to cut...
Many thanks.

[Denford Admin]

The software has got a 10% minimum limit on the step down cell editbox. It has been altered now in QuickCAM for the next release (v1.11)

In the meantime, you can locate the material file here:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Denford\VRMilling5.MAT

Open it in text editor (notepad) and find the entries for your selected machine and material.
eg:

Code: Select all

[ROUTER 2600 PRO]
1_FEED=123
1_SPEED=23000
1_DESCRIPTION=Foam / Balsa
1_STEPDOWN=300
2_FEED=1500
2_SPEED=23000
2_DESCRIPTION=Wax
2_STEPDOWN=150
3_FEED=2000
3_SPEED=23000
3_DESCRIPTION=Soft Wood / Model Board
3_STEPDOWN=100
4_FEED=1000
4_SPEED=23000
4_DESCRIPTION=Hard Wood / MDF
4_STEPDOWN=100
5_FEED=800
5_SPEED=23000
5_DESCRIPTION=Plexiglas
5_STEPDOWN=0.1
6_FEED=1500
6_SPEED=23000
6_DESCRIPTION=HIPS
6_STEPDOWN=150
7_FEED=400
7_SPEED=18000
7_DESCRIPTION=Aluminium
7_STEPDOWN=30

As you can see, for Plexiglas I have edited the stepdown to be 0.1, which is used by QuickCAM without any problem.
If you edit the values from quickCAM or VR Milling, however, the 10% minimum limit will be applied once again.

[el$syd]

Many thanks for the information - much appreciated.

[el$syd]

Hi,
The version or VR Milling I have is V2.31 and I could not find the .MAT file. Are they Quickcam files or VR milling files, and if VR milling are they only for V5+?
Or have I not found them? (I searched the C drive for *.mat and only found them in the VR Milling V5 directory - I cannot use V5 as I do not have USB Eurostep card)
Any suggestions welcome - thanks.

[Denford Admin]

The docs and settings folder will be hidden
quickcam will use it's own file if it can't find a v5 one.
Quickcam default.mat I think from memory. (sorry not at a pc at the mo. )

[Denford Admin]

By the way, this may help you unhide the folders:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=665