Issue(s):
- Job is not starting in the expected location on your workpiece
- Job starting too deep or too high up
Resolution:
- Go to ncviewer.com to check if the toolpaths are what you expected. If they are not, they can be changed in the CAM software you used.
- Look into the settings on your CAM software and adjust accordingly. Some relevant settings include:
- Zero settings - On Vectric these would be the "Z Zero Position" and "XY Datum position" settings in Job Setup. Make sure you remember how you selected these so you can zero accordingly on your workpiece, through gSender. Most people will set the zero at the material surface, bottom left corner.
- Position of your design - On the software, consider the blank space where you create your design as your workpiece area. You may want to adjust the dimensions of this space ("Job Size" on Vectric) to match your workpiece size. Then you could move your design, to match how you want it to be cut on your workpiece.
- Retract setting - these define how high your bit moves up when moving (not cutting) across your workpiece. Too high or low can cause the machine to hit Z travel limits, thus affecting where your job begins. More detail about this setting ("Stepover React") can be found here.
3. Load the newly generated g-code file into gSender and zero the workpiece based on how you set it up on the CAM software. To check if you have zeroed correctly, jog the machine around and then press Go X, Y and Z to see if it returns to the expected location on your workpiece.