Does anyone know if there has been any progress at all in forcing Easel to use certain bits to cut certain operations??
I have a 2-prt carve, but have to set it up as three separate projects because I need a lot of 1/4" holes cut but because I am also using a 1/8" bit for detail work, Easel switches the 1/4" holes over to the 1/8"bit. Turning a 10 minute carve into a 59 min carve.
The request is quite simple. I want to do all of the operations that require the 1/4" bit to be cut by that bit, and the operations requiring a 1/8" bit to be carved by that bit. But Easel has a mind of it’s own and does whatever it wants.
Here is why I have to set it up as a four part carve: There are some details in the carve that NEED the 1/8" bit. However, if I remove the 1/8" bit from the menu so as to FORCE Easel to cut the 1/4" holes with the 1/4" bit, it then makes a complete mess of the other parts of the carve that require a detail bit.
This means that I am going to have to take an hour or more making a half dozen duplicates of the project, and then erasing parts of the carve from each project just to FORCE Easel to make a simple 2-part carve.
Any advice on how to trick Easel to do these simple tasks would be greatly appreciated.
(as a side note; I tried enlarging the holes. I went from .25" to .27" and that did not work. I do not want to go any larger because there will be too much slop in the hole if I go much larger than this. I followed the Easel video that Frances posted not too long ago about converting holes into “drill holes” thinking that this would give me 1/4" holes - NOPE!!! Now it wants to drill 1/8" holes, and I can’t figure out how to get back to having 1/4" drawn on the project.
Is it time for me to ditch Easel and start the arduous process of learning a new software platform?
Use The Drill function - works GREAT - a REAL Game Changer!!!
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But that’s the problem, I AM using the drill function
I contacted Tech support. Was told that there is nothing I can do. Just one more limitation in Easel.
My simple 2-stage carve had to be carved using six separate work pieces just to get it carved.
… well, to be clear,I started out with circles (because I wanted them slightly oversized from 1/4” -.27”),but due to the problem, I converted them with the drill converter app.Easel changed them all to 1/8” holes (!!!)
SoTHAT is why I had to break a VERY SIMPLE carve into six separate workpieces (because Easel won’t allow the user to control the carve process.)
How about removing the problem holes and copying them into their own separate gcode file. Then run your program and go back and run the hole making program. You could then just tie the two gcode files together into one long one.In a text editor, copy and paste the second file below the large one. You could stick a pause in between them to change bits while the x controller is on.Use a1/4 bit with the hole drilling app or use a 1/8 bit with clear out cut.
You could stick an M5 at the end of the Easel program 1 assuming it goes back to 0,0,0 and pauses. Then you’d make your bit change and then start program2. I do this all the time.M5 and M30at the end of the gcode stops the spindle and…ends program.
Thanks Martin,
I’m going to have to digest this one. Actually, I’ll pass this onto the computer programmer that I had come out and help me troubleshoot my laundry list of issues that I’m having. Maybe he can help me understand it.
I’m an analog guy trapped in a digital world. I am a woodworker who seed the future of woodworking and realizes that I have to learn CNC if I am hoping to remain competitive in today’s marker place.
I am NOT a digital - computer man.
so this learning curve is brutal for me.
