Re: Traveling Salesman Syndrome

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., cncdxf@a... wrote:

> Hi Fred,
> My GCodes are made in a text editor or with Turbocad. I
> found it strange nobody talks about making their GCodes faster
> by removing excessive traveling. I have trained myself to draw
> my DXF files the same way I want the part milled. I guess when
> your machine can move at 50ft per minute, 30 extra traveling
> moves make little difference. My machine only moves at 12" per
> minute so I have to be resourceful.
>

I went back to the Harley file and just connected it as received
(roughly 8 inches wide by 6 inches high). Without any retractions it
was about 194 inches long. With retractions added it came up to 674
inches. As you said the file is rather randomized. I then used the
Vector reorganize function. This does not change the length of the
geometry, but evaluates it so that as one contour is completed, it
automatically jumps to the next nearest, completes it, then jumps to
the next nearest, etc. When retractions were added to this file, the
total length of chains was reduced to 253 inches. It took about 10-
20 seconds to do the whole analysis and optimization.

(My default retraction settings are .4 high in Z between contours,
and .8 beginning and 1.6 ending. The total horizontal connections was
only about 21 inches)

This capability is built into the VectorCad-only, and works great for
hole pattern drilling too.

Best Regards,

Fred Smith
IMService