Vector 9.3 & contouring control beta tester(s) sought

For those interested, here is an update on the Vector 9.3 status:

1) There have been a couple of new functions added that were not in the original distribution.

First are 2 routines to draw lathe undercuts. One for shoulder and diameter undercut, and
a second for just diameter, as would be used for a thread clearance on a shoulder.
The functions can be used like a fillet, or to draw the tool path, independent of the
part contours with leadin and out clearances.

Second is a slab or plane milling function. This function creates a flattening tool path
that will cut the top of shapes drawn in the X-Y plane. It makes it very easy to plane
mill the top of a rectangular block, or the top of a complex shape. It should be useful
for planing the surface of a router table, and for making the top surface of a rectangular
piece of stock into a machined flat surface.

These will be made available to Vector 9.3 customers in the near future.

2) We are working on an auto ramping function. This is designed to recognize
approaching sharp corners and to insert feed slowdowns within the program. Probably
most useful for router and plasma types of machines. The cutting can be done at near
rapid speeds, but because of inertial effects and overcompensation for continuous
contouring, the machines tend to form an arc around a square corner. This function
would recognize an approaching corner and issue feed slowdown commands at a specified
distance to allow for precise control around the sharp corners. I expect that this may
be useful for 3D contouring with soft materials like foam. Because the material is so
soft, the cutter can be pushed at near rapid speed, but it is difficult to accurately reverse
direction at the limits of the raster machining area. This function would automatically
slow down the feed rate near the edges where the cutter would tend to overshoot and
possibly gouge or cause surface dimensional errors.

This will probably be an extra cost option.

We would like to have a couple of Vector 9.3 customers help with testing. To be eligible,
you should have a table based machine that can reach speeds in excess of 200 ipm,
and often work with sheets in the 4x8 ft size, or larger.

If you are interested, please contact me off list. imserv @ imsrv.com

Best Regards, Fred Smith- IMService
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