Drilling toolpath optimization Re: New router video..

> The moves before and
> after the drilling cycle may be more significant to the job
> efficiency than the drilled holes.

I know that it takes me between one minute and 15 minutes to change a
tool. depending on a variety of things, not the least of which if
I'm in the middle of a cigarette and don't want to get my hands dirty
or having dirty hands from the tar and nicotine and need to wash them
before touching the machine..... A ziz-zag would have little effect
on much work that requires human intervention. Saving a few seconds
per part and losing minutes is not optimizing things.

> The shortest distance solution may not take into consideration hole
> location accuracy. A drilling toolpath that eliminates the effects
> of backlash would for instance be preferable if the part required
> more precise hole locations. Even in a commercial setting this may
> permit accurate processing of a part on a machine with lesser specs.

<snip>

YES ! removing backlash by drilling holes, always from the same
direction would improve positional accuracy. Although many have
machines with lead screws and microsteppers and have 25,000 steps per
inch (0.00004" theoretical positional accuracy) few machines have the
tolerance to hold anything near the theoretical.

That said, if someone has a sloppy machine with 0.003" play, then
drilling holes from one direction, then another, would induce errors.
but those who have machines that hold 0.0005" positional accuracy
would mean that in most cases, the tool path has little consequence.

> Well that sounds like a good start for an article in Digital
> Machinist....

YES, it does. let us know when you write it. : )

>
> Fred Smith - IMService
> http://www.cadcamcadcam.com/hobby
>