Is it possible to create a Tool Path for carving a pocket hole, or keyhole slot, with my slotting bit?
I need the bit to plunge .375" on Z, move .500" (on x or y), to create the slot, and then return .500" to clear the slot, and then rise the .375" to clear the hole.
I hope you can see the copied photo of the picture hanging slot i created by manually jogging the router.
Thank you, Ray
If you are using Vcarve you can create a profile toolpath that’s U shaped (about 1/32" wide)
that will perform the slot cutting process in a single pass.
This one I designed for my particular slot cutter you may need to modify based on the cutter you have.
Keyhole 375 x 75.crv (21.5 KB)
Ken5;
Thank you for your reply. I will try your file. Your explanation sounds so simple I wish I coulda thought of it!
Ray
V-Carve has a keyhole “gadget” that does this automatically - I’ve used it several times, and it works great.
Creating a little jig to do this by hand with a trim router is super easy, though. Tons of YouTube videos like this one explain it well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WVh1HqdrmY
Had something too big for the CNC that needed keyholes, and the little jig worked well. This is how I will do these from now on - the CNC just doesn’t add any value to the process.
Pretty much agree with you on this. Unless I’m doing a ton of them in the same project file, the time it takes to replace the bit, re-zero and run the operation is more disruptive to my workflow than just popping a jig on and doing a quick router operation. I have a few trim routers so keeping one with the keyhole bit permanently installed is easy enough.
That works;
Thank you
Thanks for the introduction to gadgets.
If you only need 1 or 2, it would be about as easy to do it in manual mode.
Agreed.
However I often flip my work piece over for a date and signature carve anyways.
Ray
Awesome trick, to get the bit to return to its origin.
Ray
