Pocket Screw Holes

[john_l]

Is there any way to cut the tapered (ramped) pocket screw holes using Vcarve Pro? I know I'd still need to finish up with a drill bit the size of the scew shaft (through the end) but just the routered area for the screw head would speed me up.

[bill]

John,
At the Florida keys Camp, Gary Campbell was working on that very same project....

[john_l]

excellent.. maybe Gary will have some insight here on the subject. With all the ramp settings, etc. in VCP I figured it would be possible.

[wooden_innovations]

I use pocket screws in my construction.

The slot is about 1.5" long and stops .75" + 1/2 bit diameter from the edge. I am using a 3/8" bit which fits the drill bit.

I draw the lines and from the flat to the pocket and tell the software to machine along vector at 0 depth.

I then save the toolpath and edit the end point of the paths. I change the z depth of the end point from 0 to -0.375.

There is still some manual labor involved but you don't have to mess with the jig.



Rodney

[Gary Campbell]

John...
Bill is right... I wrote a small program that cuts ramped pocket holes, like you describe..I am still "beta testing" it cuz it has a few bugs when using it for face frames. IF you do Rodney's method above, use the following parameters, as they are very close to kreg or other mfg'ed machines. Bit..3/8, movement 1 1/8", depth change 0.44" end of movement is 3/4" + 1/2 bit diameter from panel edge. Bill Palumbo has a pic of some cut in scrap on the Camp ShopBot Site.
Gary

[john_l]

Thanks Rodney and Gary. I have not tried any file editing yet. But that makes good logic. Sounds easy enough.

I was watching my bot Vcarve some letters today and was just noticing how it raises from depth cuts into corners of the intersecting vector lines. I wonder if there is a way to set the software to vcarve (thinking it is using a V bit) but actually install a 3/8" end mill that we need for the pocket screw pockets? Maybe I am silly.

[Gary Campbell]

John..
Good idea! Play with a cone that is about 1.5" long, with one end half of a 3/8 circle and tapered to a point. Shouldnt take more than a couple tries to get it right. Toolpath selecting a 90 deg V bit and install a 3/8 EM.
Gary

[john_l]

Very good! I never would have thought of the rounded end. I guess this has been discussed before, but I see a rounded end up to the width of the Vbit you tell it you have results in a plunge to that depth.

If I understand correctly Gary, something like this?...


4400

This resulted in a Vcarve preview....


4401

I can picture this doing the job with the 3/8 EM. Many thanks.

[Gary Campbell]

John..
As I was reading another post.. the only downside will be that the bit may go down one side and then up the other but shouldnt be a problem. Did you get to a 52 degree V bit yet?
Gary

[john_l]

I'll try this out and let you know... probably over the weekend.

I actually got a bunch of V's now. Thanks again. I have the 60 and 90 I started with and I've also bought 120, 140, 150, 160's to try also. Haven't chucked any of those in yet but i have been designing for them for a couple weeks now.. waiting for signed contracts to come back from customers.

~John

[Gary Campbell]

John..
When you set up the bit to toolpath for pockets, edit the bit to have a 52 degree total angle (26 deg half angle) so that it will cut the same depth as the width. That is if my math is right.
Gary

[john_l]

oohhhh.... sorry. I got you now. I just added a 52deg v bit and saved the toolpath. Thanks again.

[nschlee]

Pocket holes don't have to have a ramp plunge cut, I've done lots by just using a .375" end mill and cutting a slot .375" deep.

[mziegler]

For making pocket holes with Vcarve Pro I add a 3D tab to the profile toolpath. The pocket is 1.5 inch long by .375 deep. The 3D tab is 3 inch long by .375 thick and should be place at the machining start point. This will make a very nice looking pocket. Hope is help. Mark

4402

[mziegler]

The above is for .375 bits. For .250 bits I created an 1.5 by .125 rectangle with round ends to get the .375 wide pocket hole. The tab settings are all same as above. Mark

4403

[Gary Campbell]

Neal...
We dont do it 'cuz we have to. We do it 'cuz we CAN!
Gary