Answer
Dec 20, 2024 - 03:16 PM
Do I need special software?
No special software is required if you do not need or require sharp corners in your cuts. If you round off or fillet all the corners on the part you intend to cut, you can simply treat the Drag Knife as an engraving tool and cut on your vector/line. Care must be taken when creating your tool path to ensure the tools blade starts and ends on each cut in the same orientation.
If you want to cut sharp corners, or do not wish to worry about blade orientation at the beginning and end of each cut, you will need a CNC software / CAM package that offers drag knife tool path capabilities with corner actions. SheetCAM offers offset compensation as well making it possible to cut details smaller than the tools offset and as a result produces greater precision in your finished part.
No special software is required if you do not need or require sharp corners in your cuts. If you round off or fillet all the corners on the part you intend to cut, you can simply treat the Drag Knife as an engraving tool and cut on your vector/line. Care must be taken when creating your tool path to ensure the tools blade starts and ends on each cut in the same orientation.
If you want to cut sharp corners, or do not wish to worry about blade orientation at the beginning and end of each cut, you will need a CNC software / CAM package that offers drag knife tool path capabilities with corner actions. SheetCAM offers offset compensation as well making it possible to cut details smaller than the tools offset and as a result produces greater precision in your finished part.
