What should you do if RDWorksV8 cannot perform rotary cutting?

What should I do if I am unable to perform rotary cutting when using RDWorksV8 for machining? Follow the following methods to troubleshoot and resolve:

1. Disable Rotary Engraving Function
Rotary engraving is typically used for engraving on the surface of a rotating object, not for cutting. When performing rotary cutting, the rotary engraving function must be turned off, as the software will mistakenly treat the process as engraving instead of cutting. To disable rotary engraving, you can turn off the "Rotary Engraving" option in the layer settings of RDWorksV8. This ensures that the laser cutter processes the cutting command correctly.

2. Set the "Pen Up" Function in Advanced Layer Settings
In RDWorksV8, layer settings allow you to define different "Pen Up" behaviors for each cutting operation. When performing rotary cutting, the "Pen Up" function ensures that the laser head moves along the designated path without interference. To avoid disrupting the cutting process, enable the "Pen Up" function in the advanced layer settings, and set a specific U-axis (rotary axis) pre-movement distance. This distance should be adjusted according to the size of your workpiece to ensure that the laser head does not interfere with the rotation of the rotary axis.

3. Adjust U-axis Stepper Settings
For precise rotary cutting, the U-axis (rotary axis) stepper settings should be adjusted. The step size refers to the distance the U-axis moves for each full rotation. Ideally, the U-axis step size should be set to 360mm per full rotation to ensure even rotation throughout the cutting process. This setting can be found in the U-axis configuration within RDWorksV8 and should be adjusted according to the specific requirements of your equipment.

4. Select the Correct Cutting Mode
When performing rotary cutting, it’s important to choose the correct cutting mode. The cutting mode should be set to "Rotary Cutting" rather than "Rotary Engraving," as the rotary engraving mode causes the X, Y, and U axes to move in coordination, typically for engraving tasks. In rotary cutting mode, only the X and Y axes perform cutting movements, while the U-axis simply rotates. This ensures that the rotary axis (U-axis) does not need to move in sync with the X and Y axes, preventing misalignment during the process.