At a Glance

Sharp corner fills can be produced using a 3D engrave cleaning pass. This feature enhances precision by allowing the toolpath to extend into tight internal corners, removing the rounded edges left by standard end mills. It can be applied to any fill-type toolpath, including Island, Hatch, or Spiral fills.

Parameters

• Fill Toolpath Type – Select a fill type such as Island, Hatch, or Spiral to define the base cutting pattern.
• Tool Setup –
  • Primary Tool – Used for the main roughing or fill pass.
  • Fine Tool – Optional smaller tool for tighter areas or fine detail cleanup.
  • Cleaning Tool – Typically a V-bit or similar pointed tool used for the cleaning pass.
• 3D Clean Option – Enables the engrave cleaning pass, allowing the tool to follow the shape into corners to create sharp points.
• Toolpath Visualization (F9) – Displays toolpath widths to help evaluate tool coverage and corner geometry.

Overview

In standard fill operations, the tool’s radius limits how sharply it can cut internal corners. This results in slightly rounded features wherever the cutter cannot physically reach. To overcome this, Ibex provides a 3D engrave cleaning pass, which allows the tool to extend into these areas, generating sharp, defined corners.

Begin by creating your desired fill toolpath—such as an Island, Hatch, or Spiral fill—using your preferred settings and tool sizes. Once the initial fill is generated, you can refine the result by assigning one or more additional tools:

• A fine tool (e.g., a smaller end mill) can remove remaining material in tight spaces.
• A cleaning tool, typically a V-bit, can be used to reach into the corners.

Enable the 3D Clean option in the cleaning pass settings. This option instructs Ibex to generate additional tool motion that follows the corner geometry upward to its point, effectively removing the radius left by the larger tools.

When visualized (via View > Toolpath Width or the F9 shortcut), you’ll notice the main fill pass is offset slightly inward, while the cleaning pass traces around the contour and extends into each corner. This layered approach provides both efficient material removal and detailed finishing.

Using a 3D cleaning pass results in noticeably sharper, more accurate corner detail. It’s particularly useful for engraved features, decorative elements, or any operation where precise internal corners are required.