Toolpath Distortion

This tool allows the user to distort selected hatch or island fill toolpaths.  The amount of distortion can range from very subtle changes to changes that totally alter the look of the toolpaths.  The type and amount of distortion is controlled by the variables available to the user.  The purpose of allowing toolpaths to be altered is that it provides a very quick and simple way to introduce a more custom look to a surface.  This is particularly useful with toolpaths on a relief surface.  On these types of surfaces it can often be attractive to have a more "hand-carved" look to the surface.  Toolpath distortion allows you to create a smooth surface and then introduce this effect to the toolpaths right before sending the job to the CNC machine to be cut. 

The parameters are explained as follows.

Wavelength - This controls how the distortion and jitter are distributed around the toolpaths.  A short wavelength tends to create contours that are rougher.  Longer wavelengths help make the distortion more gentle.

Jitter - This determines the amount of roughness, or localized distortion, on the selected toolpaths.  Larger jitter values will increase the amount of roughness of the surface.  If jitter is 0.00, the toolpath is still distorted, but the distortion will be smoother.

Horizontal Amplitude - This controls the size of the horizontal distortion (Top View) of the toolpaths.  Larger values will create more large-scale distortions of the toolpaths.

Vertical Amplitude - This controls the size of the vertical distortion of the toolpaths.  Small vertical distortion, along with horizontal distortion can create a very attractive finished effect.