ruffrecords said:
How do you set X0 Y0 Z0 for each pass?
It depends, I think the best is to explain my whole workflow:
When doing half a panel I divide it in two processes; cutting and engraving.
I place the workpiece in the table over a sacrifical board, clamp it and be sure it will not slip (I HATE when a work is ruined cause my bad clamping).
After that I take the desired bit and fit it in the spindle, out of the workzone and with the whole machine turned off. In this step I check if there's enough clearance between the spindle collet to avoid possible obstacles like screws holding the piece or such, if possible, sometimes you just have to avoid them in programming step.
Then I move manually the X & Y axis to piece X0 Y0 and lastly Z axis, then I do some readjustment to get it right. At this point I turn on the machine but not the spindle, as the bit is touching the material (well, if it's a pcb or a piece which is not gonna be shown I don't care to turn the spindle on and mark the material a little) and set the three axis to zero in the software (Mach3 in my case)
Then I get Z axis some mm over the piece and start the spindle, and run the cutting program.
After that I move the X & Y axis, this time using a software order to 0, and Z to 3mm over the workpiece, just for safety be sure you move Z axis first of all if your program doesn't finish with Z over the workpiece, which is pretty usual.
I turn off the whole machine and change the tool, moving manually the Z axis, after that I set again Z axis to zero manualy and then do it in software. start the spindle and run the program.
Finally I unclamp the piece and I have half a nice front panel. Then I start again with the second part, taking the zero from the opposite corner you took it the first time. Second part is usually shorter than first one.
Keep in mind for this you have to split the design in two parts and then turn one 180º in CAM step, once you're used to it's easy.
Also, looking at the design and construction of the machine, extending the Y travel to 500mm. shouldn't be so hard or expensive, just replace the trapezoidal screw, linear guides and L shaped aluminium extrussions (this part will be better and cheaper with steel or iron I think), the only problematic part is the T slot table. Not so crazy mod for the usefulness you achieve.
ruffrecords said:
Did you upgrade the power supply or use the one in the controller? Mine is the type with the huge toroid transformer and a couple of PCBs.
Cheers
Ian
Yes, I had to buy a pair of SMPS, one 48V for the spindle and one 24 V for the drivers, took out the Toroid and power supply / spindle controller pcb and mounted the SMPS's instead.
I discovered one important thing about machining successfully is the tooling, making jigs for the pieces you usually do and get a nice and fast way to clamp and set to absolute zero your pieces. then is just change pieces and readjust Z axis...
Did you try to make Pcb's? I found it quite harder/frustrating than panel making...