CNC Router - WHHSFTC/1718RobotDesign GitHub Wiki

This is a guide on the operation of the CNC Router. However, IF YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO OPERATE THE CNC ROUTER (HAVEN'T TAKEN THE CLASS OR ARE NOT SIXTEEN YEARS OLD) READING THIS DOES NOT QUALIFY YOU. For your own safety and the safety of others do not attempt to operate the Router without proper training.

Steps 1-3 only have to be completed once.

1. Turn on the machine. This step has a few components. First, on the back of the machine, there is a large metal on/off switch. Switch it to the on position. Next, find the two boxes beneath the router. On the box on the right press the green start button.

2. Wake Router Up. First press the "Soft Limits" button (RED) and then press the Reset button (DARK BLUE). Next Press REF ALL HOME (Light Blue). The router will start to move, it will go up as high as far as it can go, and then as far towards the computer and to the left as it can go. Don't worry about stopping it, it will stop itself.

3. Warm Up Spindle. This step is not necessary if the router has been used previously in the day. Begin by checking the spindle. If there is a bit/tool already in it, tighten it with the wrenches. If there is not a tool, remove the collar and temporarily set it aside. Begin by pressing "Load G-Code" (ORANGE). At this point you should see incoherent letters and numbers (that's G-Code) show up in the GREEN area. If there is already code there, press Close G-Code before loading the G-code. Once you have pressed Load G-Code it will ask you to select a file. Go to Desktop, and select "Warmup Spindle." The make sure the spindle is clear, and press Cycle Start (Purple).

Steps 4 and 5 must be completed for each toolpath you wish to do.

4. Add Tool. Next you will want to attach the tool you will us. Find a collet that fits the tool, place the tool in the collet, place the collet on the spindle, and place the collar over that. Then tighten the collar so it is "monkey tight, not gorilla tight." Additional information on tools can be found below.

5. Zero Router. The final part of step two allowed the router to zero to its own zero point, but since the wood that is cut does not start at the routers zero point, you must set the zero point of the wood. Begin by moving the spindle over the wood, where you want the job to start. Then press "zero x" and "zero y" (RED). This tells the router that the point that it was at when you pressed zero x and zero y is the bottom left hand corner of the cut as it is in VCarve. Next you have to zero the y. Take the metal plate with an aux jack at the end and plug it into the female jack in the router itself (there is only one place where it will actually fit). Then either 1) place the bar on the bed if in VCarve you zeroed to the bottom) or 2)place the bar on top of the material if you zeroed to the top. Then press "Auto Tool Zero."(GREEN) If the machine hits the plate and does not immediately go back up be ready to press the large Red Reset button. However, if nothing goes wrong do not press anything or touch the router until it comes to a complete stop.

6. Load G-Code. Finally Load the G-Code for your cut and press "cycle start."

A FEW OTHER TIPS

Begin by drilling holes, the doing the cut-out with the mill. Before you start cutting make sure the tool you are using is not bent. You can do this by placing it in the spindle and spinning it with your hands.

TOOLS

End Mills- use and end mill for cutting edges and large holes (too large for a drill bit). When using and end mill it must be the same diameter as the one selected when creating toolpaths in VCarve. Also the end mills are very expensive, so please treat it well.

Drill Bits- To use a drill bit use the drill truck in the drawer. It works like any other drill truck. The find a collet that fits the truck and insert like any other tool. Because the truck is so heavy, it can only spin at 1200 rpm, so make sure to adjust that in VCarve. Unlike the end mill, it does not matter what size drill bit you selected in VCarve or the size of the hole in VCarve, the size of the hole in your wood will be size of the drill bit you select. For example, if you have a VCarve file with a hole that is .25" diameter, and the tool you select when writing the toolpath is a .5" drill bit, but when you go to cut the wood you use a .125" drill bit, the hole on your wood will be .125" no matter what.