I search for an answer, but...

[Jacobsonr]

I just purchashed a ShopBot Desktop D2418 for my school lab. I have been practice cutting parts and setting the depth to .76 for 3/4 pine. the problem is that is does not cut all the way through. Is my bit incorrect? is the z zeroing tool not zeroing correctly? any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob

[Gary Campbell]

Robby...
Can you post the file from partworks? (unless it contains copyrighted materials) If posted, we will be able to diagnose.

[paul_z]

Rob,

You will find that nominal 3/4" wood is just that -- nominal. Check the thickness will calipers and you will get the true thickness (which will vary slightly across and along the piece).

Plywood also varies significantly. Considering how it is made, I am surprised that it is as uniform as it is.

A reasonable strategy to overcome this is to use the bot to presurface the board.

Also consider the difference between ZZero at the bottom of the material and ZZero at the top.

Paul Z

[David White]

You could also try to zero your tool from the bed of the bot .This will eliminate the nominal thickens problem.

Good luck Dave

[bleeth]

When zeroing from material top if I have (for example) .75 material I have found that .751 is rarely sufficient overcut to go through. For a desktop after using the calipers at a few locations on the material I would add more like .03. Getting the true thickness of your plate is also critical. For a desktop I would make a fixed zero plate as discussed elsewhere. If it were at your table base you can then make a modified z zero routine that allows you to enter an offset variable for material (spoilboard thickness for zero to table and spoilboard plus material to be cut for sero at top of material).
I think Gary has one already, among others.

[Jacobsonr]

The file I have been testing with is Vectric free project of the month.http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/projects/august-2011/photo-frame.htm
I ran the file as is without modifications.

[Gary Campbell]

Robby...
I would now suggest that you verify that your bit is zeroed to the top of the material. Zero as normal. When complete, type in MZ,0 to confirm that the bit is actually touching the surface where zeroed. (or is VERY close)

Then open your file, > toolpath tab Select the material setup icon (top left) and verify that your material thickness in the file is the same as what you measured your blank at. Verify also that "zero to top" is checked.

[curtiss]

I often set my final cut out depth at 1.000 inch.

From there, I measure the material thickness with the depth gauge on the calipers at several places and make my final adjustment at the z prompt before sending the file to cut. ...say .80 for something that measures .76

Once you get that new spoil board cut up a bit it doesn't hurt so much....

[Jacobsonr]

Thanks for all the tips. I checked the wood with my caliber and checked my Z's zero. Both were slightly off. I set the depth to acommidate and adjusted the zero. I ran the file again, a lot better.
Thanks again,
Robby