Probably A Dumb Question!

[Braden]

I have been very sidetracked lately and my new to me shopbot has become just a table in the shop! I wanted to finally get it going today and try to break some of the learning curve but I am stumped!

I have the newest version of Aspire and shopbot3, my issue is that I create a file in aspire and go to load it into the shopbot software and I get errors that the command cant be completed. Am I missing a step to go from Aspire to shopbot's software? I also tried exporting as an eps and loading that, but with no luck.

Any advice/help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[Ajcoholic]

In Aspire, are you saving the file with the correct shopbot extension?

WHen you save your file, you have to select the "shopbot" file in either inches or mm, and there are several of each (some for the auto tool changer, some to control the spindle speed, etc).

AJC

[myxpykalix]

As with any program you save your project as a native format to the program but you have to save the toolpaths that you make with the program, the .sbp files. That is what you call up and run with the shopbot3 control program.

It sounds to me like you are trying to load your completed file (the eps, or the aspire format file) and that is not what you load into the shopbot control pgm.

Do you know how to make toolpaths? I'm sure there are tutorials for toolpath generation and the resulting toolpath is what you run in the shopbot3 pgm, the .sbp file:eek:

[adrianm]

Go through the tutorials on the dvd. You're missing some pretty fundamental steps and you're heading for a lot of frustration unless you get the concepts clear in your head.

[Braden]

Go through the tutorials on the dvd. You're missing some pretty fundamental steps and you're heading for a lot of frustration unless you get the concepts clear in your head.

That's an understatement! I thought I'd be smart buying a used bot but I am quickly realizing how valuable the information that comes with a new machine is! I kind of thought it would be like running my lasers but now I know how much they've spoiled me!

Thank you to everyone for the help, I am going to search around for the tutorials now. If anyone is ever in the Boulder, CO area and wants to do some training let me know, I would gladly pay for the help!

Thanks again!

[cowboy1296]

I am in south central colorado and any of my training (trust me i can teach you all of my bad habits) is free.

[Brady Watson]

Thank you to everyone for the help, I am going to search around for the tutorials now. If anyone is ever in the Boulder, CO area and wants to do some training let me know...

Some days I wish I was still in Nederland :D

If you don't already have PartWorks, call SB to ask about how much it costs to upgrade to the latest version.

If you already have it, I highly advise going through their excellent help file in the program. Read it from top to bottom while you discover what all the tools do. It's a great place to start.

Running the machine is pretty simple after you run a part successfully for the first time. If you can link up with someone locally or take a little road trip to someone's shop, it will really help you out just to get going.

-B

[adrianm]

Braden, if you haven't already found it the Vectric support site (http://support.vectric.com) is a great place to look for advise when starting out with Aspire as well.