ecabinets link

[kg4mon]

A little background before I get to my questions. I started building cabinets in 1998. In 2002 I bought a thermwood cnc router cs40 and run ecabinets. Had the thermwood until around 5 years ago when I sold the thermwood and bought a shopbot. I thought I was going to have to move to a smaller sq ft shop and didn't have the room. The thermwood took up alot of space. I've been using mastercam for my cabinets for the last 5 years or so. I have files for all of my cabinet sides and only have to draw rectangle parts for the decks and so on. Fairly quick. I have been thinking of getting the shopbot link since it came out. I have a Huge!! and I do mean HUGE !! job coming up on wednesday the 27th. I still draw everything for the customer using ecabs. Here's my questions: Can I get the link set up and running by next wed. without any problems? Will someone at shopbot , walk me thru all of the settings? I have a prs alpha with a single 4hp spindle no tool changer. How does it handle the tool changes? I use a 5mm, .25 compression, and .375 compression.

[ken_rychlik]

Having been there and done that, I would suggest you not put it into play on this short of notice. There WILL be bugs and issues to iron out. This would be best done on a non important, non time pressed job with cheap materials.

[dlcw]

Rick,

The person to contact is Gary Campbell at Shopbot. I don't know his schedule but you could ask him if he could make an emergency visit to your shop to help you get up and running.

Just a thought.

[kg4mon]

Another question about the link. If someone can answer it. How do you handle tool changes? Does the link output a file for each tool, or does it do one big file with a pause for a tool change and measure. Mastercam will automatically makes one big file then I go back in the code and insert code in where I need a tool change. Like this.

SO,1,0
J3,6,6,4
C2
JH
SO,1,1
PAUSED 5

[zeykr]

It will do a manual tool change (MTC). Toolpath is all in one file and calls a Custom cut for a tool change (C9) where the machine will move to a designated spot, wait for you to change the tool, then move to a designated position to zero the tool, then continue the toolpath.

This is one of the parts that takes some setting up for your machine and preferences and would probably best not be done under a tight deadline.

Shopbot provided files for MTC are under c:\sbparts\custom\MTC
there have been several other versions of MTC floating around in the past also.

Gary Campbell put out a CD on setting up and using the link that will significantly cut down on the time required to get it setup and running the way you want it.

Knowing Ecabs you're past much of the learning curve, but the link has some setup quirks that may not be obvious and will take a little time to master. The CD makes it much shorter!

There is also a MTC post processor in the Vectric products that will allow toolpaths with multiple tools using this same tool change method.

[zeykr]

Garys column here may be of interest:

http://www.shopbotblog.com/index.php/2009/06/the-shopbot-%E2%80%9Cvirtual%E2%80%9D-toolchanger/

[kg4mon]

Thank you that was what I was hoping for. Yeah, I've been using ecabs for a very long time. I used it when is was in beta form. I've had it since it first came out and have used it everyday since then. I don't think I will have a problem since I'm familiar with thermwood stuff and ecabs. Think I will call shopbot in the morning. Thanks

[dlcw]

Rick,

SBLink outputs everything into 1 file. If you set things up correctly in SBLink, it will do manual tool change operations. There is a file that is provided with the Shopbot control software for doing manual tool changes.

I've got files set up on my control PC now that have automated much of the operation of moving the spindle to a location convenient for tool changes then jumping the the zero plate I have installed on the table to re-zero the Z, then jump right back in to cutting. It did require my having to do some programming to get it to work for my machine. If you don't fully understand the code and programming used in control files, then this is not an area I'd jump into for a big job. Took me about 2 weeks, a lot of late nights, a lot of grey hair and a lot of help from Gary Campbell (before he worked for Shopbot), to get this functional.

This is where it is HIGHLY ADVISABLE to get someone from Shopbot to your shop to get this set up and operational. It can go smoothly or be a PITA . In my case it was a big PITA. Took awhile to get things smoothed out and having the spindle jump to the right locations to make the tool change and then another location to re-zero the bit automatically.

If I were to do it again, I would pay to have someone of Gary's caliber in my shop to help get this working quickly and reliably.

[zeykr]

Link DVD:

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showpost.php?p=136237&postcount=7

[kg4mon]

I ordered my link this morning from thermwood. Stupid question: I was reading the manual on the link but either skipped over it or it doesn't say. I'm assuming this will install on my control computer not my design computer. correct?

[zeykr]

Yes, it's on control computer.

[dlcw]

You can also install it on your design computer and see how things will work. It will not put out complete code to run but you can at least how things will be nested.

[kg4mon]

Ok, I've got my elink and its installed and I've went thru the settings and tooling. How do I set up the MTC ? I called shopbot but nobody was there that could help me. Ryan and Gary are gone. Frank was very nice and helped some. I got a (error setting up for tool change ATC 58) So I'm assuming that it doesn't know that mine is MTC. Also no command for turn spindle on. I'm assuming I need to add a header. Can someone help. Thanks

If someone would like to share their settings for the MTC change and headers to get me going I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

[kg4mon]

Ok got hold of David at shopbot and he helped alot. Thanks David. I had upgraded to the new version of the control software and it wiped all of my settings and thought the machine had a ATC. We got it straighten out and I've actually run a couple of test pieces. Seems to be working but have a few settings that need to be tweaked. Biggest question I have now is how do I get it to move to a certain spot for tool change? Say x6,y6,z4 and then restart cutting. Right now it wants to do tool change wherever it stops cutting, could be in the middle of the table, hard to reach there. If I do tool change where it stops it will automatically start back, If I move with keypad to desired location for tool change I have to manually put the start button. Any thoughts?

[kg4mon]

Another question? Where does it store the cut file that the link produces? If I nest 30 sheets and only cut 10 that day where is the other 20 located? Can I restart the following day at sheet 11?

[garyc]

Rick...
I am in New Mexico on a service call, I will try to get you going from here. Your questions first.

Use the ShopBot Setup [T][S] to set the location and "yes" for a specific zero location. Remember, SB Link files must be zeroed to the bed. They will not work when zero is top of material. You must have an off cutting surface zero location to enable manual tool changes with the Link.

The cuttng file that the Link produces is a volatile (temporary) encrypted file. If you need to stop, just stop. Leave the machine and computer running and take up where you left off the prior day. This may work for you, but wasnt perfect in my experience.

You could shut down between sheets, restart and rezero the next day, nest in the same direction as yesterday then start with the next sheet in line. The sheets may be cut in any order you choose.

I am ataching a couple docs that may help you with the file mods, header and footer additions. If you have problems, I have a modified MTC file that works with the Link, but need to access it from my work computer.

[kg4mon]

Thank you so much Gary for responding. Is there a setting that I need to do or does it automatically assume I'm measuring from the spoil board. I did a couple of air cuts today but measured from top of material. It looked ok but was going to test run on some scrap tomorrow.

[kg4mon]

Sorry Gary. Should have read the PDF before responding. Just excited to have some help I guess.

[kg4mon]

Well, I made the changes that Gary recommended and change the MTC code like the pdf said. I fixed a location off material to zero tool to spoil bed. I ran the first part on some scrap material. Drill 5mm shelf holes. Was drilling too deep and the transitioning between holes was about .400 deep into the material cutting a groove between holes. Anybody have any thoughts? I went back and undone everything and measured from the top of the material and it works fine. What did I do wrong?

[garyc]

Rick...
It sounds like:
The &zshift variable is not being applied correctly
Have you placed "&zero_to_bed = 1" in your header?
Have you set your drill offset using ShopBot Setup? [T][S]
Is the tool number used for the drill bit #'s 31 thru 39?

[kg4mon]

I don't have a drill just a single 4hp spindle. Do I still have to have a offset? I didn't know about the header. That's probably the problem. Tool number are set 1,2,3 etc

[garyc]

Rick...
Sorry, I thought you were using a drill head. No offsets are required.

Try adding the variable and see how it works from there. I should be back at SB HQ late tomorrow afternoon. Give me a call if you dont have it working.

[kg4mon]

Thanks Gary. I will. I may get a video from you as well if you still have some. Might be helpful. I still have questions.