New Shopbot ready for its maiden voyage

[sc.crab]

Just fixing to glue down the last sheet of MDF and hope to have it all ready to test out this weekend. If anyone has any helpful info on what to look out for or anything not to do will be helpful this is my first cnc so i am about as dumb as a doorknob and scared that I might mess up from the get go.
The machine is a PRSstandard 96-48 if this helps.
Thanks Johnny

[cip]

If you haven't already done so take the training class that ShopBot offers.

[Joe Porter]

Johnny, I would make sure my Feed and Speed's are not too high, and that you have proper Z clearance to move about the table without hitting anything with the tool bit. Just take your time and study the toolpath in the preview in the software, then make sure you zero your X and Y on the table to what you said it should be in PartWorks. Also, make sure your material is held down properly. I would practice how to find the emergency stop and stay close to it. On my machine, the "S" key on the keyboard gently brings the router to a safe height and stops moving. I always keep my finger poised over that key when I first start. I have been doing this for 5years, and am still learning, but one thing I learned early on, is not to take any short-cuts and nothing for granted. By the way, have fun!!! joe

[billp]

Do your first few cuts in styrofoam until you are sure of what you are doing....

[coryatjohn]

Make sure your cables are absolutely secure and in no danger of being snagged on ANYTHING!

Don't lean on the rail while the machine is moving...

[gc3]

I say dive in head first, break a few bits...you'll learn real fast what not to do.

Practice smacking the emergency stop button with machine off!

[Brian Harnett]

You will mess up, after ten years I still get stupid and forget to set my bit zero when changing files though I can hit the stop button rivaling the speed of light by now.

As said, practice in some insulation foam and get the hang of it.

[myxpykalix]

Take some duct tape and tape the Estop to the palm of your hand because I want you to mark my words here.....you will have to hit that button within the first five minutes of starting your use.:eek:

[Simops]

Wasn't that long ago that I did my first cut....Its not as scary as some make out though as long as you take it slow and make sure that when the pop-ups come up you read them and not just hit enter. My bigger mistake was not turning on the spindle even though the pop-up said so....obviously I just hit enter without checking it was on:eek:

Have fun.....

[tlempicke]

All good advice. What I would ad is to, just before starting the movement of the tool, develop your own mental checklist and USE IT EVERY TIME.

Probably the biggest mistakes you are going to make will be with decimal points and zeros. We all do it! In a hurry you just want to shave off 1/16 so you enter .63 instead of .063. this puts the bit over a half inch further down and probably in to your table.

Another item is the language of tool paths. Stepover isn't part of a dance routine, and it makes perfect sense once your are using it, but can be confusing. Come to this forum for answers.

[chiloquinruss]

"decimal points and zeros." Amen! :D Russ

[gene]

Ah , just think , in a few days you will be posting " i just broke my first bit " kind of like cutting your baby teeth:) so many memories

[coryatjohn]

Ah , just think , in a few days you will be posting " i just broke my first bit " kind of like cutting your baby teeth:) so many memories

I think I learned more by breaking my first bit than I did the previous two months of pouring over written material. Getting into the down and dirty of the machine, breaking some bits and wrecking some material is the best teacher.

Then you'll do your first project where everything works. Great feeling! Amazing capability.

[jTr]

Here's what I wish I knew way before I finally figured it out or found the answer here:

- Immediately look into adjusting your VR settings - I couldn't believe how my new machine slammed and vibrated after executing 90 degree turns. If you do not, it is almost predictable that you'll be posting a question and photos of how rough the corners are after you surface that new table. Read page 42 of the manual as well as Brady Watson's web article on this topic.
- Be sure to snap your collets positively into the nut if you are using a spindle. They will hold a bit otherwise, but I was just plain lucky I didn't do any damage to the machine or myself running them the wrong way for months on end.

There are numerous super-simple things you'll likely be asking "why is that not documented somewhere???"

As everyone else has stated, just get going - ask for help here, as well as ShopBot support.

You will find yourself quite thrilled as you head down the path of this new way of manufacturing. Your successes will far outweigh any short term frustrations. You likely had grand visions and big ideas about what you could do if you bought a ShopBot - just wait until you get going!!

jeff

[sc.crab]

Thanks for all the great info and I'm sure after next week I will have a ton of questions. I met TJ at Mcgrews camp and learned alot from him and I have been reading post on here for about a year now so I think I'm prepared for all the mistakes I know I will make.
Thanks everyone for all the help, Johnny

[sc.crab]

I was able to cut the shopbot logo and a couple with my name but the problem Im having is every time I go to cut I get a message saying (limit switch hits) I also get ( run time error (5) what am I doing wrong?

[jerry_stanek]

Are you sure you have the correct switches checked under the VN comand

[coryatjohn]

I was able to cut the shopbot logo and a couple with my name but the problem Im having is every time I go to cut I get a message saying (limit switch hits) I also get ( run time error (5) what am I doing wrong?

I suggest making sure your table and all moving parts are securely grounded. Double check that your limit proximity switch LED's are on.

[sc.crab]

I turned off the limits and everything is working fine.

[Keyco Wood]

Ahhh, like some one else having a baby. Hope it turns out as good as yours. Listen to the forum and may the force b with u.

[jerry_stanek]

you may want to turn them back on and select nrm closed for switches 2&3 see if that helps. That way you will be able to c3 to zero your X Y axis and always have a good reference point when doing a cut you can always get back to the same point doing the c3.

[lutchman]

hey, use the old rule of thumb, measure twice and cut once...with shopbots its check your files twice and cut once...the guys here are very helpful and anything you need to know, just ask...good luck, i sooooo envy you..lol....cant wait till i get my own shopbot....:)

[sc.crab]

you may want to turn them back on and select nrm closed for switches 2&3 see if that helps. That way you will be able to c3 to zero your X Y axis and always have a good reference point when doing a cut you can always get back to the same point doing the c3.

Thanks. I will try that this afternoon I have been cutting all morning now and that has been the only problem so far. I hate to stop and change anything right now I'm having to much fun.

[curtiss]

A few tips

It's a bummer after you c3 and are ready to c2... that you hit c3 again...

After doing that a few times, I put a red mark on the 2 key.

There are some merits in using all four quadrants / having the middle of the material at the 0,0 point. Difficult to start in the wrong place then.

If you break a small bit, the bit will likely stay in the groove, if you forget to remove it.. the next small bit breaks at the same place again...:)

[Bob Eustace]

Reckon we have all been there Curtis!