Export from eCabinets

[Keith Larrett]

This may be a long shot, but is it possible to export from eCabinets and import into Aspire? I would like to cut out my drawer boxes in Aspire. The tabs in eCabinets/ShopBot link don't work very well and I'm tired of losing parts.

[Tim Lucas]

Keith,

I don't see a way to export a drawer box but I struggle with 3D stuff. I thought you have vacuum hold down, they wont hold?
I cut my drawer boxes from plywood most of the time and don't use tabs at all just vacuum.

I also cut items from hard wood and don't use tabs there either.

Tim

[Gary Campbell]

Keith...
I am with Tim, cut eCabs draw boxes often, never used tabs. On small draw boxes I nested 1/2 sheets with vacuum restricted to 2 zones.

[Keith Larrett]

Thanks for the replies Tim and Gary. I'm using tabs and vacuum and am still losing the occasional piece. It seems to be worse with the pieces on the outer edge of the sheet. It also sometimes has a ripple effect. A piece will loosen and while the router chews through it that piece knocks the next piece loose.

I've been cutting the drawer boxes last and sometimes the spoil board is pretty torn up by the time I've finished cutting all the cabinets. Maybe if I were to cut the drawer boxes first with a fresh spoil board I would have better luck.

What size bit are you using? Feed speed? Maybe I'm cutting to aggressive on the small parts. I use the same settings as when cutting the cabinet parts. 3/8" compression bit for outline cuts. 270 ipm. First pass just off the line leaving onion skin. Second pass in opposite direction on the line all the way through.

I don't do drawer boxes that often as most of my projects have been bookcases, but I'm busy with a kitchen at the moment.

[Tim Lucas]

I have a router so cant cut as fast - using a 1/4" comp at 210 ipm 3 pass in 5/8" ply no skin last pass reverse

maybe if you set it up for 2 pass then cleanup and I would stay on the line mine come out nice

[Gary Campbell]

Keith..
I ran the same machine as you do, but cut most larger parts at 400, slowed to 200 under 150 sqin. If I were you I would look for inefficiencies (leaks, poor flow etc) in your vac system. With your pump you should not lose parts.

[Keith Larrett]

Thanks for the feedback Gary and Tim. I will do some experimenting and check my vacuum system for any inefficiencies.


but cut most larger parts at 400, slowed to 200 under 150 sqin.

400. Wow. I had a feeling I was being pretty conservative at 270, didn't realize how conservative. I will experiment with a higher feed rate.

Thanks again.

[Gary Campbell]

Keith...
Don't get the impression that it doesn't take some work to achieve those feedrates. You have to find the limiting factors one at a time and improve them. Simply setting a higher feedrate is a recipe for disaster. Changes to SB ramp settings, SBLink settings, bit mfgr's and diameter, material brand all play a part in the process.