Pre-programmed Start-Up / Air-Test Routine?

[gerryv]

Hi, I'm trying to get my nerve up to fire up my Buddy 32 Standard for the first time and am wondering if there is a built-in or downloadable program that would allow me to run the machine through a pre-set routine to make sure everything, especially the steppers/controllers are functional and doing what they should be doing? Even better if it has a self-verification capability.

Because of some disabilities from a train crash, I'm hoping not to get only the "don't worry it's easy to figure out" responses that were common on some of the metal mill & lathe sites, which is why I'm trying to convert to Shopbot :-)

Thanks kindly in advance,
Gerry

[myxpykalix]

I understand your "anxst" in the beginning.

Do you have the limit switches on your model? If so the first thing you can do is type C3 and have it locate your 0,0 point on your table

There are some preset routines one of which is your tabletop surfacer. I don't have my laptop in here to tell you the buttons to push for it but the manual should guide you. Make a file for surfacing the table (WITH NO BIT IN) and just watch how it moves.
It will start in the center and make progressively larger squares to surface the table.(Went outside)
In control software go to Tools/Tabletop Surfacer or type TU then follow that for the size of your table and make a file for a starter and let us know how it goes.
Also start out with your Z at a high point so that if for some reason it wants to go deep you will have time to stop it before it hits anything. hope that helps...

[GlenP]

Hi Gerald, if you would like I would be willing to come down on the weekend and help you with starting up the buddy and doing some air and test cuts. I could bring down some files I have cut and help you in anyway I can. Let me know how I can help you out.
Take Care and hope to hear from you soon.
Glen

[dana_swift]

Gerald- what I did was run the bot without even the router installed just to see it move.

If you turn on the bot, wait a moment and hit reset, you can type in: "Z3" that tells the machine it is at 0,0,0. (wherever in the air it happens to be) Now you can give it commands to move relative to that point.

Then you can use "K" command. That brings up the keypad, so you can use the arrow keys to move the gantry around. Watch the displays. When the display says the router moved 10 inches, does it even look reasonable? The arrow keys are the X and Y axes so you cant hit anything that should hurt it. If the limit switches are installed you can check to see if they work.

The page up and down keys will move the Z axis. If it seems to be working reasonably, then branch out. Hit the escape key to get back to the command mode.

Now type "M3 0,0,0" and the gantry should return to where you zeroed it.

The adrenaline should start wearing off about this time. Try "MX 10" to move the gantry in the X axis exactly 10 inches. Check it with a ruler. Then use "MY 10" to do the same thing in Y. No surprise MZ moves it up and down.

Mount the router if you haven't already and learn how to use the C2 command to zero the Z axis. Be sure to hook up the ZZero plate and alligator clip to the bit. That is going to be needed for everything you do.

Try powering up the machine and SB3 program a few times until you get accustomed to how that goes. Switch from preview to move/cut and back. Just feel it out.

And look in the menus. Everything is there. Its in the manual too, but who reads those? (at least prior to breaking something?)

There is a lot to learn. This forum is full of friends, I remember those first moves myself and just having this big three ring notebook and much anxiety. If you have a botter living nearby they will almost certainly be happy to stop by and help you out. I would, but its a long walk from Oklahoma to Canada!

Good luck-

D

[gerryv]

Thanks much fellas; this will help a lot. I'll just print these and hang them and some pages out of the manual on a rail like a short order cook does so I can scan them as needed. It actually works better than anything else I've found so far.

I still need to figure out where to hook up the sensor under the table. It was disconnected when the mod. was made for the Powerstick. Glen is also going to come by and keep his hand on the big red button so that's great too.

-Tks, Gerry

[GlenP]

Can't wait to come down and get you going Gerry. I also want to see a buddy machine. Don't worry you will start making sawdust and then you will never get it off your mind. If you are like me everything you look at you will try to figure out how to cut it on your bot. Take Care Buddy (no pun intended)