mjindustry
01-11-2009, 03:04 PM
Hi,
I purchased a used PRT Standard 96 with PC router a few months ago. It was originally purchased from shopbot in 2006 by a custom speaker box outfit. They used it frequently for cutting rectangles and circles out of mdf. It has not had any upgrades as of yet.
My biggest problem so far since setting up the bot has been accuracy. It seems like it if it isn't the X or the Y, it's the Z. One minute you think you have X and Y under control, but the Z is doing goofy things like cutting too deep or not deep enough. Then, I was pretty sure I had the X and Y tuned in perfect but ran a more complex vcarve file (but still very light duty for the router) and it goes way off track. X and Y seem to work pretty good and maintain accuracy when cutting rectangle profiles (albeit at very slow ips rates, plunge rates, etc). Then, when I load a little more complex design it loses it's position, even under light duty tasks. For instance, I tried to just lightly engrave (.1" depth) a little more complex path with a brand new vbit and it goes way off coarse every time. (up to like 2 inches off coarse)
I have spent countless hours troubleshooting, searching and reading the shopbot forum. Testing, cutting, testing, air cutting. Checking pinion for tightness. Grounding, un-grounding. 3 Different computers. Believe me when I say I have pretty much tried all of the usual suspects to get this thing to do things accurately, but no avail. I'm to the point where I don't want to troubleshoot anymore, and am willing to spend money to make things better!
See, when I purchased this thing for $5500 (around half of a new PRS) I knew that some things, if not all moving things would be worn out because of the heavy use that was stated by the previous owner. I knew this going in, my expectations were very low. I was prepared to pretty much completely purchase and replace all moving parts. Now, I just want to do it in the correct order...
Is there a CHANCE that the 4G upgrade alone would make this thing work right and fix my accuracy issues? Well, how about the 4G upgrade and some new pinions. Would this be a good place to start? I'm willing to go beyond that, but maybe I don't need to just yet. However, what would be next...stepper motors? I really don't want to spend a nice load of money and be disappointed again...maybe I should get new motors right off the bat as well? I dunno. The previous owners used it in basically a commercial production environment. They said they used it 6-8 hours a day for the whole two years of owning it. So my guess is that the pinions need to be replaced, if not the motors. I just don't know the life expectancy of the motors.
Maybe I am completely out of my mind and need to be looking at something else? Currently, I have a budget of about $3500 for any improvements. Eventually, I want it to be all it can be...Can you help me get there in the correct fashion? If so I would really appreciate it.
Here is a picture of my PRT Standard 96 before I hooked it all up...It looks good doesn't it?
8163
I purchased a used PRT Standard 96 with PC router a few months ago. It was originally purchased from shopbot in 2006 by a custom speaker box outfit. They used it frequently for cutting rectangles and circles out of mdf. It has not had any upgrades as of yet.
My biggest problem so far since setting up the bot has been accuracy. It seems like it if it isn't the X or the Y, it's the Z. One minute you think you have X and Y under control, but the Z is doing goofy things like cutting too deep or not deep enough. Then, I was pretty sure I had the X and Y tuned in perfect but ran a more complex vcarve file (but still very light duty for the router) and it goes way off track. X and Y seem to work pretty good and maintain accuracy when cutting rectangle profiles (albeit at very slow ips rates, plunge rates, etc). Then, when I load a little more complex design it loses it's position, even under light duty tasks. For instance, I tried to just lightly engrave (.1" depth) a little more complex path with a brand new vbit and it goes way off coarse every time. (up to like 2 inches off coarse)
I have spent countless hours troubleshooting, searching and reading the shopbot forum. Testing, cutting, testing, air cutting. Checking pinion for tightness. Grounding, un-grounding. 3 Different computers. Believe me when I say I have pretty much tried all of the usual suspects to get this thing to do things accurately, but no avail. I'm to the point where I don't want to troubleshoot anymore, and am willing to spend money to make things better!
See, when I purchased this thing for $5500 (around half of a new PRS) I knew that some things, if not all moving things would be worn out because of the heavy use that was stated by the previous owner. I knew this going in, my expectations were very low. I was prepared to pretty much completely purchase and replace all moving parts. Now, I just want to do it in the correct order...
Is there a CHANCE that the 4G upgrade alone would make this thing work right and fix my accuracy issues? Well, how about the 4G upgrade and some new pinions. Would this be a good place to start? I'm willing to go beyond that, but maybe I don't need to just yet. However, what would be next...stepper motors? I really don't want to spend a nice load of money and be disappointed again...maybe I should get new motors right off the bat as well? I dunno. The previous owners used it in basically a commercial production environment. They said they used it 6-8 hours a day for the whole two years of owning it. So my guess is that the pinions need to be replaced, if not the motors. I just don't know the life expectancy of the motors.
Maybe I am completely out of my mind and need to be looking at something else? Currently, I have a budget of about $3500 for any improvements. Eventually, I want it to be all it can be...Can you help me get there in the correct fashion? If so I would really appreciate it.
Here is a picture of my PRT Standard 96 before I hooked it all up...It looks good doesn't it?
8163