Cnc what?

[mikeb]

I have ordered a standard, will be ready in a couple of weeks, so the panic is starting in me now! I have had a look at the software and thought wow ! oh oh .! Not much experience with computer stuff, other than the odd email. Lots of knowledge of my trade though! The only pressure will be trying to get the paying work done before [playing] learning how to use the new machine.Any tips out there?

[Gary Campbell]

Mike...
You can get trial versions of most of the software that you will use to design your work. Now is a good time to start the learing process.
Gary

[dlcw]

Welcome aboard Mike!!!

Start "playing" as soon as you get the machine. You don't really want to start out learning everything with a paying customer. Your material costs could be pretty drastic as you learn.

Start learning with MDF - buy several sheets. Get over the learning curve before you start cutting for customers. I did it the hard way and learned as I went on a large cabinet job for a customer - BIG MISTAKE!!!

The software will be a big learning curve in itself because the actual cutting results can be very different from what the software is showing you. You will need to figure out what router speeds and cutting speeds are best for your machine. Each machine is different.

One of things you'll learn is to do cutouts in two passes - the first pass being a climb cut leaving a very thin skin. The second cut is a conventional cut through the material. You'll need to learn in the software how to combine these cuts into one file to save time.

You'll want to learn what is "normal" for your machine before subjecting expensive material to the table and finding out something isn't "normal" when cutting a $100 sheet of cherry plywood.

Follow the directions exactly on setting the machine up. Get it REALLY square and level. Are you going to implement vacuum holddown? If so, there is a lot to learn about this subject in itself. Get a good base in place that will make it easier to move to the world of customer paying production jobs.

Don
www.dlwoodworks.com (http://www.dlwoodworks.com)

[cabnet636]

what type of paying work do you intend to do "ultimately" ?

jim

[fredtoo]

Mike, you want panic!!! I'm taking a road trip to Durham tomorrow to pick up mine! I've been reading and rereading this forum for months (actually years). These folks are great!!!! I took my first, just stop by and ask, factory tour about 4 years ago and then the training class late last year. Those folks are great too. Its going to be a great ride.....

[mikeb]

James, currently I do cabinetry, comercial, residential, as well as furniture. pretty much any interior woodwork, and I would like to use the machine to enhance the skills and the product I am putting out now

[mikeb]

Don , I plan on following the instructions, as good as a man can[without asking for directions], until I pass the third gas station, thats when I break down.

[shoeshine]

I second everything that Don said but I will add one step for the first few cuts.

best $7+/- investment you can make: a sheet of foam. The blue or pink stuff used for basement wall insulation(not styro). It offers almost no resistance to your bit and it can be held down with a few squares of double sided tape. It lets you see exactly what the machine is doing without danger of breaking anything. It is also a good test of your dust collection as the bits get everywhere yet are easy to see.

Go into your soft, design a small part, and see what happens in translation. The fist few cuts you -will- screw up. not to fear. we all did.

I have had mine for less than a year and I am already doing very complicated work with a level of comfort that surprises me. In fact, it has opened up more possibilites than I ever thought possible.

and I'll second the thoughts on this forum. It's one of the the things that sold me on shopbot.

[michael_schwartz]

Mike, it really is that easy so don't worry.

The most stressful part is going to be the night your machine is 95% assembled and the moments before you fire it up wondering if it will work.

Few things to have

For assembly

Lots of wire ties
good set of allen wrenches
Very small flat head screwdriver for some of the wire connections.
Decent socket set (must have!)
Good level

Keep a laptop handy because there will be things you want to look up.

Schedule an electrician in advance, I had to wait 4 days to get one to come out. Find out what you need in advance. I needed a 12 gauge cord and 20 amp cord cap (plug) for my PRS Standard

Plywood/MDF for your table
coarse thread drywall screws and a countersink bit

For cutting

Plenty of Scrap material
Digital Fractional Calipers
USB thumb drive

USB 2.0 PCI card for your computer even if it already has USB 2.0 ports. A dedicated card for the bot has been recommended in the past.

Optical mouse for shop computer, I am using the cheap ball mouse that came with the used computer I bought and it gets gunked up with dust fast.

One last thing make sure you load the proper unit values specific to your machine. I didn't do this and was wondering why it would jog at 1/2 the move speed and only move 1/2 the distance I set.

[GlenP]

Hey Mike, glad to see you took the plunge. Also good to see another Ontario botter as well. When I ordered my machine I had shopbot send me the software ahead of time so I start designing and trying out in preview mode. Try not to rely on the machine for the paying jobs until you get comfortable with it. I did quite afew projects my old ways and played with machine at night and weekends and gradually brought the cnc into my workday. Getting yourself backed into a corner will not be fun and this machine can be allot of fun. I find now that I have an edge over the local guys I price against as I add more design features that they can't do in house. If you have questions don't be afraid to ask away....everyone here was in your shoes once to. You can also call me anytime if you have questions.

[wberminio]

Mike

Take a deep breath.
Get Tech Support on speed dial.
Bookmark this forum.
Have a pot of coffee on.
Take a deep breath.

Get ready to have the time of your life!

PS We have all been there.YOU Will MAKE It.

Erminio

[mitch_prest]

where about are you located MikeB

[mikeb]

thanks guys, I'm very sure I'll have lots of questions for the pros out there, and I sure do appreciate the time you men and women commit to this site to help each other. it's a good thing!

Mike

[chiloquinruss]

Hey Mike, stand by for some great fun. One of the things that was mentioned early on was to download any of the software before hand. The Bot control software will run just as it would if your machine was sitting there. It even has a 3d mode where you can watch it route! I played with all the software for some time before getting my machine and once the bot got here it was easy to put together and ran right out of the box. One more item in addition to the suggestion about the usb is also when the electrician is ther have him run a seperate ground long enough to attach to the metal chassis of the bot. Anyhow, welcome to a great bunch of folks here and at Durham. Have Fun! Russ

[robtown]

No worries...
Don't look at the big pile of software and hardware and let it overwhelm you.

Your biggest challenge isn't going to be gettint the Bot to move and cut. That's simple/easy... Your biggest challenge will be learning how to draw.

Depending on what you do and what you want to do. It's time to pick a drawing package and start learning.

Corel, Illustrator, AutoCad, AutoCad LT, TurboCad are the usual suspects.Pick one that fits your budget, and draw draw draw... (and come here to ask questions when you get stuck...)

[bcondon]

Hey Mike,

The first thing you probably already know is you have a large group of people rooting for you. I have never seen a dumb question,[well only mine]
and this is a very patient crew.

The biggest "almost" blip I had is that I paid for a tailgate delivery and the truck showed up without one... so being proactive, do you have a way to unload your setup without a tailgate.

For me, I routed the truck to my hardware store and they use the fork lift truck to plunk it on my trailer, then I could get it home, into the garage for safe keeping.

After that it was keeping myself under control as I got everything working...

======

The only other procedure which did not work well was mounting the rail onto the t slots for the gantry to ride on. The procedure suggests to put the bolts through the rail and then crew the t slot nut onto the trail and then SLIDE the t nut into the t slot... and there is about 8 or 9 of then to bind.... I good way to send the rail if you do not have help.

The easier way is to put the rail on top of the tslot. Take a red sharpie and put a dot through the rail hole, into the t slit for all 8 or 9 holes. take the rail off and slide in the 8 or 9 t slot nuts and align over the sharpie red dots... now set the rail back on where it belongs (fully supported) . I used an small allen wrench to aligh the t slot nut through the rail holes so that when you put the screw through the rail hole, you an catch the nut... I trick my dear old Dad taught me was to turn the screw BACKWARDS while putting a little pressure and the threads will align and then turn to catch and leave all the screw loose until all the threads are caught and then tighten them all.

no pinched fingers, no bent rails, quiet serene languages..

good luck

[curtiss]

Don't Panic,

buy a "That was easy Button" at Staples and practice with that.

[GlenP]

I had paid for the liftgate service as well and they truck came without it. Luckily there was two guys in the truck and with my approval we unpacked the crate in the back of the truck and carried the parts into the shop. They even placed the gantry up in a perfect spot to move it on to the rails for me. I gave them a good tip each for being so helpful. Friggin cold here today. -20c right now.