Difference between revisions of "How to use the Shopbot"

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Image:Shopbot wrenches.jpg|Fixing wrench for shopbot tool holder
 
Image:Shopbot wrenches.jpg|Fixing wrench for shopbot tool holder
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
== Shopbot steps ==
+
== Shopbot steps (short version) ==
 +
# Open or Import the vector design
 +
# Select the regions to VCarve or machine
 +
# Specify the tool details and calculate toolpaths
 +
# Preview the job in any material
 +
# Save the CNC code (save the Toolpaths)
  
 +
 +
== Shopbot steps (detailed version)
 
== Prepare your design ==
 
== Prepare your design ==
# Import file to Partworks or make your design there.
+
# Open Partworks -> Create new file ->
Partworks og Partworks 3D
+
##Define material size and units
+
# Import file to Partworks or make your design there. Partworks og Partworks 3D
 
  PartWorks can import these types of files
 
  PartWorks can import these types of files
 
  * DXF Drawing Exchange Files for CAD systems
 
  * DXF Drawing Exchange Files for CAD systems
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  * WRL VRML
 
  * WRL VRML
 
  * OBJ Wavefront
 
  * OBJ Wavefront
 +
 +
# When the design is ready you should make toolpaths for the machine.
 +
## Select Toolpaths.
 +
##* V-Carve: V-Carving Toolpath form which is used to specify the type of carving required, tooling details, cutting parameters and name for the toolpath.
 +
##* Profile: Profile Machining options provide the flexibility for cutting shapes out with optional Tabs / bridges plus an Allowance over / undercut to ensure perfect edge quality.
 +
##* Pocket: Pocket Toolpath form for machining pockets. These toolpaths automatically compensate for the tool geometry - diameter and angle.
 +
##* Drilling: Drilling allows the centers of selected closed vectors to be drilled to a specified depth. The Tool database includes an option to specify the Drill diameter and cutting parameters.
 +
##* Texturing: 3D Texture Machining functionality makes carving stunning sculpted surfaces very simple and perfect for making custom panels and interesting signage. Textures can be calculated inside any selected vector boundaries or if nothing is selected the complete job size.
 +
 +
##Select Depth: '''Start Depth''' (D) specifies the depth at which the toolpath is calculated, allowing Engraving to be machined inside a pocket region. '''Cut Depth''' (C) is the depth of the pocket or profile toolpath relative to the Start Depth.
 +
Do not cut deeper than the material thickness.
 +
 +
##* Select tool
 +
##*Clicking the Select button opens the Tool Database from which the required Tool can be selected.
 +
 +
All 4 of the cutter types (V-Bit, End mill, Ball nose, Engraving) are supported and the toolpaths will automatically compensate for the geometry of the selected tool.
 +
 +
# Save the toolpaths (.shp file)
 +
# Save the project. (.crv file)
 +
  
 
== Turning it on - checklist ==
 
== Turning it on - checklist ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 +
* [C:/Program Files/ShopBot/PartWorks/Help/index.htm Help manual on your computer]
 
* [http://shopbotwiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page Shopbot wiki]
 
* [http://shopbotwiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page Shopbot wiki]
 
* [http://www.shopbottools.com/documentation.htm Shopbot tutorial]
 
* [http://www.shopbottools.com/documentation.htm Shopbot tutorial]
 
* [http://www.shopbottools.com/files/docs/SBG00143060802Safety.pdf Shopbot Safety Reminders]
 
* [http://www.shopbottools.com/files/docs/SBG00143060802Safety.pdf Shopbot Safety Reminders]

Revision as of 17:11, 19 November 2009

A Shopbot is a large CNC milling machine.


Terms

  • VFD - Variable Frequency Drive;
  • Control computer -
  • Design computer - the computer you make your design
  • Spindel - f
  • Bit -
  • Hz eða Hertz - frequency; 1/s
  • Pedant -yellow pedant with emergency, reset and start buttons.

Images

Shopbot steps (short version)

  1. Open or Import the vector design
  2. Select the regions to VCarve or machine
  3. Specify the tool details and calculate toolpaths
  4. Preview the job in any material
  5. Save the CNC code (save the Toolpaths)


== Shopbot steps (detailed version)

Prepare your design

  1. Open Partworks -> Create new file ->
    1. Define material size and units
  2. Import file to Partworks or make your design there. Partworks og Partworks 3D
PartWorks can import these types of files
* DXF Drawing Exchange Files for CAD systems
* EPS Encapsulated Postscript for example. Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw.
* AI Adobe Illustrator
* PDF Portable Document Format for industry standard print data can be done in Inkscape

Remember to change text to path Filetypes which Partworks3D supports

* PartWorks3D can open these types of files:
* V3D PartWorks3D and Vectric Cut3D files
* STL STL Mesh files - binary & ascii
* V3M Vector Art 3D files
* 3DS 3D Studio - binary & ascii
* X DirectX
* DXF AutoCAD 3D DXF
* LWO LightWave
* TXT MaxNC Digital Probe
* SBP ShopBot Digital Probe files
* WRL VRML
* OBJ Wavefront
  1. When the design is ready you should make toolpaths for the machine.
    1. Select Toolpaths.
      • V-Carve: V-Carving Toolpath form which is used to specify the type of carving required, tooling details, cutting parameters and name for the toolpath.
      • Profile: Profile Machining options provide the flexibility for cutting shapes out with optional Tabs / bridges plus an Allowance over / undercut to ensure perfect edge quality.
      • Pocket: Pocket Toolpath form for machining pockets. These toolpaths automatically compensate for the tool geometry - diameter and angle.
      • Drilling: Drilling allows the centers of selected closed vectors to be drilled to a specified depth. The Tool database includes an option to specify the Drill diameter and cutting parameters.
      • Texturing: 3D Texture Machining functionality makes carving stunning sculpted surfaces very simple and perfect for making custom panels and interesting signage. Textures can be calculated inside any selected vector boundaries or if nothing is selected the complete job size.
    1. Select Depth: Start Depth (D) specifies the depth at which the toolpath is calculated, allowing Engraving to be machined inside a pocket region. Cut Depth (C) is the depth of the pocket or profile toolpath relative to the Start Depth.

Do not cut deeper than the material thickness.

      • Select tool
      • Clicking the Select button opens the Tool Database from which the required Tool can be selected.

All 4 of the cutter types (V-Bit, End mill, Ball nose, Engraving) are supported and the toolpaths will automatically compensate for the geometry of the selected tool.

  1. Save the toolpaths (.shp file)
  2. Save the project. (.crv file)


Turning it on - checklist

Starting out

  1. Flip the big switch on the front (cooling fan on spindle will turn on)
  2. Press reset button on pendant (VFD will turn on)
  3. Set VFD to 150.0
  4. Turn on Shopbot 3 software

Warming up the spindle

(This doesn't need to be done if the machine has recently been used and chances are the bearings are still warm)

  1. Open yellow hand-control window
  2. Check that tool is at safe height above material
  3. Toggle output 1
  4. Press start
  5. Slowly increase the VFD speed up to 270

Zeroing the table

  1. Use hand control window to move bit to it's zero point
  2. In the main window, select zero->zero three axis
  3. Move z axis to safe height

Starting a job

  1. Select File->Part file execute
  2. ( Check scaling, you normally want scaling to be 1 on all axis )
  3. Click ok
  4. Press start on pendant
  5. Turn on dust sucker
  6. Click ok on screen

Emergencies

  • There are two emergency stop buttons that you can hit
  • You can press space on the keyboard
  • You can click with the mouse

Troubleshooting

  • If error 91 comes up, delete c:\Program Files\Shopbot\Shopbot 3\shopbot.ini
    • then, when you turn it on, select settings for PRS Alpha 120x60
    • Set software to mm in the "other settings" tab.

Settings

Depending on type of bits and materials,


Frequency on VFD Rounds per minute Material
x 3000 Aluminium 200 10000 Plastics
270 13500 Most plywood, MDF, and so on.
300 15000 Hardwood


Assembly

Assembly of the Shopbot can diverge significantly from the instructions in the enclosed instructions manual, mostly due to it being written in a "one size fits all" manner that doesn't really fit in with the different versions of the Shopbot.

Proprietary protocol

The Shopbot is connected to a computer over USB (or serial link on older models). A proprietary program written in Visual Basic is used to communicate the Shopbot Parts Files to the machine. These files are written in Gerber language.

It is as of yet unclear whether the machine's control box itself interprets these Gerber files or whether the control is in the hands of the control software. Neither would be particularly surprising, but if the control box interprets the Gerber commands then it is far easier to hack the protocol and create a free interface to the Shopbot.


Links