SLQ Wiki facilities:hte:projects:x-carve:operations

Material Recommendations

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:20:58 +0000

Material Recommendations

Best

Soft plastics
- HDPE
- LDPE
foams.
- Dence Polystyrene
- Light weight polystyrene
- Expanded PVC
Cork.

Noisy

Hard plastics
- Acrylic
Wood
- Plywood
- Pine

Avoid

Solid PVC (Tends to clog bits)
Leather (Fibrous. Cuts but clogs bits. Stinks.)

Loading and running a job

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:20:58 +0000

Loading and running a job

Exporting from VCarve

From 'Toolpaths' panel: ( make sure you have the correct panel switch over )
Select 'Save Toolpath' Icon …
Check 'X-Carve (mm) (*.nc)' Post Processor is selected
Make sure the required toolpaths are selected.

You can save different toolpaths that use different tools and change between them during a job.
If you do this, it's best to plan ahead and do as few tool changes as needed.
Press 'Save Toolpath(s) …' button.
Save files Documents → Jobs → 'yourjobname.nc'

Exporting from Fusion 360

Ask someone who is not Byron. (Maybe Hayden)

Running your job!

In Candle, press 'Open'
Review your job on the screen.
1. Does it look right?
2. Have you installed the correct tool for the job?
3. Is the router's speed correct?
4. Is the material secured?
5. Does everyone have hearing and eye protection ready?
Get final supervisor check

Make sure everyone in the room knows your about to turn the machine on and to put on their hearing protection.
Turn on Dust extraction (Verify)
Turn on router (Verify)
Press 'Send'

You must stay and supervise your whole job. Jobs can run without flaw or fail in an instant.
You can press 'pause' and turn the router off if you wish part way through a job, but be careful where it is, continuing can sometimes fail.

Safety

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:20:58 +0000

~~REVEAL~~

Safety

Basics

Don't put hands in machine.
It hurts to have fingers cut off.
Wear clothes.
It'd distracting to other users and against policy.
No loose clothing or long hair
That really was a nice tshirt or scalp…
Don't cut anything you don't own.
Think about how you would feel if it was your thing.

Required PPE

Hearing protection
It's a better story to loose it at a rock concert than operating this machine
Eye protection
The replacement ones are awful. It's not worth it.
Covered Shoes
Something you should be wearing anyway.

Optional

Respirator
Looks scary and protects your lungs.
All over body condom
You can never be too safe.

Machine start and verify basic operation

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:20:58 +0000

Machine start and verify basic operation

Ensure work space is clear of tools, etc.
To activate the machine, 'STOP' button needs to be lit up green, if this is not the case, turn red knob clockwise(direction arrows) until it pops up.
Open or switch to Candle(Machine control software).
Verify 'Machine Status' does NOT say 'Not Connected' ('Alarm' or 'Idle' is OK), if not contact Supervisor.
Good: Bad:
Press 'Reset' above the Emergency Stop button.
Press 'Home' Machine will move to find end stops.
Status should flash green 'Home' then display 'Idle', if not or if the machine makes grinding noises, doesn't home or has other problems contact Supervisor.
Good: Bad:

Shut down

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:20:58 +0000

Shut down

Make sure the machine is clear of any tooling.
Press 'Reset' then 'Home' to realign machine to zero.
Remove tooling and collet, put away.
Send machine to 'safe' posision.
Press 'STOP!' button.
Put away tools, PPE and scrap material
Vaccume and sweep up workspace.

Changing tooling and loading material

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:20:58 +0000

~~REVEAL~~

Changing tooling and loading material

Changing tooling

Remove dust shoe.

Locate appropriate spanner for collet

While pressing down yellow 'Spindle Lock' button, loosen collet to remove previous tooling.

Tooling can be surprisingly sharp and very easy to catch fingers on.
Be careful!
If your not comfortable doing this, please ask a supervisor.

Insert and tighten up new tooling, changing collet if required.
Reinstall dust shoe, being careful of sharp tool.
Press 'Reset' then 'Home' to realign machine to zero.

Zeroing Z(tool) height

Automatic (Preferred)

Place Z-Probe brass pad under tool, clipping lead to tooling and plugging in(Next to router, right side)
Press 'Z-Probe' button wait for cycle to complete.
Unplug, unclip and put away Z-Probe hardware.

Manual (Expert Only)

Click to display ⇲

Click to hide ⇱

Lower until tool touches bed or work. Use a piece of paper to check.
Press 'Zero Z' button.
Raise Z at least 10mm to clear bed/work

When your done, Press ('Safe Position')
button to move machine out of the way.

Loading Material

Align material with front left 'home' position.
Think about how material will move, what your cut path is and where it will go.

Large sheets tend to flex and lift as they are cut. Soft materials will move.
Placing screws as close as is safely possible the job is preferable to just putting a few around the edges of the sheet.
Secure to the bed using wood screws and cordless drill

Pre-drilling holes before screwing allows the screws to pull the material down against the waste board for better holding