I’ve been thinking about what to eventually replace the MDF spoilboard wirh and found a source, interstate plastics. The price and delivery cost is higher than I had imagined, even for .5" thick sheets.
It looks like some great material though. Would the threaded inserts be a different type for the starboard compared to wood?
I agree. Also, there were 10 in the bag, and I was expecting 50. No news from them yet. I guess pk50 means something different in Zoro-ese than pack of 50.
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If you’re in the Midwest, and would be willing to use HDPE and double up on it, see:
http://www.menards.com/main/p-2246284-c-14048.htm
(listed at: https://www.shapeoko.com/wiki/index.php/Vendors#Midwest — I used HDPE on top of my MDF wasteboard as documented at: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6045 )
Also check in w/ local sign-making shops — sometimes they’re willing to order a 4’x8’ sheet, esp. if you’re willing to wait so that they can use it to fill out an order w/ their vendors — also there are specialty sheet goods suppliers (which reminds me, I need to budget for ordering some).
Thread the starboard or buy inserts made for plastic
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Amazon has the best deal that I could find if you’re a prime member. 2’x4’x1" shipped for 120.
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Thanks for sourcing that HDPE/Starboard.
I have an XXL, so maybe 2 sheets? ($240, plus less than double the shipping and handling?).
Edit: The local plastics shop can order 1/2" thick starboard cut to size for a good price that includes shipping, taxes are of course extra.
I’m just an 8 hour drive north of Carbide 3D HQ, depending on traffic.
I’ve checked my local hardware stores, several within a 10 mile radius.
The price and availability are an issue for the threaded inserts, so Amazon Prime is a better bet.
A quick question: what is the thinking behind having a huge number of holes for work holding?
Flexibility, convenience? Isn’t that where T-Slots would be better?
I’m still on the steep part of the learning curve.
Because, “just in case” seems a bit over kill.
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Yeah, the availability of T-nuts / threaded inserts is a pain — the pricing in small lots excrutiatingly so.
If one is doing lots, then arguably one might as well do a table material which will allow for threads — easy enough to drill out and install additional threads.
I did a central, radial arrangement using Phi when I did my threaded insert spoilboard: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6045 and it worked well.
Currently using the central T-track arrangement: http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8332&p=65068#p65068 (yeah, I’m a big fan of symmetry).
For all that, I think an arrangement:
- starting from the corner origin
- spaced on phi
- with the first set spaced slightly larger than the smallest block of material one wishes to use and the spacing always being at least half clamp length of additional space
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I only did the front half of my waste board.
It probably is over kill, but you never know where you’ll need them.
The main thing I like about them, is that you know they are square and true to your machine (if you cnc it in place), and I can put studs in to line up and square sheets repeatedly.
The MDF doesn’t hold the threads well at all, tho. Much more than hand tight and you’ll strip it.
I’ve already drilled many new holes from them stripping, and of course I always need one where there’s not one.
I also learned to use a smaller drill bit than recommended for the inserts, so they’re tighter.
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There are many ways to skin a cat. Your solution is interesting.
how can i download them and use them? Help Please
Click on the links in: XL and XXL Threaded Insert table Grid and Clamps
Shapeoko CLAMPS quarter inch.c2d (1.2 MB)
XXL wasteboard FRONT.c2d (179.5 KB)
XXL Bed Grid Rear.c2d (179.3 KB)
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how do i import them into Carbide Create? i don’t know how to use a .c2d file?
.c2d is Carbide Create’s native format.
Open Carbide Create, then choose the Open menu, then select the file in question.
Hey guys, If I did my washboard with the M6 threaded inserts, what type of screw or bolt would I need to use with my clamps? I am making some clamps. But don’t have a clue what kind of screw, or T-nut, or bolt to use. Or the size I would need
M6 threaded inserts take M6 bolts/screws.
You’ll need an assortment in varying lengths — I like using nylon since you can snip them to length at need (but haven’t found an affordable source for nylon fasteners in the states, so use 1/4"-20).
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So I know this is a bit of necromancy here, but I recently bought a Shapeoko 3 XXL and quickly found they only have the wasteboard modification for the standard Shapeoko 3. I was excited to find this thread to modify my wasteboard.
I really want to fix up my wasteboard in the fashion of this thread. I am brand new so I have many questions. Would I be able to home the machine, then run the “XXL Wasteboard” and “Bed Grid Rear” back to back. Would that work?
Also, it seems like Carbide Motion natively supports a file format called .nc? I opened the c2d files and tried to export then as NC using Carbide Create and I was unable to do so. How do I take these files and put them in my CNC?
Hi @bobtaasco,
I will leave the “wasteboard” part of your question for others to contribute for now, but about this:
Carbide Create project files are the c2d files, they contain the shapes you create in Carbide Create as well as the toolpaths you will define.
.nc is the extension for the G-code files that you generate from a Carbide Create project, it’s the file format that Carbide Motion (and the machine) expect.
To create .nc files to run on the machine, you must first create (or open) a Carbide Create project (c2d), adjust project settings (e.g. stock dimensions, thickness, …), create toolpaths, and then use the “Save G-code” buttons.
Check out those tutorials which cover the basics:
https://docs.carbide3d.com/assembly/carbidecreate/video-tutorials/