Fun in the workshop today, BitZero, Z probe OOPS. impressive BitSetter numbers

Software Carbide Motion
1

Hi All
I was working most of the day on my 4XXL
I have an oops, a good news wow, and a suggestion to share :slight_smile:

First off my machine has worked flawless except for the overly sensitive electronics that I just needed to rearrange the cables so the AC was further away from the DC cables and added some ferrite cores. It has performed perfect until today.

The OOPS.
So I went from connect to initialize to probe to start to bit change to crap what happen.
I was cutting a piece that zeros off the deck / bottom. I use to zero by hand however I now have a new BitZero :). I have used it several times now. OK so I probed the corner with the 1/4" probe bit and the BitZero. Then jogged off the stock and re-zeroed the Z off the deck to change Z Zero to the bottom. FYI The stock is an 1" thick. All seemed fine. I started the job. followed the prompts, changed the bit and it went to the bit setter and then to the stock. WOW I heard it cut into a lot more meat then I was use to on this project. I stopped the job. Why was it in so deep ! I jogged to the deck and checked the Z Zero. WTH. it was 2mm lower then the deck. That’s strange, I could see it being higher, as something might have gotten under the BitZero but how could it probe lower. The bit did not slip.

I reset everything and double check the zero by manually confirming it. I then ran 20 pieces through. All where fine, mind you I did not re-probe in between jobs. I kept the same offset.

I am glad I stop the job, it would have cut into my waste board. I have no marks in my deck and I am the kind of guy that likes it that way :slight_smile:

I have no idea why it was out. I didn’t mess around in between. I have used the Bit zero several times. I am baffled but it going to have to go in the books as a glitch :slight_smile:

However I now have trust issues with the BitZero :slight_smile: . I have more faith in doing the Z Zero manually or at lease I will have to double check for awhile until the trust is regained :slight_smile: I will have to make a 6mm brass gauge to double check :slight_smile:

OK the good news:
I cut 20 pieces and each piece requires 3 bit changes. So that is 60 bit changes. I have always thought the BitSetter is great tool but it might have a small amount of error, nothing is perfect. Over a large amount of bit changes that error should compound . So did it. Yes but only 0.010 mm IMHO that is pretty darn good. I was impressed :slight_smile:

Programing Suggestion:
To loosen the collet I have one hand on each wrench, and some times when loosening, The bit slips out of the collect and falls right down on to the T track :frowning: So after several time of this happening today, I needed to find a quick sollution. I saw an old sock in the rag bin. So I started putting this sock down first and if the bit falls, it lands safely on this nice soft sock :slight_smile: It would be nice to pick the tool change location like we pick the BitSetter location. The BitSetter is over the front of the deck. I have a soft mat in front of my machine. It is a soft place for the bits and stops them from rolling around. It would be nice to have the bits over this mat instead of the T Track.

Oh I also learned to not put my BitZero in a small tray. The small magnet happened to touch the plate and of course that messed up the BitSetter resulting in an error while using it, I assume they share the same input signal. :slight_smile:

So I had a good day as I learned some things :slight_smile:

Cheers
Happy Carving

4 Likes
2

Ah yes, the joys of dropping the bit and damaging either it or the piece being worked on.

Using the Carbide 3d brand spindle, I try to maintain the habit of cupping my hand under the bit while pushing the spindle lock button in the back. Then use the other hand with a single wrench to loosen or tighten. I still mangage to drop it every once in a while. With two wrenches, I’d bust them all.

Today I learned not to rest my arms on the machine bed when zeroing (I’m still manually zeroing) because I can now see that just the weight of my arms bends the Shapeoko XL a couple of hundredths, which is more than I can tolerate on my current project.

2 Likes
3

When you were zeroing with the bitZero, did you have it sitting flush on the deck or was it sitting on the deck like you do when doing the XYZ zero on the edge of a workpiece? I had a similar issue when I zero’d just the Z, and had it sitting on the recessed portion of the probe instead of just setting the whole thing on the workpiece.

1 Like
4

Thank you, Yep I did it behind the project in the middle slat. I have no idea, I spent too much time trying to figure out what happen :slight_smile: It was only one in a row at this point. I really don’t know how but I going to assume I messed something up. It was pretty straight forward though :slight_smile:
I have another 60 bit changes to do tonight so we will see :slight_smile:

5

One issue with using the spindle lock is the amount of torque that is placed on the spindle. There have been many operators that have broken the bottom of the spindle off because of this habit.

I always use two wrenches

Good luck

4 Likes
6

So you drop bits too :slight_smile:

7

Actually I don’t anymore. Put my wrenches on, break loose, leave the small one on and spin the nut off. The way I have my hand I guess I put pressure on the bit so it stays. Most of my bits need persuasion to remove.

Now dropping them after I have the collet in my grubby hands, that’s another story.

1 Like
8

I use a ‘sample’ piece of padded carpeting to catch mine, my local big box store sells them for a few dollars apiece…

IMG_3776

7 Likes
9

I never thought about this, good to know, thanks!!

1 Like
10

Like the carpet :slight_smile:
My XXL lands right on the edge of the deck :frowning: would be nice to adjust it to off the deck :slight_smile:

Ya I never use that locking pin, I see too many of them broken and I really don’t like broken tools, it would keep me awake at night until I had it fixed :slight_smile:

3 Likes
11

A snug tightening is all that is needed for a bit, not a hard crank down… A broken spindle lock seems IMHO to be user error.

I had a Bitzero malfunction yesterday. After running one job I replace the workpiece and reset with the result of a cut .25" or so too deep! ARRGH!

2 Likes
12

Question does your collett snap into the collett nut if not then than that is why your bit falls out if you buy the Er11collett nut and the right size collett 1/8 1/4" that snap in to the nut Jeff Peters

1 Like
13

I have the standard C3D router with C3D precision collets.
I can manage but the odd bit falls and hits the tee Track so, yep I am still using that old sock just in case :slight_smile:

It would just be nice to adjust the location of the tool loading so it was off the front of the machine like the bit setter. that way it would hit my mat not the Tee Track if and when it falls :slight_smile:

14

No it wou7ld just fall out and hit the maybe cement floor

15

Oops I meant the mat on the table. My machine sits back 5 inch ish and I have a tool mat in front of it, :slight_smile:

1 Like
16

This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.