I’m using the Shapeoko 3 XXL, and I pooped my first cut - not properly using the BitZero - but I overcame the error and was able to cut my slat holes for my waste board setup, successfully.
Project #1 example cut - completed.
HOWEVER, the question here, is how does one set the bit in the router to get for example EXACT depth expected?
I had two tool changes - so I had to reset the bit depth again. How do you folks get tool depth right between changes and also get the full depth of your cut in material consistently?
Mine is 3/4" MDF (imagine a lot of you folks use this), and only went maybe 80% of the way there. Trying to find the balance between wasteboard destruction and bit sticking out of the bit holder.
If you have a BitSetter then it is easy. If you dont have a Bitsetter then you create your project in CC with your tool paths. You always make the least invasive cuts first and save things like a cutout for last. Then look at your simulation and if happy disable all but the first tool path and save your .c2d file. Run that file after setting X Y and Z origins. The X Y and Z stay persistent over multiple jobs of your material is placed in the same place and is the same thickness. In this case the material has not changed. Then go in and edit your .c2d file and disable the first tool path and enable your second tool path. Then save your .c2d file. Then load the new file into CM and set your origins if necessary but you should not have to set your origins if you set the correctly on the first tool path. Run the second tool path and repeat if you have more tool paths.
The one thing you cannot do without a BitSetter is Advanced Vcarve. Since an Advanced Vcarve is a single tool path with 2 tools you have no way to set the z zero for the second tool. At one time the user fenrus had a github application that would split an advanced vcarve toolpath into to two tool paths but you would need to search the forum to see where that exists and IF it still works. That was originally done in an earlier version of CC where .nc files were saved. In v7 of CC you have to have the Pro version to get a separate .nc file in order to use the application if it still exists or works. The v7 CC .c2d file has the gcode encrypted inside the file. In v6 of CC the gcode was separate. You can still download and use v6 CC but it is no longer updated. You could just use v6 for the files you want to run advanced vcarve and in conjunction with the github application get advanced vcarve to work. Best to buy a BitSetter. The BitSetter makes things much easier than without it using your Shapeoko and CC/CM.
Now the real question is about the BitZero and the BitSetter on the same board, and not having the y-splitter PCB. Always seems I’m one step ahead of the learning curve.
If you have proximity switches, then the PCB Riser Expansion Board has a P(robe) input which can be used for one accessory, and the Reserved header on the controller can be used for the other.
Haven’t got there yet, but I replaced the proximity X-axis that had failed and realized it had a 3-split connector. I just need to connect the two wire setup that completes the signal and group loop to get it going. I’ll investigate later and make “wise” choices - lol.
Regardless, seems like a trivial signal loop that closes in two parts of Motion and it just simple looks for the “signal” - like a light switch making a bulb circuit complete.
Regardless … I think Shapeoko did it right with the forum / community here. Learned so much, so fast in CNC thus far in the last 10 days.
