I have a Shapeoko 3. I am generating code via Inventor and the carbide post processor provide. I can also hand write code. I have re tensioned the X axis belt. I am using an 1/8" HSS 4 flute center cutting end mill in a dewalt router with the highest spindle speed setting “5”. I am cutting (climb milling) baltic birch plywood with 1/16" depth of cuts. I tried 80 IPM and 40IPM plunge, but the X axis lost position. I backed it off to 30 and 15 and still have the issue but not quite as bad. Air cuts don’t skip, so I suspected a hardware and not software issue. According to the published chart on the website, I am way under the feed rate at either of these levels. I even switched computers and reinstalled carbide motion. FWIW, I am not loosing 1 or two steps of the motor, the machine stutters and looses 1/8 -1/4" in the X axis. Since the machine has very few hours on it, I’m not sure where to go other than to start swapping motors. I have a second Shapeoko at home that I could do this to, but would rather not. Suggestions?
Usually such problems are mechanical — please check the usual suspects (pulley set screws, belt tension, V wheel adjustment) — if not that, then electronic and for intermittent problems it’s usually a wiring fault which only occurs when the wire is bent just so.
Let us know what you find out at support@carbide3d.com and we’ll do our best to help.
I’d suggest making sure you’ve got good electrical contact on the X cables, that they’re latched properly, connectors tight, etc. Also check the power plug is firmly seated. Beyond that, if the depth of cut is too high, you can cause the same thing. If it works in the air, it’s not a gcode error, more likely a incorrect parameter. What’s the depth of cut you’re attempting?
i would suspect your bit is loading up and not cutting. try a 2 flute carbide bit designed for wood not metal ( if its a metal cutting end mill )
i run 1/8" at 20000rpm makita, 1.5-2mm DOC and 1100-1500mm/m feed depending on the wood. I run a lot of baltic birch plywood. I would not use a 4 flute if you gave them to me free.
ctrhenry is the winner. Apparently the 4 flute end mill that I had, that just cut brass musical instrument parts with at 18ipm can’t handle plywood with the chip load. I bought a Bosch 2 flute carbide router bit and it cut at 80ipm with no errors. FWIW the reason the X was the problem was that my longest cuts were in the X direction and it loaded up. Thanks All
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