Greetings
I have a Shapeoko 3XL which I have not used in a while. I created a stupid-easy file in CC V743 and all went well. I went to use CM and the machine “cut air”. I figured that it was an older version of CM, so I downloaded the latest version of CM, V618.
I had to run it through several times to get it to speak to the machine, but all went well (or not). The machine initialized in the right rear and then I was able to configure the bit setter without problem.
After all was initialized I noticed that the machine did not come to the front-center of the travel, but remained about 4 inches to the left of the bit setter. (I believe that this is a “clue”)
I then loaded a program and it says that the project will run outside of the cutter surface (too big for the table). The project is 22" wide by 16" tall and I have cut projects larger than this without problems in the past. Of note, the warning that comes up says that it will travel in “mm” out of range and I have the machine configured for inches.
I am sure it is something simple but could use some help or a psychiatrist.
Thanks
Bill
The new position for bit changes in ‘normal’ for the new version of CM. You can’t change it.
Have you already properly set your X-Y zero? If that isn’t correct, then you can get spurious warnings about exceeding the machine travel limits.
I was able to move the spindle to the left-front corner of the work piece and then set zero. Is there a procedure for establishing the x/y coordinates prior to loading the job and jogging the machine?
Thanks for your help
Bill
I think I have it working. I had not placed my project far enough forward over the front edge. Hopefully this is it!
Thanks for your help
Bill
Depending on if you have a BitSetter the normal initialization is to connect and initialize. The machine moves the gantry and spindle to the right rear and homes. Then if you do not have a BitSetter it just sits there. If you have a BitSetter it comes forward and prompts for a bit. After bit installation then the router moves over to the BitSetter and after that it returns to the front position near the BitSetter.
After the initialization is done then you can jog the machine and set your X Y and Z zeros. Initialization must complete before you can jog and set your zeros.
The act of initialization is setting up internal coordinates that CM uses to reference everything from. The Home position is established and any X Y and Z set is relative to that home position. So after initialization and you set the X Y and Z zeros that is remembered by CM and those positions are remembered even through power cycles. So if you are running the same job over and over set the X Y and Z zeros once and you do not need to set the X Y and Z zero again as long as your material is the same size as the previous cutting of that job. Even if you cut that project and power off the machine and come back and power on those X Y and Z coordinates are remembered and after initialization all you have to do is load the job and start cutting. However if you cut job #1 and then set up another completely different job #2 then you need to set your zeros according to your CC setup.
Thanks.
I got it running correctly. I had not used the machine for a while and my aged brain forgot a few things. The new version of CM needed me to download the settings to the machine, which I did, but it configured it for a different machine. After a couple of tries I got that going. The day after I got it working, I would get an “alarm” when the gantry was dropping on the bitsetter. After more stupid time I discovered that the alligator clip for the Bitzero was touching the base plate, affecting the ability of the bitsetter to function.
Like anything, lack of use leads to a perished skill, which I excelled in!
Thanks for the assist. I am still entertaining a reasonable offer on my machine and all of the $$ goodies that go with it!
Bill
This topic was automatically closed after 30 days. New replies are no longer allowed.