VFD and replacing dust boot after tool change

CNC Machines Shapeoko 5 Pro
1

Hello Friends, and Happy Sunday!

Longtime SO4/compact router user, but just upgraded to the SO5 Pro and 65mm VFD.

I have two questions related to the VFD/Dust boot/tool changes:

Question #1:

In the past, with my SO4, when I had a tool change in the middle of a job, when prompted to “Insert the next tool”, I would remove the magnetic Sweepy dust boot bottom, swap the tool, press confim, and then the bitsetter would do it’s thing. The router would return to the position just to the left of the bitsetter, and prompt me to set the RPM on the router. THIS is when I would replace the dust boot bottom, Confirm, and then… happy days, the machine goes on and cuts.

So, my question is now with the VFD Spindle on the SO5, once I change the tool, the machine goes to the bitsetter, measures, and then the Spindle starts and it goes to cut - how do I “pause” it to replace the dustboot???

I of course tried the “Pause” command in Carbide Motion, but that only pauses the CNC, not the Spindle. What is your workflow for this?

Do you actually turn off the VFD Spindle? I was worried that doing so would cause some sort of a disconnect and it wouldn’t resume when i turned it back on.

Does the “Feedhold” button on the power pendant on the SO5 pause the machine AND the VFD? If so, do you use that when you need to replace the dust boot?

Is there some other way in Carbide Motion to get it to pause after the tool change, but before resuming the cut so I can get the dust boot back on?

Question #2

Also, on a related topic… When you change the tool when using the VFD Spindle, do you actually turn off the VFD Spindle Control box? And if so, do you press the red power button on the VFD controller to do so, or do you just kill the power to the outlet it’s plugged into. I assume both approaches are essentially the same. (My VFD control box is on the back of my table, plugged into a switched outlet and the switch is on the front panel of the table - again, worked great with the compact router.) Of course, Carbide Motion has stopped the spindle, but I felt a lot safer changing the tool on the compact router, because I could kill the power to it.

Thanks in advance!!

~ Mike

2

I have an HDM with the 80 mm spindle.
I just replace the dust boot bottom immediately after doing the tool change. It seems to have no problem doing the tool touchoff.

And I don’t turn off the spindle :grimacing:

3

Using the Red button on the VFD to be safe is a good move for a tool change.
After awhile, you may start to feel more comfortable, but maybe that would become a problem.

No need to shutoff the main power switch.

4

I change tools, re-install the dust boot and hit continue. No issues with the bitsetter.

5

Ideally everything on using a VFD spindle would be covered at:

https://carbide3d.com/hub/docs/65mm-vfd-spindle/

or

https://carbide3d.com/hub/docs/80mm-spindle-kit/

or in the PDF:

If not, please check in at support

I will note that one option might be, if one has Carbide Create Pro to work up a custom post-processor:

https://carbide3d.com/hub/faq/create-pro-custom-post-processor/

which allows one to remove/replace the dust shoe before/after a tool change.

6

I would like to make a post processor that works better with my beloved Sweepy Pro. Is there any documentation on what commands do what and how to change them?

7

It’s just Javascript writing out G-code.

If you will describe the movements you want to make we can walk through this with you — I actually worked up a post for this sort of thing recently.

1 Like
8

I would like something along the lines of:

*Prompt on screen to raise Sweepy Pro before BitSetter routine upon program start at the tool change parking position.
*BitSetter routine.
*Move to XY zero.
*Prompt to lower Sweepy Pro with a screen button to continue after.
*Start spindle with a 5 second delay before moving.

I don’t know how much of that is Carbide Motion, and how much is post processor.

1 Like
9

I don’t believe that there is an option to prompt.

Looking at:

https://carbide3d.com/hub/faq/supported-gcodes/

perhaps:

  • M1 — Sleep (optional stop)

would work for a pause/continuation?

The BitSetter routine is already in there as

  • M6 — Tool change — this is implemented in Carbide Motion to facilitate the Nomad tool length sensor for changing tools

It should include a spindle start already, and the delay includes any delay leading up to that command, but if you want more time then:

  • G4 — Dwell

Should provide control to add more time if need be.

Movement is G0 — just need to add the coordinates.

I added commands in the .post as:

            writeBlock("G53 G0Z-5");

using the G53 coordinate space so the movement was invariant of where zero is set.

I found it pretty straight-forward to test the G-code out in a Quick Action.

3 Likes
10

I solved this is 2 ways.

  1. I relocated the spindle drive enable/disable button to the front of the machine with a diy extension cable.

  2. I employed the gantry shift and then created a bracket to relocate my bitsetter to in front and below the table height. Works great and i can leave on the sweepy pro.

    20250316_155954
    20250316_1559541920×2560 270 KB

2 Likes
11

Nice. Thanks for sharing that, Chuck. Can you tell me more about the “gantry shift” that you employed?

12

I think it’s pretty well documented.
You can start here:

1 Like
13

This sounds interesting! Where’s the .post file kept?

14

User .post files are placed in the posts directory which is in the Carbide Create folder accessed by About | Carbide Create | Open Data Directory

1 Like
15

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