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INSTRUCTIONS
FAB-LAB.IOA
rev.1.4.0 20191007
INDEX
NECESSARY STEPS FOR OPERATING SHAPEOKO CNC MILL
(DETAILS IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES)
A B C D E
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
4 4 4 2a 4
5 5 5 2b 5
6 6 6 6
7 7 7 2c 7
8 8 3 8
9 9
IMPORTANT! MAKE SURE THAT YOU READ ALL PAGES OF THIS MANUAL
AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL STEPS, BEFORE OPERATING THE MACHINE!
A. MACHINE SETUP
1 CLEAN CNC BED
Make sure all dust is gone so that double sided tape adheres properly and stock levels
properly.
2 CLEAN MACHINE
Wheels, guides, in all axes. there are hidden wheels under the plates and in Z-axis.
A dirty machine will break down within months!
4
CHECK FOR POSSIBLE COLLISIONS!
Stock may collide with Z Axis, or XY Axis wheel plate, etc.
8
PLACE POWER SWITCH CLOSE TO HAND
Always be ready to press the red switch to shutdown machine if something goes wrong
(collisions, Z-probe, parts flying away etc.)
9
MAX WORK DIMENSIONS XYZ 820x780x70mm
(you can work with Z up to 75mm+, with careful programming in rapid Z level, Z axis may
crash on upper limit)
FABLAB_IOA_SHAPEOKO_INSTRUCTIONS 1
B
B. PROGRAMMING
1 USE RHINOCAM MILL OR CARBIDE CREATE
RhinoCAM: Rhino 3D plugin. Document units must be millimetres
Manuals: Dropbox\FAB_LAB_IOANNINA\13_CNC_router\01_RhinoCAM\Manuals
Carbide Create: Export .dxf from Rhino in inches (even if you work in mm)
Tutorials: https://docs.carbide3d.com/assembly/carbidecreate/video-tutorials/
Note: Steps 2-6 are for RhinoCAM, for Carbide Create, refer to the link above.
2
CREATE STOCK IN RHINO
Create stock 3D geometry (a box, or whatever has the exact dimensions of the uncut raw
material you will place on table to mill) that encloses your part. Select stock in Rhino, go
to RhinoCAM, rightclick Stock icon, click Stock from Selection. Place stock in separate
layer and hide it afterwards, it may interfere with some operations.
3
SET WORLD COORDINATE SYSTEM (WCS)
Click align icon, set world coordinate system, click the arrow icon, snap to stock.
Snap point should be stock front left corner, at the top level of stock.
(you can set another point but you should know what you are doing)
4 DEFINE TOOLS
You can either create tools, start from a file that has tools, open all the tools from a
previously saved library or open a library and drag and drop tools you need in the tool
list. There is an option to load specific feedrates from each tool for every operation.
Our Tool Library in RhinoCAM format can be found at:
Dropbox\FAB_LAB_IOANNINA\13_CNC_router\01_RhinoCAM\Tool_Library
ProjectName_StepNumber_Tool_ToolNumber_ToolName_RPM_operation_ToolLength.nc
ie. MyProject_01_Tool_1_#201Nomad_6.35_Flat_25000_roughing_TL45mm.nc
MyProject_02_Tool_22_#202Nomad_6.35_Ball_20000_finishing_TL35mm.nc
FABLAB_IOA_SHAPEOKO_INSTRUCTIONS 2
C
C. TOOL SETUP
1 KEEP TOOLS ORGANISED AND IN THEIR CASES
Always return each tool in its case, after use.
4 AVOID OVER-TIGHTENING!
DON'T APPLY PRESSURE ON XY Axes!
While tightening tool, you may move XY Axes and zeroing will be lost! Hold router with
other hand. if XY move, you have to relaunch carbide motion and reinitialise machine.
(XY zero may differ slightly in this case, but will be mostly usable. shapeoko remembers
the previous XY Zero even if switched off and back on)
7
BLOW AWAY DUST FROM TOOLS AND SPINDLE
WHEN CHANGING TOOLS
Dirt and particles can destroy tools and spindle.
9
FIX BRUSH HEIGHT TO TOOL END (OR LOWER)
Use the thumbscrew to loosen the dust collector and adjust height. remove front brush
module to change tools, or slide off entire brush holder when zeroing with probe.
FABLAB_IOA_SHAPEOKO_INSTRUCTIONS 3
D
D. OPERATION SETUP
1 HOME MACHINE
Launch Carbide Motion, click CONNECT TO CUTTER, go to JOG, click CONTINUE to
INITIALISE MACHINE. Note: step necessary only when you first connect to machine.
Always keep your hand near kill switch when probing, homing or rapid positioning.
X Probe: Place tool 5mm to the left of probe, tool must be lower than probe level.
Y Probe: Place tool 5mm in front of probe, tool must be lower than probe level.
Z Probe: Place tool 8mm above probe circle.
Why manually zeroing Z? A. Probe cannot be placed properly (cut debris, small or
uneven surface) B. Part is thick and Probe cannot fit
FABLAB_IOA_SHAPEOKO_INSTRUCTIONS 4
E
D. OPERATION RUN
1 LOAD CORRECT PROGRAMME (TRIPLE CHECK)
(INFO/LOAD/LOAD NEW FILE) If you overwrite a programme from RhinoCAM, Carbide
Motion will correctly load the new one, even if it has the same name (you have to reload
manually in motion).
2
ENSURE YOU HAVE CORRECT TOOL
AND THAT THIS SPECIFIC TOOL WAS ZEROED
Slowly move cutter to stock top and ensure coordinates read Z0. Always RAISE TOOL
afterwards, tool may crash when program starts.
5
START VACUUM/ ROUTER TO CORRECT RPM
Correct RPM is mentioned in each CAM operation or Feed Calculator and .nc Filename.
Router Dial to RPM: 1 = 16000RPM, 2 = 18000, 3 = 20500, 4 = 22500, 5 = 25000, 6 = 27000.
FABLAB_IOA_SHAPEOKO_INSTRUCTIONS 5
“Give ordinary people
the right tools and they
will design and build
the most extraordinary
things”
Neil Gershenfield
creator of Fablabs
FABLAB_IOA_SHAPEOKO_INSTRUCTIONS 6