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Getting To Know The Shopbot

Author: Bill Shaw

Version: 2021-08-16

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Administrivia

  • Parking
  • Bathrooms
  • Refreshments

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Class Outline

  • Shopbot Overview
  • Changing a bit
  • Work Holding
  • Properly zeroing the machine
  • Loading a job
  • Running the Job
  • Cleanup

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Shopbot Overview

  • Safety Gear
    • Wear Safety glasses
    • Wear ear protection
    • No open toed shoes
    • MDF – Respirator strongly recommended
      • I would recommend the respirator for all jobs because of the dust
    • Follow all Woodshop safety rules
  • Controller
  • Computer
  • Spoil Board / Waste board
  • X-Y-Z system
  • Router
  • Dust collection

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Dont’s

  • Move the gantry by hand
  • Go near the router while it’s spinning
  • Get near an active gantry mechanism
  • Leave a mess
  • Cut through the spoil board

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Prep

  • If the previous user didn’t clean properly, you’ll want to get any sawdust off the spoil board and other equipment including dust collector. Empty if more than half full.
  • If you need to replace either the spoil or waste board, see shop steward
  • Power up
    • Turn on the power strip.
    • Plug in dust collection (overhead power)
  • Turn on computer
    • Password is the same as the Wi-Fi password
    • If the computer was left on, reboot it
  • Copy files from your thumb drive to c:\shopbot\{YourUserName}\{Job}
    • Never cut jobs from USB

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Changing the Bit

  • Default bit is ¼” End Mill. Make sure that’s what you leave when you’re done
  • Position the transom
  • Raise the router to give yourself room to work
  • Change the bit
    • Use finger or scrap to hold it up while you tighten
    • Flutes should not be in the collet
  • Do this before you zero the axes
  • If you abuse it, $40 to replace ☺

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Work Holding

  • Don’t screw into the waste board
  • Use clamps
  • If you need to screw into something
    • Add another piece of scrap that can be clamped
    • Be absolutely sure the router never goes near the screws
  • Don’t screw into the waste board
  • Use clamps
  • If the clamps aren’t holding, you’re either cutting too deep or feedrate is too high.

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Properly Zeroing The Machine�aka �How to NOT Destroy the Waste Board

  • 1. Setting X and Y
    • Press K key or yellow icon for manual move
    • Use arrows to move transom and Z
  • 2. Finding Z (hint: It’s the TOP of your work piece)
  • 3. What is air cutting?
  • 4. Reusing your work piece
  • 5. Reset Z EVERY TIME you�change the bit.

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Loading/Running the Job

    • Click Cut Part
    • Choose first file
    • Click Start
    • Flashy thing reminds you to turn on the
      • Dust Collector
      • Router
    • Click OK
    • Don’t change the other options. You should have set these up properly in your job.
    • Load next file and repeat
    • Turn off router and dust collector

Cutting Tips

  • Max depth of cut should be no more than half the width of your bit.
  • Listen to the router. If you hear it laboring, you’re cutting either too deep or too fast.
  • If you aren’t clearing chips, it will burn your piece. (too slow/too deep).
  • Order your cuts so that you aren’t cutting a piece that has already broken loose.
  • You can’t cut a feature smaller than your bit.
  • Know your feeds and speeds.
  • Although we don’t have CNC control of the spindle speed, it can be manually adjusted.

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Cleanup

  • Remove your work
  • Move the gantry back to the zero position.
  • Replace the ¼” Endmill in the router if you changed the bit.
  • Make sure these are turned off and unplugged
    • Dust collection
    • Router
  • Turn off the power strip with controller and computer
  • Clean everything off the machine and desk – use a brush and the shopvac.
  • Clean the floor around the machine and desk (minimum 6 foot radius).
  • Empty the dust collection bin if the fill level is to the bottom of the view port.