How to use a CNC Router: A practical guide for beginners (Personal CNC Routing Book 1) by Dennis Keeling

Author:Dennis Keeling [Keeling, Dennis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-05T07:00:00+00:00

Personal CNC Routing

The CNC bed size is also configured in the control system.

This enables the system to accurately predict the position of the router. It constantly keeps track on the machine co-ordinates.

My machine has switches at the home positions for all three axes so the machine can be ‘homed’ to zero to reset the machine co-ordinates.

The starting position for machining does not have to be the hole position. Mach3 has a second set of co-ordinates which in-turn are zeroed to the starting point of the work. It also has the ability to specify off-sets to help with advanced setting out of the work.

These offsets can be used for edge finders and also depth probes.

It is also worth checking the distance travelled. Mach3 allows me to set a distance travelled in each axis to check the accuracy.

I usually use a 1m metal rule and set the distance to say 50cm from a start position. If the distance travelled is not quite 50cm then the actual distance travelled can be entered and Mach3 will recalculate the stepping size and update the configuration..

Having set up the control system, a sample G-Code project can be set up to check the operation.

Operating the CNC

The G-Code file is loaded into the CNC control system. Mach3

undertakes an initial check on the file to ensure its readable. It displays the toolpaths on the screen and you can see from the first two lines the G-Code is specifying the tool size and the material size.

The toolpaths are shown on the screen - the red dotted lines show the jogging at a safe height, the purple toolpaths the cutting and the blue toolpaths showing where the bridges will be created.

I have selected a 3mm diameter end-mill for the machining.

An end mill is a general purpose router bit that can be used for drilling as well as slot cutting and area clearance. I could have used a 5mm end-mill which would still have been suitable for machining the 5mm fillets of the spokes as well as drilling the hole.

The type of router that I have used is a upward spiral solid tungsten carbide bit. The upward spiral is ideal for machining acrylics. It removes the chips quickly and therefore does not allow it to build up heat, melt and clog the router.

The router bit is held securely in the router usually by a collet chuck. My current router uses ER16 collets, my CNC Mill uses ER 24 collets. The collets are slightly adjustable for example the 5mm collet has a range of 4mm - 5mm. A 5mm collet is not happy holding a 4mm bit. Most router bits shank size is Page 24

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.