Scribd
Upload
750 views5 pages

CNC Router Basics

The document provides an introduction to CNC routing and the ShopBot CNC router. It discusses key terminology like CAD, CAM, and CNC and explains the basic components and functions of a CNC router. The document also outlines the basic process for designing a project using vector design software, creating toolpaths, exporting machine instructions, and operating the ShopBot CNC router to manufacture parts.

Uploaded by

latrua
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
750 views5 pages

CNC Router Basics

The document provides an introduction to CNC routing and the ShopBot CNC router. It discusses key terminology like CAD, CAM, and CNC and explains the basic components and functions of a CNC router. The document also outlines the basic process for designing a project using vector design software, creating toolpaths, exporting machine instructions, and operating the ShopBot CNC router to manufacture parts.

Uploaded by

latrua
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

AS220Labs

IntrototheCNCRouter
BasicsTerminology&Understanding
CNC(ComputerNumericalControl)istheprocessofusingcomputercodetocontrol amachine. CAD(ComputerAidedDesign)isacomputerprogramthatallowsyoutodesignyour physicalparts.Thiscanbeforboth2Dand3Dparts. CAM(ComputerAidedManufacturing)isacomputerprogramthatdirectlycontrols andgivesinstructionstoamachine. ThebestwaytothinkaboutthesetermsisthattheCADprogramdesignstheinstructions fortheCAMprogramtosendtotheCNCmachine. CNCRouterisaspecifictypeofCNCmachineforcuttingandengravingvarious materials.Thismachineusesamillingtooltofabricateparts. MillingToolisthespecificcuttingtoolthatattachestothemachine.Therearevarious typesoftools,eachoneisintendedforadifferentapplication.

Figure1.ARouterTool ThisisthetoolholdingassemblythatattachestotheCNCRouter.There arethreemaincomponentstothisassembly. 1. Collarthreadsontothespindle,securestoolandcollettothemachine. 2. Colletspringcontainerthatholdsthetools,itlocksintothecollar. 3. Tooltheactualcuttingtoolwhichisplacedintothecollet.

Toolpathisaninstructionforthemachinetofollowtocreateapart.OneprojectontheShopBot mayinvolvemanytoolpaths.OnewaytothinkabouttoolpathsishowGoogleMapscreate instructionsforyoutofollowwhendrivingtoadestination.Yourprojectistogettoyour destinationandonelineiteminthedirectionsisanalogoustoonetoolpathinaproject.Wewill

discusstoolpathslaterinthecourse.

ApplicationsofCNCRouting
Cabinetmaking Furniture/Woodworking Signmaking Boatbuilding InstrumentMaking Manufacturing&Production Interior&Creative Printmaking ArchitecturalMillwork Construction MachiningAluminum Prototyping&Modeling Exhibits Education

TheShopBot
PRSstandard9648CNCRouter
TotalCuttingArea:96"x48"x6" StepResolution:.0006

TableOrientation

Design
Youwilldesignyourprojectfileswithavectordesignprogram.Inkscapeisanopensource vectordesignprogramthatwewillbeusingforthisworkshop.Vectorsareanimportantconcept inCNCandDigitalFabrication.Vectorgraphicsuseamathematicalformulatorepresenta shapeorobject. Remembertheformulafortheareaofacircle? r2 ? No?Okay,wellsufficeittosaythatvectorgraphicsareallcomposedofcomplicated mathematicalformulaslikethisone.Thisallowsthegraphicstoscaleindefinitelyandhave infiniteresolution,thisisanimportantqualityofvectors.ThinkofvectorsasGPScoordinatesfor yourmachine,withoutityoumachinewouldhavenoideawheretogoorwhattodo. TherearemanydifferenttypesofVectorDesign/CADprograms,hereafewpopularprograms: Inkscape(Free) AdobeIllustratorCS6($20/month) AutoDeskAutoCAD($4,195)

Ifyouhaveneverdesignusingacomputerbefore,werecommendthatyouuseInkscape, becauseitsfree,andjustasusefulastheotherprogramsthatcostmoney.

Toolpaths
Afteryoufinishdesigningyourfile,youwillexportthefileasaPDFformattedfile.Wehave foundthatwhenworkingwithInkscapeorIllustrator,PDFsworknicelywiththeShopBot Software.

PartWorks
TheprogramthatwewillbeusingintheLabstocreateToolpathsiscalledPartWorks.Thisis softwarespecifictoonlyShopBotmachines,sowemustusethistocreateamachinableor CAMfilethattheShopBotcanunderstand. Therearethreemainstepsyoumustdobeforeyoucansendyourfiletothemachine. 1.SetupMaterialInformation Inthissection,youwillspecifythesizeofyourmaterial(ex:4x8xplywood).Thisisavery importantstep,andistheonlywayforthemachinetoproperlycutoutyourfile.Youwillalso

specifywhereyouwillZerothemachineout(eitheracornerorthecenter). 2.ImportandCheckVectors/CloseOpenVectors Aftersettingupyourmaterial,youwillimportyourvectors(storedinthePDFfileyouvecreated). Placethemwithinyourdocument(material),makesureallthepartsareplacedontheareaof yourmaterialandnotoutside.Youwillalsochecktoseeifyouhaveanyopenvectors,Iwillgo overthislaterinthecourse. 3.ProgramToolpaths Thisisthefinalstep,youwillnowselectyourvectorsandspecifyoneofthefollowingtoolpaths. Profileprofiletoolpathsareforcuttingalongaline,usuallytocutoutapartfromyour material. Pocketpockettoolpathsareusedtohollowoutorrouteaclosedareainyourmaterial. DrillingdrilltoolpathswilldrillholeswhereyouhavespecifiedeitheracircleoranX.

AfteryouvecreatedyourParthWorksfile,youllbeabletorunapreviewofyourjob.Thisisa veryimportanttomakesureyourpartsmachineoutcorrectly.Thisyourlastcheckbeforeyou runyourjob,sodoublecheckeverythingandcloselyexaminethepreview.

Manufacture
YouwillsaveyourPartWorksfile(.crv),butthisisnotwhatwillbesenttothemachine.Youwill needtoexportaShopBotPartFile(.sbp).Thisisthemachinegcodefilethatiscomposedof instructionsforthespecificmachine.AllCNCMachinesusesomeformofgcodefilestorun jobs,buttheydifferbasedontheManufacturerandCAMsoftwareusedtooperatethemachine.

ShopBot
ShopBotistheCAMsoftwarethatweusetocontrolthemachinedirectly.Thisishowwemove themachinearoundthetable,zerooutonourmaterial,andrunourjob.Onceyougettothis step,youwillhavetogothroughthefollowingchecklist. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. TurnOnMachine(RedSwitch) ZeroX&YAxistoYourMaterial LoadToolintoSpindle ZeroZAxiswithZeroPlate MakesureRouterTableisclear

6. TurnonSpindlewithKey 7. TurnonDustCollector 8. LoadPartFileandStartJob

You might also like