Difference between revisions of "Equipment/CNC Router/Hand Controller"
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== Main operational changes == | == Main operational changes == | ||
| − | + | * '''Feed rates come from G-code by default''' - check your software tools to see what they use. You can adjust it up and down from this on the pendant (up to a safety limit of 3000 mm/min). | |
| − | + | * There is no mandatory home on power on, but you should do this when you first power on the machine. | |
| − | + | * No changes are required in terms of g-code supported - proceed as you did for the previous pendant (modulo the feeds thing above). | |
| − | + | * There's no internal storage on the pedant, designs run from the USB stick. | |
In initial usage one may get confused ramping up the feed rate whilst it was doing non-straight designs, so, until we shake out all the "features" please be cautious, and let the owners know if you have any issues. | In initial usage one may get confused ramping up the feed rate whilst it was doing non-straight designs, so, until we shake out all the "features" please be cautious, and let the owners know if you have any issues. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
The manual is reasonably penetrable - skip to page 12 and start from there for how to use it. | The manual is reasonably penetrable - skip to page 12 and start from there for how to use it. | ||
| + | |||
Feed rates now need to be set in your software tool! Spindle speed is still controlled manually. | Feed rates now need to be set in your software tool! Spindle speed is still controlled manually. | ||
| + | |||
When the machine is in an error mode, once you’re happy things are okay, press RESET to go back to a usable state. | When the machine is in an error mode, once you’re happy things are okay, press RESET to go back to a usable state. | ||
| + | |||
The pendant has three main screens, which you switch between using the MENU button. | The pendant has three main screens, which you switch between using the MENU button. | ||
| Line 45: | Line 48: | ||
* The file selection screen | * The file selection screen | ||
* The machine configuration screen (password locked, only owners can change) | * The machine configuration screen (password locked, only owners can change) | ||
| + | |||
When on the operation screen, what the key presses do depends on the mode it is in, which is selectable by pressing TAB. If they keys don’t do what you expect then this is probably why. | When on the operation screen, what the key presses do depends on the mode it is in, which is selectable by pressing TAB. If they keys don’t do what you expect then this is probably why. | ||
| + | |||
When the machine starts it starts in the error state, so press RESET one you’re happy the machine is okay. | When the machine starts it starts in the error state, so press RESET one you’re happy the machine is okay. | ||
| + | |||
The CNC Router should be homed before use (see 5.2.5.1 in the manual). To do this from the main screen: | The CNC Router should be homed before use (see 5.2.5.1 in the manual). To do this from the main screen: | ||
| Line 54: | Line 60: | ||
* Press OK | * Press OK | ||
* Wait whilst the machine finds the origin | * Wait whilst the machine finds the origin | ||
| + | |||
Before working on your piece you need to set the X and Y origin (see 5.3.2 in the manual). To do this from the main screen: | Before working on your piece you need to set the X and Y origin (see 5.3.2 in the manual). To do this from the main screen: | ||
* Move the gantry to the correct X/Y position using the arrows (see 5.2.3 in the manual) | * Move the gantry to the correct X/Y position using the arrows (see 5.2.3 in the manual) | ||
* Press the XY->0 button | * Press the XY->0 button | ||
| + | |||
Every time you change a bit you need to set the Z origin (see 5.4.1 in the manual). To do this from the main screen: | Every time you change a bit you need to set the Z origin (see 5.4.1 in the manual). To do this from the main screen: | ||
| Line 65: | Line 73: | ||
* Select PROBE from the menu | * Select PROBE from the menu | ||
* The gantry will move down to touch the puck | * The gantry will move down to touch the puck | ||
| + | |||
You will need to select a g-code file to run (see 5.5.1 in the manual): | You will need to select a g-code file to run (see 5.5.1 in the manual): | ||
| Line 72: | Line 81: | ||
* Press OK | * Press OK | ||
* This will now take you back to the main screen. At the top of screen you should see the name of the file you picked. | * This will now take you back to the main screen. At the top of screen you should see the name of the file you picked. | ||
| + | |||
To run the selected file from the main screen (see 5.2.4 in the manual): | To run the selected file from the main screen (see 5.2.4 in the manual): | ||
| Line 77: | Line 87: | ||
* Press RUN | * Press RUN | ||
* It takes a little longer to get started than the old pendant, be patient | * It takes a little longer to get started than the old pendant, be patient | ||
| + | |||
The feed rate can be adjusted whilst the program is running (see 5.5.3.4 in the manual), both slower and faster than rate specified in the file (up to a maximum of 3000 mm/min). To change the feed rate whilst your g-code is running: | The feed rate can be adjusted whilst the program is running (see 5.5.3.4 in the manual), both slower and faster than rate specified in the file (up to a maximum of 3000 mm/min). To change the feed rate whilst your g-code is running: | ||
| Line 82: | Line 93: | ||
* Use the +% and -% buttons to change | * Use the +% and -% buttons to change | ||
* Note the manual recommends general you set the feed rate high and go slower with the FRO, rather than using FRO to run at more than 100%. | * Note the manual recommends general you set the feed rate high and go slower with the FRO, rather than using FRO to run at more than 100%. | ||
| + | |||
To pause a running job press PAUSE. To abort the current job press RESET. | To pause a running job press PAUSE. To abort the current job press RESET. | ||
Latest revision as of 09:57, 25 February 2019
Equipment / CNC Router / Hand Controller
We have a new controller as of February 22nd, 2019. Thank you to Michael Dales and Adrian van den Heever who installed it.
Please read the User's manual (PDF) for all the information. Most settings are similar to the old router (User's manual).
Contents
Emergency
The most important instruction is how to stop a job in an emergency: touch the yellow button with "PAUSE" at the bottom.
Main operational changes
- Feed rates come from G-code by default - check your software tools to see what they use. You can adjust it up and down from this on the pendant (up to a safety limit of 3000 mm/min).
- There is no mandatory home on power on, but you should do this when you first power on the machine.
- No changes are required in terms of g-code supported - proceed as you did for the previous pendant (modulo the feeds thing above).
- There's no internal storage on the pedant, designs run from the USB stick.
In initial usage one may get confused ramping up the feed rate whilst it was doing non-straight designs, so, until we shake out all the "features" please be cautious, and let the owners know if you have any issues.
What if the router refuses to run?
If you have done everything right and the router still won't start when you press "Run", you may have a soft-X edge issue. One user had homed the head to the point at the most left and bottom, set X-Y zero, but the router could not start from there. After turning on and off again and doing the same, in the second run the point at the most left and bottom was not the zero set in the first run. So the machine may have some variance in that lower left point.
Move the head up and right by around 0.3mm, set X-Y to 0 again, and try again.
Setting Z-0
- Put probe under bit
- Press advanced button
- Scroll down to Probe
- Press okay and wait
It takes it a moment or two to get started, but otherwise seems fine.
Cheat sheet
The manual is reasonably penetrable - skip to page 12 and start from there for how to use it.
Feed rates now need to be set in your software tool! Spindle speed is still controlled manually.
When the machine is in an error mode, once you’re happy things are okay, press RESET to go back to a usable state.
The pendant has three main screens, which you switch between using the MENU button.
- The main operation screen
- The file selection screen
- The machine configuration screen (password locked, only owners can change)
When on the operation screen, what the key presses do depends on the mode it is in, which is selectable by pressing TAB. If they keys don’t do what you expect then this is probably why.
When the machine starts it starts in the error state, so press RESET one you’re happy the machine is okay.
The CNC Router should be homed before use (see 5.2.5.1 in the manual). To do this from the main screen:
- Press HOME
- Press OK
- Wait whilst the machine finds the origin
Before working on your piece you need to set the X and Y origin (see 5.3.2 in the manual). To do this from the main screen:
- Move the gantry to the correct X/Y position using the arrows (see 5.2.3 in the manual)
- Press the XY->0 button
Every time you change a bit you need to set the Z origin (see 5.4.1 in the manual). To do this from the main screen:
- Secure the bit in the spindle
- Put the Z-probe puck under the bit
- Press ADVANCED to bring up the advanced menu
- Select PROBE from the menu
- The gantry will move down to touch the puck
You will need to select a g-code file to run (see 5.5.1 in the manual):
- Insert USB stick with file on - DO NOT REMOVE UNTIL JOB IS FINISHED
- Press MENU to go to the file selection screen
- Navigate to file you want
- Press OK
- This will now take you back to the main screen. At the top of screen you should see the name of the file you picked.
To run the selected file from the main screen (see 5.2.4 in the manual):
- Ensure the spindle is running
- Press RUN
- It takes a little longer to get started than the old pendant, be patient
The feed rate can be adjusted whilst the program is running (see 5.5.3.4 in the manual), both slower and faster than rate specified in the file (up to a maximum of 3000 mm/min). To change the feed rate whilst your g-code is running:
- Press TAB until FRO (Feed Rate Override) in the top right is highlighted
- Use the +% and -% buttons to change
- Note the manual recommends general you set the feed rate high and go slower with the FRO, rather than using FRO to run at more than 100%.
To pause a running job press PAUSE. To abort the current job press RESET.
