precix: machine operation

Precix CNC Router1

Precix 11100 CNC RouterBasic 3-Axis Machine OperationWritten by: Mauricio Tacoaman

Precix CNC Router22

IntroductionCNC router possess a number of important factors for fabrication:

Precision The router performs with great accuracy.RepeatabilityIts ability to mass produce modules that are exactly the same. Allows for quick testing and prototyping. ComplexityIt allows for complex and intricate designs to be fabricated which otherwise would not have been possible.VersatilityThe router works with a variety of materials such as Plywood, High-Density Foam, MDF, Foam Board, and other materials.

Fig. 1 -DIfferent parts of the Precix CNC Router

Fig. 2 -Emergency Stop Button Fig. 3 -Controller/USB Ports Fig. 4 -Motor/Spindle

Precix CNC Router3

your_ job_name.nc

your_ job_name.nc

ShutdownMachine SetupNetwork Setup

Tool Changer SetupDigitize

Job Output

Job Queue Machine Status

Clear Queue

Delete from Queue

Add Job to Queue

Current Job:

Select as Current Job

Set Z Axis

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin

HelpOptionDebugFilePrecix

AbsoluteOrigin

Y ZXReset Home Turn Power OFF

Step One: Turning on the Machine and homing it1. Power:At the Switchbox, flick the switch up to “ON”. (Fig. 1)

Turn on the router by pushing the blue power button on the front of the controller (Fig. 2):

2. Home the Mill:On the Precix computer interface, turn on the power by hitting the “Turn Power ON” button (Fig.3). Then hit the “Home” button (Fig.3) to home the Mill. NOTE: BE AWARE THAT THE MILL MOVES! MAKE SURE THE MILL IS CLEAR OF OBJECTS AND PERSONS.

3. Homed:The Mill has now found it’s Harware Origin.

Fig. 1 - Switch Box Fig. 2 - Blue Power Button

Fig. 3 - Precix Interface

Precix CNC Router4

Step Two: Setup1. Safety is always first, make sure that the safety gears are ready and equip them before hand ling the machine. (Fig. 1)2. Be sure the table is properly cleaned from dust and debris, use vacuum cleaner if needed. (Fig. 2)

Step Three: Placing your material on the table1. Secure your material to the spoil board. (Fig. 3)2. Place your block of material on the table, making sure that it is oriented correctly – on the X-axis (the long side of the milling table) corresponding to the X-axis in RhinoCAM or other CAM software.

Material

Pallet or Fixture (Optional)

Spoil board

Fig. 1 - Safety gears Fig. 2 - Vacuum Cleaners

Fig. 3 - Router bed with material on spoil board.

Precix CNC Router5

Step Four: Load the cutting job1. Click on the “Clear Queue” button to make sure that there are no old jobs on queue. (Fig.1)1. Click on the “Add Job to Queue” button. (Fig.1)2. At the browse window, locate your job from your USB drive, and click the “Open” button.3. In the loaded job list, highlight your job, and click the “Select as Current Job” button. (Fig.1) NOTE: FILENAMES SHOULD BE UNDER 10 CHARACTERS AND DO NOT START WITH A NUMBER.4. Click on the “Job Output” (Fig.1) button and then click on the “Table Area” button under Preview. (Fig.2)5. You will see your job load on the table’s preview window. Confirm that it is completely on the table in the preview window. NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT SEE THE JOB, THEN YOU NEED TO SET YOUR PROJECT ORIGIN TO A NEW LOCATION ON THE TABLE. CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT STEPS, AND THEN TRY TO PREVIEW YOUR JOB.

your_ job_name.nc

your_ job_name.nc



Job Output


Clear Queue

Delete from Queue

Add Job to Queue

Current Job:


Set Z Axis

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


Collant

McodeAutoOffOnTool Poweroveride

Spindle Speed

Transverse Speed Cutting SpeedSpeed Overwrite

Cutter Speed

XY Job Origin

Job Configuration

X

Y

Move To:

Set As:Pointer

Current

Reset

Resume

Done

Start

Current Job:

Clear

Table Area

Part Zoom

Part/Origin Zoom

[Preview]

Set Z Axis

Output

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


%


Fig. 2 - Preview Button

Precix CNC Router6

Step Five: Loading a End Mill1.Unloading the endmill:If there is an endmill already on the machine, make sure to unload it. To do so, use the tools, to loosen the collet and have someone to assist by holding the endmill to prevent it from falling and getting damaged, OR have foam board or other soft material for the endmill to fall on.

2.The endmill:Choose the right endmill (as specified in RhinoCAM or other CAM software) and fitting collet to attach the endmill to the machine. (Fig. 1)

3.Positioning:Turn the collet until it starts to slow a little and place the endmill. Using your thumb as a marker, check that the endmill is properly in the collet. The endmill should only stick out as much as needed by the particular milling job. Long endmills tend to vibrate more (resulting in a slower cutting speed and greater risk of breaking).

4.Tightening:Using the tools, tighten the collet firmly. Do not overdo as you will have to release the endmill at a later stage. (Fig. 2)

Tightening tool

Collet Endmills

Fig. 1 - Tools / Collet / Endmills

Fig. 2 - Tightening / Loosening the Collet

Tighten

Loosen

Precix CNC Router7

Step Six: Router Settings & Material Thickness NOTE: THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SETTINGS ON THE MILL. IF DONE CORRECTLY, PREVENT THE MILL FROM MILLING INTO THE TABLE. IF DONE WRONG, THE MACHINE CAN DESTROY ITSELF AND INFLICT INJURY ON THE OPERATOR! BEFORE STARTING ANY MILLING, DOUBLE-CHECK THAT THESE SETTINGS ARE CORRECT.

(SEE APPENDIX-A) If the origin of the material is set to top of the block.Continue if the origin of the material is set to bottom of the block. 1.Setting Origin:Use the X-Y arrows (Fig. 1), move the endmill to the edge of your piece of material. Use the Z-Arrow (Fig. 1), move the endmill down so it just touches the top of the pallet or spoilboard (use a sheet of paper on the pallet or spoilboard, move it gently and you will feel when the endmill touches it). (Fig. 2)

2.Set XY:In the top left corner of the computer screen, click “Origin.”

3.Set Z0:Click “Z0” button (Fig. 1), your Z-origin is now set.

4.Set Z-M (Minimum):Click “Z-M” buttom and type in 0. This sets the amount it will mill below Z-origin. Set to 0.05 when performing a profile cut.

5.Set Z-UP:Click “Z-Up” (Fig. 1) to set to 1”, this is the height above the material at which the mill moves around the table. NOTE: IF SET CORRECTLY, THE “Z-M” PARAMETER PREVENTS THE MILL FROM GOING INTO THE TABLE

Collant


Spindle Speed


Cutter Speed

XY Job Origin

Job Configuration

X

Y

Move To:

Set As:Pointer

Current

Reset

Resume

Done

Start

Current Job:

Clear

Table Area

Part Zoom

Part/Origin Zoom

[Preview]

Set Z Axis

Output

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


%


Fig. 2 - Router after setup.

Precix CNC Router8

Step Seven: Starting the JobMAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THE 3 (THREE) EMERGENCY STOP BUTTONS IS PRESSED.1. Have a CNC Router Supervisor check the cutting job and the settings.2. Turn on the dust collection system, to use vacuum skirt if needed. (Fig. 1)3. Click the spindle button to “ON” (Fig. 2) instead of “Automatic” on the Precix interface. The spindle should start spinning. 4. To adjust the proper RPM (rotations per minute) for your material, Check “Overide” under Spindle Speed.Hard Woods and MDF – 9000-1200 RPMAcrylic – 6000 RPMFoam – 4800 RPM5. Click the “Start” (Fig. 2) button on the screen to begin the job.

* Make sure to monitor your job as much as possible during the milling process. It is recommended that you stay in the CNC lab to avoid any problems that may come up.

In the preview box you will see your toolpath with Cyan lines that will turn red once the tool on the Precix has gone over them.

The output display will also give you a progress bar by percentage.

Fig. 1 - Switchbox for dust collectors

Collant


Spindle Speed


Cutter Speed

XY Job Origin

Job Configuration

X

Y

Move To:

Set As:Pointer

Current

Reset

Resume

Done

Start

Current Job:

Clear

Table Area

Part Zoom

Part/Origin Zoom

[Preview]

Set Z Axis

Output

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


%

Precix CNC Router9

your_ job_name.nc

your_ job_name.nc



Job Output


Clear Queue

Delete from Queue

Add Job to Queue

Current Job:


Set Z Axis

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


Fig. 3 - Shutdown Button

Step Eight: Finishing / Shut Down1. Click “Off” to Turn off the motor controller.2. Take off your finished piece.

At this point you may move the gantry using the Precix user interface to make it easier to acces your piece.

3. Click “Done” (Fig. 2) in the job setup window.4. Click “Shut Down” (Fig. 3) in the main window.5. Power down the machine by pushing the blue power button.6. Turning OFF all wall switches for the Mill and Vacuums.7. Remove and clean the endmill.8. Cleanup dust and chips from the machine, use shop-vac if needed.9. Remove the tool and collet that you have used to avoid any damage in the future.

Collant


Spindle Speed


Cutter Speed

XY Job Origin

Job Configuration

X

Y

Move To:

Set As:Pointer

Current

Reset

Resume

Done

Start

Current Job:

Clear

Table Area

Part Zoom

Part/Origin Zoom

[Preview]

Set Z Axis

Output

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


%


Precix CNC Router10

Appendix-A: Router Settings & Material Thickness NOTE: THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SETTINGS ON THE MILL. IF DONE CORRECTLY, PREVENT THE MILL FROM MILLING INTO THE TABLE. IF DONE WRONG, THE MACHINE CAN DESTROY ITSELF AND INFLICT INJURY ON THE OPERATOR! BEFORE STARTING ANY MILLING, DOUBLE-CHECK THAT THESE SETTINGS ARE CORRECT.

If the origin of the material is set to top of the block.1.Adjusting Z-Height:Use the X-Y arrows (Fig. 1), move the endmill over your piece of material to the corner corresponding to the origin set in the CAM software. Use the Z-Arrow (Fig. 1), move the endmill down so it just touches the top surface (use a sheet of paper on top of your material, move it gently and you will feel when the bit touches it).

2.Set XY:In the top left corner of the computer screen, click “Origin.”

3.Set Z0:Click “Z0” button (Fig. 1), your Z origin is now set.

4.Set Z-M (Minimum):Click “Z-M” buttom and type in the height of the material. This sets the amount it will mill below Z-origin, to prevent it from milling into the bed.

5.Set Z-UP:Click “Z-Up” (Fig. 1) to set to 1”, this is the height above the material at which the mill moves around the table. NOTE: THE Z-M SHOULD NEVER BE GREATER THAN THE OVERALL MATERIAL THICKNESS. IF SET CORRECTLY, THE “Z-M” PARAMETER PREVENTS THE MILL FROM GOING INTO THE TABLE

Collant


Spindle Speed


Cutter Speed

XY Job Origin

Job Configuration

X

Y

Move To:

Set As:Pointer

Current

Reset

Resume

Done

Start

Current Job:

Clear

Table Area

Part Zoom

Part/Origin Zoom

[Preview]

Set Z Axis

Output

XY = Jog Speed Z =

to Z0to Z-Up

Z-M

Z0Z-Up

AutoSet Z0

Jog Speed

Move XYto Origin


AbsoluteOrigin


%


Fig. 2 - Router after setup.

precix: machine operation

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