I've had my machine for a few months now, a Probotix Comet. I've cut a number of projects, many things just to learn the CAD/CAM process from design to finished part(using Fusion360). Made a few errors, but have managed not to crash/break anything. When I began I taped a piece of 1" insulation foam to the table as a spoil board to give me a buffer for mistakes, and cut mostly thin stock like balsa, thin ply, and foam board sheets. I've also done some 1/2" MDF for laminating forms and 1/4-1/2" ply for patterns and simple text signs. I removed the foam spoil board today and drilled a grid pattern in the supplied board to install some t-nuts so I can clamp some bigger material and be sure it doesn't move.
Next things I want to learn/do...
- I need to learn how to edit g-code directly or change how the postprocessor does so. Running LinuxCNC, on a Probotix machine and using Fusion360 for CAD/CAM. Before starting a cut, I zero the x-y-z axis on the part origin with the cutting tool in the machine, normally with the z being the top of the stock. Then when I start the cut the spindle moves up, and the machine prompts me to load the first tool. This is where I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, I already loaded the tool, and I just click through that prompt. It never engages the surface, stopping short in the z axis but continues to follow the cutting path otherwise. I then stop the cut, click the return to x-y zero, re-zero the z axis again, and restart, at which point it moves to the correct z position during the cut. Any pointers to g-code/postprocessor knowledge would be very welcome.
- Build some fixturing blocks, and clamps to use with the hole grid I have now. Plan is to use simple blocks to capture corners of rectangular stock and some cam clamps to grip the sides of the stock. These I will draw up and use the machine to cut them out. Probably will be some revisions involved. Also some hold down clamps of some sort.
- Build a vacuum table for cutting thin sheet stock. It isn't apparent in the builds or videos I've seen. Do people use a spoil board "insert" of some sort on the vacuum tables?
Very happy with the machine so far and looking forward to more projects.
Brian
Next things I want to learn/do...
- I need to learn how to edit g-code directly or change how the postprocessor does so. Running LinuxCNC, on a Probotix machine and using Fusion360 for CAD/CAM. Before starting a cut, I zero the x-y-z axis on the part origin with the cutting tool in the machine, normally with the z being the top of the stock. Then when I start the cut the spindle moves up, and the machine prompts me to load the first tool. This is where I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, I already loaded the tool, and I just click through that prompt. It never engages the surface, stopping short in the z axis but continues to follow the cutting path otherwise. I then stop the cut, click the return to x-y zero, re-zero the z axis again, and restart, at which point it moves to the correct z position during the cut. Any pointers to g-code/postprocessor knowledge would be very welcome.
- Build some fixturing blocks, and clamps to use with the hole grid I have now. Plan is to use simple blocks to capture corners of rectangular stock and some cam clamps to grip the sides of the stock. These I will draw up and use the machine to cut them out. Probably will be some revisions involved. Also some hold down clamps of some sort.
- Build a vacuum table for cutting thin sheet stock. It isn't apparent in the builds or videos I've seen. Do people use a spoil board "insert" of some sort on the vacuum tables?
Very happy with the machine so far and looking forward to more projects.
Brian