The Shapeoko Forum

Draw it.
CAM it.
Cut it.

All wired up and ready to go. I found that wiring and figuring what wire I wanted to use to be harder that putting the hardware together. I ended up using some wire I had that I got from the hardware depot store. It is for sprinkler systems. It has 7 solid core wires in a PVC jacket. It makes a good...

I do something similar. I move the spindle by hand to the XY origin. I turn on the spindle and lower Z by hand until it barely contacts. I can hear it before I can see it. Then I reset X,Y,Z to 0.0,0.0,0.0 (if needed) and send the file.

Bits make a big difference too. I could only do 0.02" (~0.5mm) with the bit that came with the machine. I ordered bits off of Ebay and with those I was able to go to 0.03" (~0.75mm) and a bit higher feed rate. I was cutting plywood mostly - red oak but also some luan and birch.

I like to design in SketchUp and then export the 2D to SVG using the Flights of Ideas plugin.

I then replace the segments with real curves and get it ready for CAM.

I use Sketch Up, OpenSCAD and AutoCAD 123D Design.

My brain prefers things like this a little more terse. May I sugggest: Warning: NEVER connect or disconnect motors while power is applied. ALWAYS insure motors will have electrical connection throughout the possible range of motion. OR ELSE motor drivers can be destroyed or something like this that ...

If I were you I would start at 3.3 A and do a few moves. Then lower it and move again. Keep doing lowering the amperage until it misses step. That way you can know your lower limit and then adjust the max current above that for margin. The driver probably need blowing air on them at the higher levels.

...is it related to my z-axis problem? It could be. That’s the 5V bulk storage cap. If the 5V is dipping when the Z axis is commanded it could give trouble. Also it could be now more a resistor than a cap since its broke. I would take a picture of it for proof that you got it this way and then try ...

This looks like it is for a foam block. True?

I think you can export a profile in the form of a DXF file.

See Projection in the OSCAD Manual

Should be able to pocket with DXF.