ShopBot 3-Axis CNC Mill

GeneralInstructions

Tools
Model	ShopBot Alpha 96
Room	CNC Woodworking Room
Work envelope/max capacity	96" x 48" x 8"
Link to manual	https://shopbottools.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SBG-00142-User-Guide-20150317.pdf
Related tools	Vaccum hold down pump for 3-axis Shopbot
Trainer(s)	Paolo Riva
Training Sessions	ShopBot CNC Router Training
Knowledge keeper(s)
Training document(s)
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Safe Work Procedure	https://northforge.ca/community/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CNC-3-Axis-ShopBot.pdf#new_tab
Consumables	Bring your own cutters (some available in the vending machine). North Forge also supplies a variety of imperial ER32 collets (no metric sizes available).
Software	Aspire CorelDraw Fusion360
Equipment type	tool

• Vacuum hold-down available for parts larger then 24" x 48". Secondary spoilboards available for screwing and gluing - please don't glue or screw on the main spoilboard.
• Members can store their personal spoilboards in the CNC Spoilboard Storage

DRAFT: Do not operate CNC machinery unattended

edit this at template:Do not run CNC tools unattended

• Do not operate CNC machinery unattended. A camera feed while you are in another room does not qualify as attending the tool.
• The law (see 16.13) says that we can not leave a machine unattended unless the machine or part has been (a) immobilized and secured against movement; or (b) enclosed by a safeguard to prevent access by any other worker to the machine or part.
  • The Shopbots themselves are not enclosed. The CNC Woodworking Room contains tools in addition to the shopbots, and those tools may be used by other workers. This means we must not run our CNC machinery unattended.
• And here is some anecdotal evidence on top of it
• We have actually had at least 2 fires on CNC equipment at the fablab

for all

Safety1 Flagging as contentious safety concern.

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Troubleshooting

• Shopbot spindle won’t turn on, looks like the VFD isn’t turning on
  • try cycling the interlock key mounted on the control box a few times to clean the contacts
• Tool can't be loaded; nothing happens when green button is pressed
  • Wearing respiratory protection, blow off the beige control box on the left side of the ShopBot (near the pillar and planer).

edit these instructions at Instructions:ShopBot 3-Axis CNC Mill

Want to learn about Aspire? See Instructions:Aspire

for all

Want to make this page better? Edit it yourself, or talk to John Hache. North Forge would like to make sure instructions are clear and easy to use.

• Cargo

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Safety

Fire Notice

DANGER: FIRE. The ShopBot vacuum and dust extractor make it difficult to notice a fire until it has already started spreading. Always carefully plan cuts and monitor jobs closely.

If you notice any of the following:

• Burning smell
• Charring
• Tool damage
• Unusual Vibration
• Change in sound

STOP AND INSPECT THE DUST COLLECTOR FOR SIGNS OF FIRE.

PPE

Wear:

• Safety Glasses (to protect against flying dust and debris).

• Hearing protection (to protect against noise greater than 85 dBa).

• Respiratory Protection (N95 dust mask or respirator) to protect against airborne dust when cleaning or running the equipment.

Do Not Wear:

• Loose hair
• Loose clothing (especially hoodie strings)
• Wired earbuds or earplugs
• Jewelery

Hazards

Hazard	Causes	Mitigation
Fire	Friction from tools Improperly installed tools Overfilled dust collector	Use correct feeds and speeds Make sure the tool sticks out far enough Do not leave the ShopBot unattended Always check the dust collector before starting and empty if needed
Projectiles	Workpiece shattering Tool shattering Tool slipping Collision with fixtures and clamps Debris in wood	Check for cracks, knots, and debris in wood Use correct feeds and speeds Clean tool holder with compressed air Program file to avoid collisions Check that actual home position matches programmed home position
Entanglement	Pinch points Rapidly moving automatic equipment	No loose hair, clothing, earbuds, hoodie strings, etc Make sure tool has stopped before reaching in (hearing protection can make it hard to tell)
Noise	Motor noise, vacuum noise, tooling noise	Wear hearing protection
Inhalation	Airborne dust	Wear dust mask or respirator (minimum N95) while operating and cleaning

Tool stickout

E-STOP

In case of emergency, stop the ShopBot using one of three methods:

• E-STOP button on the remote. This will immediately cut all power to the ShopBot. The tool will spin down naturally. E-STOP is a good default option.

• Press the Spacebar. This will lift the tool up and apply the brake. This is a good option in less urgent situations, like needing to adjust the zero positions.

• Click the mouse. When the job starts, the mouse will automatically lock onto the stop button. Pressing any button on the mouse will stop the job in the same way as the spacebar.

Common Problems

Most issues are caused by:

• Improper feeds and speeds
• Improper tooling (especially low-quality tooling)
• Improper materials (particularly recycled materials with embedded nails or stones)
• Improper fixturing (workpiece comes loose)
• Improper programming/setup (offset mistakenly applied, not setting zeroes consistent with the programming, not avoiding fixtures)

Housekeeping

Empty the cyclone dust collector after every use. To empty the cyclone dust collector:

1. Unlock the clasp.
2. Remove the lid.
3. If the dust collector is less than halfway full, scoop or dump the contents of the bag into an existing can. If it is more than halfway full, remove the bag and discard it the garbage can.

Empty the main dust collector when the dust has piled halfway up the viewing window. Check before and after use and empty if required. Overfilled dust collectors can start a fire.

Break down large pieces before putting them garbage bins. Round off sharp corners to avoid puncturing the bag and injuring the person carrying it.

After use, clean the equipment and surrounding area. Continue wearing your hearing and respiratory protection while you are cleaning up.

1. Use a dustpan, vacuum, and broom to remove most of the dust from the table, and gantry.
2. Use compressed air to clean the gantry. Focus on areas where parts interact: rack and pinion, spindle mount, motor mounts, etc.
3. Clean the floor using a broom and dustpan, shop vacuum, or the dust collector hose. Make sure to clean under the ShopBot and the corners of the room. Replace the dust collector hose when done.
4. Empty any garbage bins that are more than 75% full and replace the bag.
5. Empty the dust collector if required.
6. Return fab lab tools to their proper locations:
   • Tool holders on the rack
   • Collets in the drawer
   • Collet wrench placed beside locking fixture
   • Calipers, drills/impact drivers, squares, hand tools in the tool room
7. Remove any personal tools, materials, and removable media from the room. The workbench should only have the wrench and locking fixture on it when done. Due to local fire code, do not store stock materials in the CNC room (fixtures are stored in the fixture cart - label with name and phone number)
8. Turn off the equipment per shutdown procedures.
9. Turn off the dust collector. If you are the last one in the room, turn off the room exhaust. The room exhaust is interlocked to the electrical system; turning off the room exhaust will turn off all equipment in the room.

Workholding Policies

Most profile cuts will cut entirely through the workpiece and into the spoilboard below. In order to cut all the way through the material without unnecessarily damaging the spoilboard, North Forge suggests programming cuts using the following formula:

Depth of Cut = Stock Thickness + 0.01”

This normally results in cutting all the way through the material without excessively damaging the spoilboard. Always measure stock thickness with calipers, never with tape measures or nominal dimensions.

If your cut penetrates deeper than 0.06” into the spoilboard, please stop and investigate. If the stock is set up correctly and the depth of cut is appropriate, the collet may be dirty or damaged and the tool slipping out, or the secondary spoilboard may not be perfectly parallel to the gantry (for example due to debris between the primary and secondary spoilboard, or issues with the underlying phenolic plenum).

Tips:

• Use a secondary spoilboard wherever possible.
• Zero to the spoilboard, not the top of the stock.
• Use conservative cut depths and nudge down as needed (for example, by using Z nudge function or manually tweaking z zero).
• Test toolpaths on a secondary spoilboard.
• Measure stock with calipers.

SCREWS

When using North Forge’s secondary spoilboard, it is okay to screw the workpiece in place. Do not:

• Screw into the main vacuum spoilboard
• Use nails to secure your stock to the vacuum spoilboard
• Use excessively long screws (ie long enough to pierce both the secondary spoilboard and the vacuum spoilboard).
• Use glue on the screw spoilboard or main spoilboard.

SPRAY ADHESIVE METHOD

It is also possible to use spray adhesive to secure the entire workpiece to the secondary spoilboard.

1. Use sandpaper to knock down any high spots on the glue spoilboard (if required).
2. Cover both the bottom of the workpiece and the appropriate part of the spoilboard with masking tape or painter’s tape.
3. Spray both surfaces with spray adhesive (available at most hardware stores).
4. Press the two surfaces firmly together and hold for 30 seconds.
5. Test the hold by trying to move the workpiece sideways.

Do not use glue on the screw spoilboard or main spoilboard. Do not use screws on the glue spoilboard.

Other

Other workholding arrangements are possible, including vices, pins, clamps, custom fixtures, and the vacuum system.

If you are cutting all the way through a large workpiece on the vacuum spoilboard, BE CAREFUL. There is a high risk of damaging the vacuum spoilboard. It’s a good idea to test cut settings on a small workpiece and a secondary spoilboard.

The primary goal of workholding is to control the movement of the workpiece in three axes: X, Y, and Z. Always carefully check toolpaths to ensure they will not collide with any fixturing.

TIP: After a cut operation, the ShopBot will move to the “Z Safe height” before moving rapidly to its next position. When using clamps or other fixturing, adjust the Z Safe Height in the CAM software such that the Z safe height is above the clamp or fixture.

Pre-Use Checklists

Safety

• PPE (hearing, eye, respiratory protection) is correctly used and in good condition
• Loose hair, clothing, and accessories have been removed or secured
• Workpiece has been inspected for hidden debris (nails, stones, etc)

File

• Programmed feeds and speeds are appropriate for the tool, material, and cut type
• File is programmed to avoid colliding with fixtures and equipment
• Files have been exported to sbp (inch) format.
• Files have been copied from portable media to the working computer

Stock Setup

• Physical origin (home position) is set to the same point as programmed (X, Y, and Z)
• Stock is facing the correct direction per the program

Tool

• Collet and tool holder have been cleaned; tool is secure.
• Tool stickout is long enough to complete the cut (tool holder will not collide with the top of the workpiece).
• Tooling is sharp.
• Tooling is appropriate for the task (not using downcut or compression end mills for drilling holes, not using standard low-RPM twist drills for drilling, etc).

Workholding

• Workpiece is secured to the table.
• Hold has been tested by manually trying to move the workpiece if using vacuum system.
• Screws are long enough to secure the material (4-5 teeth protrude into secondary spoilboard).
• Workpiece is secured in accordance with NF policies (no screws, glue, or nails on vacuum spoilboard).

Final checks

• Table is clear of tools and unused materials
• Spindle RPM has been verified
• Dust collector is on, emptied if necessary, and hose is connected

WARNING: UNEXPECTED HAZARDS. Stop cutting immediately if:

• Workpiece, cutter, or equipment is vibrating excessively
• The sound of the spindle or cut changes unexpectedly
• Through cuts penetrate the workpiece in fewer cuts than expected
• Signs of fire appear (smell of smoke, visible charring, embers).

Operations

Room Layout

Pay attention to the axis system when programming and laying out your stock.

Room Layout

Vacuum Zones

The vacuum table has four zones. Open the valves for the zones that you are using. Close the valves for the zones that you are not using.

Vacuum Zone Map

Setup

Put on eye protection before starting the ShopBot.

1. Turn on the room exhaust.

Room Exhaust

2. Check the dust collector and empty if required

3. Turn on the computer.

Computer on

4. Turn on the air.

Air on

5. Reset the E-STOP.

Reset E-Stop

6. Turn on the ShopBot power (right side of machine).

Turn on the power

7. Press RESET on the remote.

Press RESET

8. Start ShopBot 3 Software

Start ShopBot software

9. Open the Key Pad

Open KeyPad

10. Use the arrow keys to move the head around.

• On the keyboard: use the arrow keys for XY movement, or Page UP/Page DOWN to move Z axis.
• On screen: use the arrow buttons to manually move the spindle, or type the destination coordinates in X,Y,Z and press the GOTO button.

Use arrow keys to move

11. Load the spoilboard (if required) and material.

12. Start the vacuum table per vacuum table instructions.

Vacuum Table

Begin wearing respiratory protection and hearing protection at this point.

1. Clean the table of debris first using a broom, then using compressed air. Debris can affect the accuracy of the final part.

Clean the table

2. Open all valves on the vacuum table (OPEN = valve handle parallel to pipe)

Vacuum table

3. Turn on the vacuum table using the remote outside the room.

Vacuum remote

4. Close the BYPASS valve (middle) and any unused zones.

Byass valve

5. Check the hold by pressing horizontally on the secondary spoilboard or workpiece.

Tool Holder

Assembly

1. Place the components on a surface and clean with compressed air.

• Debris caught in the tool holder can cause the tool to slip, damaging the tool and equipment.

Clean the tool holder with compressed air

2. Insert the collet into the nut.

• Put the collet on the table and the nut on top.
• Press on the nut until the collet snaps in place.

Load the collet into the nut

3. Screw the collet loosely into the holder.

Loosely tighten the collet

4. Insert the tool.

• Do not tighten on the flutes
• Make sure enough of the shank is in the collet to properly hold the tool - tool should fill ~80% of the length of the collet.

Insert the tool

Load the collet into the fixture:

• Press and hold the top knob
• Insert the holder; rotate and push until it's fully inserted
• Shoulder must be flush with the face of the fixture

Load the collet into the fixture

5. Tighten the collet nut.

• Ensure all four teeth on the wrench are engaged
• Tighten the nut until the table lifts from the floor

Tighten the collet nut

6. Load the tool into the ShopBot

• Support the holder from the bottom.
• Tool goes into the conical receptor under the skirt.
• Press the green button briefly until the tool gets sucked in.
• If the tool does not load, use compressed air to blow off the beige control box near the pillar with the air line.

Load the tool

Disassembly

1. Unload the tool from the ShopBot.

• Support the tool holder from the bottom
• Press the green button; tool holder will fall out

2. Unscrew holder and remove collet and nut.

• Load the tool holder into the fixture
• Use the wrench to unscrew the nut

Remove collet and nut

3. Remove the collet by pushing with thumbs.

Push sideways

4. Replace the collet and nut in the drawer and tool holder on the shelf when done.

Zeroing Axes

XY Zero

XY axes are set manually (moving the tool to the desired home position).

1. Open the Key Pad.

Open KeyPad

2. Use the arrow keys to move the head to the desired XY home point.

Use arrow keys to move

3. Select ZERO AXES.

Zero Axes

4. Check "X-Axis" and "Y-Axis" then press ZERO

XY Zero

Z Zero

Z zero is done automatically with the Z zero routine.

1. Attach the Z zero fixture.

• Attach the clip to the collet nut or the tool
• Place the plate on the spoilboard or the top of the material, depending on how your file was programmed

Z-axis zero clip

2. Check the connection for continuity.

• Lift the plate and tap it against the tool. If input #1 flashes on screen, the connection is good. If input #1 does not flash, adjust the clip and retry.

Test Connection

3. Run the Z zero routine

• Tool will tap twice against the plate
• Watch the Z axis readout: if it continues scrolling downwards without stopping, the ShopBot has not detected the end of the tool. You must stop the routine and try again.

Z zero routine

4. Remove and store the fixture.

• Plate goes in the 3D printed holder on the right side of the spindle
• Clip attaches to the frame
• Make sure the clip is not touching the plate

Z zero plate storage

Spindle RPM Check

Occasionally, the ShopBot does not read the RPM from the file correctly. Other users may also have adjusted the default RPM away from 18,000. Use this method to manually confirm the RPM.

1. Select Tools, then Spindle RPM Control

Spindle RPM check

2. Click to the left of the word PREVIEW

Entering RPM (1)

3. Type the desired RPM and hit ENTER

Enter RPM (2)

4. Cursor automatically moves left. Type the RPM again and hit ENTER.

Enter RPM (3)

Running a Job

1. Check the dust collector. If the dust is halfway up the viewing window, empty it before use.

Check dust collector

2. Transfer files from USB to the computer. The ShopBot will not be able to read the files if they are left on the USB stick.

Transfer files, otherwise the ShopBot won't be able to read them

3. Select CUT PART on screen. Windows Explorer will open; select the part file and open it.

Select Cut Part

4. Press START on screen. Ignore the yellow file information screen that pops up.

Press Start on-screen

5. DO NOT PRESS OKAY - warning screen will appear.

• Pressing OK without starting the dust collector and spindle will damage the equipment!

WARNING: Turn on spindle and dust collector before pressing OK!

6. Turn on the dust collector.

Turn the dust collector on

7. Start the spindle using the START button on the remote.

• Listen to make sure the sound is appropriate - no abnormal vibration, chatter, etc

Press the spindle start button

8. Press OK on screen.

• The job will start
• Keep your hand on the space bar, mouse, or E-STOP

Press OK; the job will start.

Shutdown

1. Turn off the dust collector. Empty it if the dust is more than halfway up the viewing window.

Turn off the dust collector

2. Shut down the vacuum table.

• Open all valves
• Wait 5 minutes for the motor to cool
• Shut off using the remote outside the room

Open bypass valve, wait, then turn off the vacuum.

3. Remove the tool from the head.

Remove the tool

4. Move the head to the front of the bed.

Move the head to the front of the bed

5. Install the rest block under the head.

• Make sure the skirt isn't resting on the support block.

Install the rest block

7. Turn off the power.

Turn off the power

8. Turn off the air.

• The head will slowly sink downwards onto the rest block.
• Press gently on the head if the tool does not sink.

Turn off the air

9. Press the E-STOP.

E-STOP

10. Empty the cyclone dust collector.

11. Empty the main dust collector.

12. Turn off the exhaust if you are the last one in the room.

• If the air is visibly dusty, you may need to leave the exhaust running until it clears.
• Turning off the exhaust will cut power to other equipment in the room! Only turn off the exhaust if you are the last one in the room.

Turn off the room exhaust (if you are the last one in the room)