Need Help!- My 10 questions

[schoolboyeric]

1. How to pause and lift up the z axis(when probing and

cutting)--- i got a (i/o error 103 do you know what

that means)????



2. How can you save a partially completed probe?




3. What is the difference between Pausing and E-stop?



4. Also why do i sometimes get a overtravel warning and

have to reset the limit(meaning disable then enable it)



5. What is the best way to probe(aka set up the

machine, ex: what is the best type of tape to use)???



6. The z lower level and lower z level???? in the 3d

surfer program are not the same thing??? or do you

define how much you want to do in one pass/(two or

more).




7. What is the best way to hook up a vaccumm?




8. Can you leave it alone probing all night...or is

there a limit to how long you can leave it on????



9. What is the best way to clean the machine(do you

unplug it) what maintenance does it require...and what

filter should we install????



10. What are some things that you should'nt do with the

machine aka can u put a plastic box on it and have a

vaccumm connected so that the dirt does not travel

everywhere????....

[Larken]

. How to pause and lift up the z axis(when probing and cutting)--- i got a (i/o error 103 do you know what that means)???? 2. How can you save a partially completed probe?

You can pause the probing, but while paused, you can't raise the Z axis. Error 103 is a file error. Just save the file once, per session.

No, you can't save a partially probed job. It must finish to balance the 3d surface data.

3. What is the difference between Pausing and E-stop? 4. Also why do i sometimes get a overtravel warning and have to reset the limit(meaning disable then enable it)

Like the words say, pausing doesn't stop the file
When you run to the end of an axis you will get overtravel ! Disable the limit switches, jog it oout of overtravel (look at indicators on bottom of StarCNC screen) and then re-enable limit switches.

5. What is the best way to probe(aka set up the machine, ex: what is the best type of tape to use)??? 7. What is the best way to hook up a vaccumm? 10. What are some things that you should'nt do with the machine aka can u put a plastic box on it and have a vaccumm connected so that the dirt does not travel everywhere????....

If its a complex 3d shhape, maybe hot melt glue to a board, or Double sided tape for flat objects

Do you have the dust pickup like in the picture on larkencnc.com ?
http://www.larkencnc.com/spindles.htm

I make 2 types, a plastic vacu-formed one and a brush type.

6. The z lower level and lower z level???? in the 3d surfer program are not the same thing??? or do you define how much you want to do in one pass (two or more).

Is this in the slice menu ? Use the auto_ adjust to origin command in surfer to position the z top to zero.

8. Can you leave it alone probing all night...or is there a limit to how long you can leave it on????

It can run all night, but don't have the sample resolution too small. It just makes huge data files. Go between 0.020" - 0.100" from small to large objects. The probe accuracy is only 0.01" .

9. What is the best way to clean the machine(do you unplug it) what maintenance does it require...and what filter should we install????

best to use a vacuum cleaner instead of compressed air to clean the table.
If the delrin nuts on the lead screws squeek, use graphite spray on the leadscrews.
They require very little maintanance, unless you are cutting very dusty material like MDF. Then you may need to clean the linear bearings about once a year.

[schoolboyeric]

i thank Larken for there quick and detailed response...
It is a great machine, just need some time adjusting to it....
Also if a probe gets dirty how do you clean it(lets say wax on it, does the wax disturb the probe from probing properly)...
You said to clean the machine use a vacuum, how about inside the black box... i think a DC powered vacuum should do the trick...

Thanks a bunch....

[Larken]

Where is the school located ? we sell a lot of machines to schools across Canada.

[schoolboyeric]

I am not at a school, i am at Kodiak Security Systems helping my boss makes signs and stuff. I was new to the machine and have gotten use to it thanks for all the responses.