FLA-100 2'x3' 80/20 metal mill - Must see!

[CNC Lurker]

As for bits, I bought the 3 piece sign making set that includes a 60°, 90° and 3/8" core box bit. I used one of the 20% discount coupons that Rockler sends to those on the mailing list so it wasn't the full $70 price tag.
Rockler 3-Pc. Signmaking Router Bit Set LINK

I bought 1/8" and 1/4" down-cut spiral bits from Woodcraft. They had Freud but the Whiteside brand is more affordable and on sale when I went:
WHITESIDE Down Cut Spiral Bits LINK

I did buy some bits on Ebay and haven't tried all of them except a 1/4" down-cut spiral bit and it works very good. The other items I bought were 1/8" 2 flute endmill and 1/8" 2 flute ballnose endmill.

As for Vcarve, you ought to watch the many tutorials they have if you haven't already:
VCarve tutorials LINK

You can save all the toolpaths in one g-code file, but there are 2 things you have to do. First you have to tell Mach to have you manually push cycle start for toolchanges. Second, you'll have to put an M6 in the g-code where the toolchange is. There might be a way to have Vcarve put in the M6 automatically, but I haven't found it.

[Aryantes]

There might be a way to have Vcarve put in the M6 automatically, but I haven't found it.

I'm currently using Aspire, but if VCarve is the same...

In the tool database you set a "Tool Number" for each of your bits.

When the program creates the G-Code, if the tool number of the next tool is different, it will put a pause in there for you to change bits.

Sometimes I will create duplicate tools with different tool numbers just to put a pause somewhere in case I know that I will need to put an additional hold down or something in the middle of a project. (or remove one)

[CNC74]

All,

I have been able to achieve another milestone in my quest to learn the art of CNC. I was able to cut the Mayan calendar yesterday and am very pleased with the results! (I have attached a couple pics.)

I would like to thank numerous folks here at CNCZONE for all the help they have provided to me in getting to this point.

Angie, Ahren, Nate, Paul, and many others, THANK YOU!!!! for your part in gettting this thing off the ground. Without all of you this project would have been a bucket of parts!

Two months ago I had nothing, no machine no CNC knowlege, no clue how to get "here". Today I have limitless possabilities and the sky is the limit! (I never thought I would get to this point so quickly!!)

[CNC Lurker]

Looks great! What steps did you take to get that finished look? Is that a brown spray paint then sand the top layer off or what?

[brtech]

Help,

I am looking for some different size collets for my Hitachi M12VC router.

A google search garnished more questions than answers with regard to any other sizes beyond the 1/2" and 1/4" sizes.

I would like to find a 3/8" collet and any smaller ones if they are avalible. I know I can get a kit from precise bits but its very expensive so I am considering it a last resort at this time. I also see the spacers that are availible but everyone is screeming about the rounout issues while using them.

Any idea?

gpcollets.com

precisebits tells you what Bosch router uses the same collets as the M12VC, gpcollets sells collets for the right Bosch router. Less expensive. Good quality, but not as good runnout as precisebits.

[CNC74]

All,

I have been doing pretty good since completing my build but just realized that the machine is cutting everything backwards (backwards text, and reverse images). I have read through a few posts that describe the same issue and have attempted the following things to fix the issue but it has not worked.

I have gone into Mach3 and adjusted the homing setup where I had it set to X=REVERSE & NEGATIVE and Y=REVERSE & NEGATIVE, I tried the settings to the oposit and it did the same thing.

I am trying to cut a simple Harley logo and its just doing the same thing no matter what Mach3 settings I select. (BACKWARDS MIRROR IMAGE)

My machine and software are as follows:
FLA-100 CNC
MACH3
GECKO 540
VECTRIC VCARVE PRO 6.0

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[zeeway]

In Mach3 Config/Homing - the first column allows you to reverse the axis. The "Home Negative" column allows you to tell the machine whether you want it to home at the positive end of the axis or the negative end (zero) end of the axis.

I suspect you are changing too many things at once. If the image is reversed in the x direction, go into Config/Homing and only change the first column to reverse the x motion...similar for y, only if it needs it.

Angie

[CNC74]

Angie,

I bet you are right and I only needed to change one of the axis ("Y").



Off topic,

I stumbled across an awsome site for vectorized artwork called "brandsoftheworld" but it seems as if the vectors are all messed up on many of them. Is there an "easy way" to fix them so VCARVE can use them to create and process the tool paths?

Just figured I would throw the question out there in case anyone has had any experiance with that sort of thing.

Thanks!!

[eaglezsoar]

All,

I have been able to achieve another milestone in my quest to learn the art of CNC. I was able to cut the Mayan calendar yesterday and am very pleased with the results! (I have attached a couple pics.)

I would like to thank numerous folks here at CNCZONE for all the help they have provided to me in getting to this point.

Angie, Ahren, Nate, Paul, and many others, THANK YOU!!!! for your part in gettting this thing off the ground. Without all of you this project would have been a bucket of parts!

Two months ago I had nothing, no machine no CNC knowlege, no clue how to get "here". Today I have limitless possabilities and the sky is the limit! (I never thought I would get to this point so quickly!!)

A great calendar, good job. Are the files for the calendar available on
the web?

[CNC Lurker]

A great calendar, good job. Are the files for the calendar available on
the web?

Yep, here is the adobe illustrator file: http://www.vectric.com/forum/download/file.php?id=884

[eaglezsoar]

Thanks for the file link!

Carl

[CNC74]

Thnaks to Angie for the tip!

Changed just the X to reverse and all was well!

Here is a new project I cut last night:

(See picture attachments)