Need Help! Squaring work piece


Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Squaring work piece

  1. #1
    Registered
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    1
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Squaring work piece

    Recently got a 4x8 CNC router and I'm new to all this.

    Here's my scenario.

    Let's say I have a 4"tall x 12"wide piece of wood that I want to engrave a name right in the center.
    I know how to set up the CAD/CAM and then export the gcode to mach3.
    I'll find the zero on the corner and set up the machine but how do I make sure my piece is square?

    Ideal set up would be like pic1 and the word is centered in the piece. But what if I find the zero but the piece is skewed ever so slightly, the words wont be squares like pic2. How do I tell the machine how exactly the piece is oriented so even if the piece is skewed, then the words are too like pic 3

    What tool/software/add ons do I need to do this or is it just measuring from the edges of the machine and try to set the piece as best as I can

    Any help is appreciated

    Similar Threads:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Squaring work piece-screenshot_20180312-011143-jpg   Squaring work piece-screenshot_20180312-011303-jpg   Squaring work piece-screenshot_20180312-011345-jpg  


  2. #2
    Member ger21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Shelby Township
    Posts
    35538
    Downloads
    1
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Squaring work piece

    How do I tell the machine how exactly the piece is oriented so even if the piece is skewed, then the words are too like pic 3
    You'd need to probe the edge to find the angle, and use G68 to rotate the machines coordinate system.

    It's much easier to just measure.
    Or engrave some lines in the spoilboard to line up the board to.

    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html[/URL]

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html[/URL]

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    [URL]http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html[/URL]

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    35
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Default Re: Squaring work piece

    If your spoilboard has any type of hold down (drilled and tapped holes, T-Nuts, etc), you can use dowel pins. On mine, I have 1/4 drilled and tapped holes. I'll stick a 1/4 dowel in the holes for the aide of the work piece and the bottom, giving me a square surface on 2 sides of the machine. Then I will put a side pressure hold down on the 2 sides that are opposite the dowels, giving me good hold on all 4 sides. Just look up mitee-bite and you will see what I mean about the side clamps.

    Depending on the thickness and type of material I use will decide what type of dowel pins I use. I will chuck the wooden ones up in my drill press and sand them all down to the same thickness, with different lengths for different thicknesses. I also have some aluminum round bar at different lengths, but I had to get those hit on a lathe to get them 100% round all the way around. If you don't have a lathe, you should be able to find some precision turned round stock somewhere with a tolerance of +-.005, which should work just fine.



Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


About CNCzone.com

    We are the largest and most active discussion forum for manufacturing industry. The site is 100% free to join and use, so join today!

Follow us on


Our Brands

Squaring work piece

Squaring work piece