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SHAPEOKO CNC USER GUIDE for SDFWA by Jim Sykora July 31, 2017

ABRIDGED GUIDE (see following pages for details)

1. Install the correct end mill into router page 2

2. Attach work piece to Shapeoko page 2

3. Turn on the power page 4

4. Launch V Carve Pro Maker page 5

5. Run the Simulation page 6

6. Save tool paths to Shapeoko (inch) G-code page7

7. Launch Carbide Motion page 9

8. Zero the router on the lower left corner of work piece page 10

9. Run an “Air Cut” page 13

10. Rezero for the real cut page 14

11. Set correct router speed page 15

12. Turn on router page 15

13. Run the program and start cutting wood page 16

14. Shut down the system page 17

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INSTALLING AN END MILL

Push the yellow button to lock the spindle as you turn the nut with the wrench. The nut is tight but not too tight.

ATTACH THE WORK PIECE TO THE SHAPEOKO

1. Use either double sided tape or brass screws to attach the work piece to the Shapeoko. You will need a sacrificial

board between the work piece and the Shapeoko base if you will be cutting completely thru your work piece.

Use a guide to line up one edge of the workpiece with the Shapeoko.

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2. Cut a length of carpet tape to fit the bottom of the work piece. Attach it to the bottom and peel away the liner.

Line up the work piece with the Shapeoko using a guide. Remove the guide.

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TURN ON THE POWER

1. Push the PC’s “ON” button, wait a minute for the PC to boot up, (get the password from the Shift Supervisor) then

put in your thumb drive containing your V Carve file. While waiting, turn on the Shapeoko (step 2).

2. Flip the switch on the power strip. Verify that the toggle switch is also set.

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LAUNCH V CARVE PRO

1. Double click on the V Carve Pro Makerspace icon on the PC’s desktop.

2. Load the file that is on your thumb drive. Find the location that you saved the file. Highlight the name and click on

Open (or just double click on the name).

3. The screen will look similar to this. Click on Toolpaths.

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RUN THE SIMULATION

1. Click on the Preview Toolpaths icon. Click on the push-pin to keep the Toolpaths menu on the screen. Check the

box called “Toolpath List”. All of the tool paths will be automatically check and previewed.

2. Click on the Preview All Toolpaths button. Your model view may look different than this one, that’s OK.

3. If the tool path preview looks good you are ready to proceed or else you can make changes first. When done, click

on the “Close” button. Click on the Push-Pin to close the Drawing window.

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SAVE THE TOOLPATHS TO SHAPEOKO G-CODE

1. If your work piece can be cut using the same end mill for all cutting, follow this step or else go to step 6 for

multiple end mills. Select all tooling paths and click on the Save Toolpath icon. Check the box called “Output all

visible toolpaths to one file”. Verify that all of the toolpaths are listed to be saved. Click on the box called “Post

Processor” and select “Shakeopo (inch) (*.gcode). Click on the Save Toolpath(s)… box. It doesn’t matter which

model is showing (the blue Avalon or the little arrows of the tool path). Just click on the correct buttons.

4. Scroll down the folder tree to find the folder called G-Code Files. Since many people will be using this folder you

need to create a subfolder with your name on it. Right click on the folder called G-Code Files . Follow the menu

down until you reach “New >”. Hover over the “>” arrow and click on “Folder”.

5. Change the name from “New Folder” to your last name by typing over the blue highlighted “New Folder” name.

Press the enter key. Now double click on this newly created file to open it up as a place to save your G-code. Name

the file using descriptive names like avalon profile, avalon pocket or avalon pocket and profile. Eventually many

files will be stored here and naming them appropriately will help later. Save the file. Click the Close button.

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6. If you need to change end mills for different cuts, you must save the toolpaths separately or else the router will

just continue to cut the next tool path with the same cutter. Select only one of the tool paths, leave the box called

“Output all visible toolpaths to one file” unchecked. . Click on the box called “Post Processor” and select

“Shakeopo (inch) (*.gcode). Click on the Save Toolpath(s)… box. Follow steps 4 & 5. Then click “Close”.

7. Now save the V Carve file that you made previously in your newly named folder. This folder will hold all of your

future V Carve designs and their associated tool paths. Click on “File” and follow the menu down until you reach

Save As… Click on Save As… Navigate to get to your sub directory under G-Code Files as before.

8. Close V Carve by clicking on the “X” in the corner. Remove your thumb drive by clicking on the up arrow and

choosing to delete the “F drive”. If you get an error, right click on the F drive, click on eject, click on Continue.

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LAUNCH CARBIDE MOTION

1. Double click on the Carbide Motion icon near the top right of the desktop. Click on the green hexagon.

2. Click on Load and select the file from your Folder. When loaded, you will see the file name displayed.

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ZERO THE ROUTER ON THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE WORK PIECE

1. Verify the correct file is loaded and click on the “Jog” Button. Click on the Homing button. The router will retract to

the far right corner and reset the internal counters in the PC to this “Home” location.

2. Click on the “Fast” radio button then hold down the X- and Y- buttons to move the router to the work piece center.

You can also use the PC’s keyboard to move the router. Use the left, right, up & down arrows for X & Y directions.

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3. Slowly bring down the router to the top of the work piece. Use the .1in, .01in and .001in radio buttons as you get

closer. If you drive the router into the workpiece, it will skip and the entire Homing/Zeroing process will need to be

repeated. Use the”<” and “>”keys to move the router down. Wiggle some paper under the end mill as you bring

the router downward. You should have the .001in radio button selected for this . When the paper is pinched you

are at the top surface. Leave the paper here for now.

4. Click on the Set Zero button. Click on the Zero Z button. Click on the Done button.

5. Click on the .1in radio button and click on the Z+ button until you reach a nice, round, easy to remember number

such as 0.400 or 0.500. Write down this number as you will need it later. The end mill is now at this height above

the top surface of the work piece.

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6. Move the end mill to the lower left corner of the work piece. Click on the Slow radio button and on the X- and Y-

buttons (or use the keyboard’s arrow keys). You don’t have to be exact. Click on the Set Zero button.

7. Click on the Zero All then Done buttons. We are correct in X & Y but at a safe Z height above the work piece.

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RUN AN AIR CUT

1. You should see all zeros on the left. Click the Run button. Click on the center of the hexagon to start the Air Cut.

Quickly, move the computer’s mouse cursor over the Pause button to quickly stop the router motion if needed.

2. Either wait until the entire air cut is finished or click on Pause then Quit if satisfied that the cut will go well.

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REZERO FOR THE REAL CUT

1. Click on the Jog button. Then click on the Rapid Position button.

2. Click on the Current Offset (X & Y) button. The router will move to the lower left corner of the work piece. Click on

the Current Offset (Z + 6mm). The end mill will now be 6 mm (0.236 inches) above the last saved height which was

0.400 or 0.500 inches above the work piece top surface. Note that the Z position reads 0.236 inches (6 mm).

3. You need to change the Z height zero so that it will be at the surface of the work piece. Use the .1, .01 & .001 radio

buttons and the Z- and Z+ buttons to move the router down slowly until -0.400 inches (or whatever you initially

chose to remember) is reached. Click on the Set Zero button. If you inadvertently drive the router into the work

piece, it will skip and the entire Homing and Zeroing process must be repeated.

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4. When you have reached the Z height that you remembered, click on the Zero Z button. Click on the Done button.

SET CORRECT ROUTER SPEED

1. Look at the router speed chart on the wall. Find the dial position for the type of wood you are using. Adjust dial.

TURN ON THE ROUTER

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RUN THE PROGRAM AND CUT WOOD

1. Click on the Run then the hexagon buttons to begin the cutting. Move the cursor over the Pause button in case.

Enjoy the Show! If another cut is needed with a different tool, turn off the router, install the new tool and repeat

the steps found in the “ZERO THE ROUTER ON THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE WORK PIECE” section.

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SHUT DOWN THE SYSTEM

1. Close Carbide Motion by clicking on the “X” in the top right corner.

2. Click on the window icon. It is in the bottom left corner of the desktop. The screen in step 3 will appear.

3. Click on the “Power” icon (lower left corner). Click on Shut down.

4. Flip the switch on the power cord to turn off the Shapeoko. Leave the toggle switch left on.

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SHAPEOKO CNC

USER GUIDE