Hello TJ. As a follow-up to my reply on this thread dated 11/26/17, I would really hope that you can re-consider my suggestions, which are all connected with maintenance of Shopbot machines. After carefully looking through the SB training videos on the SB site, and looking on YouTube, I simply can't find anything that addresses the maintenance issues I raised on 11/26/18.
The most pressing issue for me personally, is trying to "true-up" the Z axis, using a dial indicator on a trammel bar. I find that this is very difficult to do accurately. At least I have never gotten this right, based on the ridges I get when resurfacing my spoil board. Past threads on the forum have people putting a wire, that is bent as a Z into their collet, and revolving it around so it scrapes evenly across the spoil board. I think that people resorting to such methods that don't even use a dial indicator indicates a real lack of professional guidance, and the need for detailed, thoughtful tutorials on this subject. (There is a general YouTube video of someone using a double headed dial indicator to align his spindle,,, but it isn't a Shopbot, and he says the process is tedious and difficult. Even the results he achieved, as shown in his follow-up video indicate that for all of his efforts, sub-par results,,, again, indicating the difficulty of this process, which therefor indicates the need for a detailed Shopbot specific video.)
Even shining light on the consideration of how do you true up the spindle/Z axis, when your table isn't really flat, because your Z axis isn't trued up would be valuable.
I like the topics you discuss and demonstrate. But if many people's machines are not anywhere near in tip-top alignment, aren't these other topics secondary? (I am making the assumption that there are lots of misaligned machines out there,,,,, which seems fair since alignment is not easy to do, and there aren't sufficient training vehicles.)
For all the year's of Shopbot's existence, it would seem as though a fundamental set of videos on how to make all the assembly alignments and tune-up alignments would be mandatory in order to have a user base with optimally operating machines. But what is a successfully operating machine? How good of a cut can you get? What does a bad cut look like, and how do you relate cutting problems to the source of the under-lying misadjustment??? Training videos seem to me to be the logical way to address all these topics.
If there were Shopbots all over in my area (Chicagoland) maybe I could knock on doors and prevail upon the kindness of a local expert to show their good results. But even in Chicagoland, I have only found one other Botter near by, and he seems to be more or less in the same boat as me, not really knowing if something is not right, is busted, or just can't be made to work any better, let alone knowing how to fix or improve the cutting results. And a few years back there was a Shopbot camp put on in our area which I attended. In part I hoped to make local connections, but the only other local Botter is the one I already know...……..
I use the forum when I am stuck, and then I call the support people...…. Everyone tries to help,,,,,,,,,,, but I still feel left to scratch my head wondering why I have problems with my cuts. I am assuming that my fundamental issues of imprecise cuts, and variable cut depths (a killer when trying to do fine V-carving) all come down to a fundamentally mis-aligned machine. So that is why I am harping on videos to cover how to carefully align all aspects of my machine, and not just how to change a pinion.
Thanks, Chuck
PS: Sorry if I sound whiney,,,,, it comes from my frustration...…..
PPS: In case there are videos somewhere that address my needs, I would be happy if someone could direct me to them.
