Newbie could use some help

[Ted D]

Maybe this belongs in the troubleshooting forum, but this seems to be the general question forum.

First some background. I make and sell gun racks online. The more intricate parts are cut from 3/4" plywood by CNC which I've contracted out since I started about 2.5 years ago. I've done all the CAD files myself, but never operated the machine. Everything is "2D" and nothing complicated. I finally decided it was time to get my own CNC router and do everything in house for several reasons. To that end I purchased a PRTstandard 48x96 2000 model off this forum. It's "third hand" and the second owner never assembled it so I was flying a little blind on getting it up and running. In spite of that, it's moving in three directions as of today (not bad considering it was delivered a week ago if I say so myself).

I'm still learning the software, but have run into an issue (first of several I'm sure) already. When I enter a distance to move in any of the three axis the machine actually moves roughly 1.5 times the distance. I'm working in inches and don't think it's a metric issue.

Any help? Any suggestions about anything else? TIA

[ken_rychlik]

under values, click on unit values. By changing these numbers, it changes how far it moves with a given command.

Withought knowing your exact setup, we can't tell you what your values should be.

A call to shopbot would take care of what numbers you should have there.

Customer support is free even on a third hand machine.

Kenneth

[Ted D]

Thanks. I was in that screen and saw those, but they didn't make any sense to me. Currently they are x)733.386, y)733.386, z)916.7324.

I don't even know my exact set up. :D

One reason I went with a ShopBot was because of the support. I've called them twice already and figured I'd give the forum a shot instead of bothering them again. I'm heading down to IWF in the morning to pester them in person. :)

[ken_rychlik]

Take those numbers along and the serial number off of your control board.

They should be able to fix you up.

Kenneth

[dlcw]

Go to the directory:

C:\Program Files\ShopBot\ShopBot 3\Settings

and you will find a subdirectory that has PRT settings in it. Go into this subdirectory and choose your machine. There will be a file in there that matches your machine. Run this file and it will set these parameters for you.

[Ted D]

Thanks again. I found the settings file and the numbers in it are the same as in the control software already.

[Ted D]

Okay, now it's a software question. I'm using Parts Wizard 2 because that's what came with the machine. I've imported a .dxf file and created a tool path. I've saved it as a .sbp and got it to run on the machine (no bit, router off), but of course it's about 50% oversized. My question is about tabs. I found where to set them up in the SB control software but all it allows is a set distance apart. I can't find any way to manually edit them in either PW2 or the SB control software. Am I just out of luck on that?