Problem between aspire and shopbot

[frank134]

Ok I am making a case with hidden hinges about 11.75 x 9.75 x 1 each half. I drew this in Aspire. I then went to my toolpath . I picked the cutter, feed rate, set path depth, spindle speed and filled in all the other inputs. I did the calculate and run the preview toolpath. All looked great, so I saved toolpath, picked the post processor ShopBot (arcs)(inch)(*.shp).
Now I start my ShopBot software. Get my file 11.5 case and try it in preview mode. Then the problems start. It seems to cut the hinges out fine. But at closer look, instead of cutting it .25 deep, it all the way thru the board and the last hinge hole is way too close to the end of the case. So I check the box size in the shopbot material preview. I find that instead of the case being 11.75 x 9.75 x 1 it 8.65 x 4.75 x .22 ( for every tool path that I save the case comes out to have a difference board size. Also when I start to cut out the hinges in cut mode,the cutting start about two inches from where it should of and ramps into the hinge starting point. Then drills almost thru the 1” board.
Can anyone help with this. Oh I have a prsalpha. I have reinstall the firmware and running 3.6.14
Thank you
frank

[woodworx]

check your z zero setting. At the table or at the top of your material?

[frank134]

z set is ok. I zero good.

[adrianm]

In the material setup in Aspire check that you don't have any offsets specified.

The material size in the SB3 preview won't match the size specified in Aspire unless your parts take up the whole piece.

The size seems to be determined by the x,y zero postion and the outer extents of the toolpath.

[frank134]

ok so I shouldn't worry about anything in sb preview or it's tool setting in the material side. ok so then what could cause the tool to sometime
ramp into were it should start and cut deeper then it should.

[frank134]

I should say that sometime these file cut perfect then the same file on another peice messes up. I have been pulling my hair got for three weeks with this.

[frank134]

1.I have reformatted the hard drive install xp.
2.reinstall the control software 3.6.14
3.reinstall the firmware as per frank from shopbot.
4.check to make sure I used the right toolpath, but as you can see it cut the first blank from plywood right. It also did this on vcarve tool path on top. It cut out fine on the plywood, then on the cherry it did a ramp to the first letter and dug in almost 3/4 of and inch before I could stop it. Here some pictures of the lock latch.
7892
7893

[john_david]

Is your machine grounded good?
It is possible you are getting interferance.
Make sure all your A\C power is not too close to comunication wires (motor wires) and if you need to cross them cross at 90 deg.
I had simalar problems once and hooked up jumper cables (for a car) from the Bot to a water pipe and it did make a difference. Then I grounded the machine correctly

Hope this helps
JD

[frank134]

oh yes believe me it grounged. # 8 copper to each rail including the z. to each computer control box, firm control box and the vsd an then to 3 3/4- 10'ground rod, steel building frame and last water line. This started after I up loaded ver 3.6.5. I don't want to go back because I want to buy e-cab link to make cabinet.

thank you john. I going to call shopbot in the morning again an see if they can help. Just though someone on here might of had this problem.

[GlenP]

Frank does this happen on other files or just this one? can you email me the file and I will try on my machine for you? I have a PRS standard.
Have you drilled a HOME reference hole before you start your file and then after see if it returns to home (check drilled reference hole. Check your comms and make sure they are up above 70%. Make sure you don't have a ground loop. Is this a new problem or new machine and first cuts? Please send me the file or another botter so we can isolate that it is not the file.

[frank134]

7894 (22.3 k)


7895 (10.1 k)


7896 (1.3 k)


7897 (1.1 k)
hope this work. never uploaded file before. that the whole upper gun case file even aspire file.
I am an electrician by trade. I check for ground loop an har. all are good. beside I had the bot since last year. It started went I upgrade the software. maybe I could go back and forget about e-cab.
anyhow thank glen. I hope I did something wrong and you fine it.I can not load all the file here some are over 50k. Is there another way?

[erik_f]

Is it possible that your z is binding somewhere? Maybe the pinion is too tight or the v bearings are too tight? If this were the case you may not lose steps when the z is traveling towards the table, but when you pull up to jog you could be losing steps. If this is the case then next time the z plunges it will go too deep like what you are seeing. If you z jog speed is too much this could also be the case. If in fact you have a standard. I'm not sure if this is possible with an alpha. Just my 2 cents.

[myxpykalix]

This is a totally uneducated guess but with some of the other issues with the newer versions of the control software, i would guess that might be your problem.

My guess is their might be parts of a previous version that was not deleted or overwritten that are causing problems. Call shopbot and have them go thru a clean reinstall. (although on rereading you did a reformatting of drive)...hmmm

[srwtlc]

Frank,

Could it be possible that you have the z zero set to the table instead of the material surface in Aspire? Either in "Job Size and Posiiton" or in "Material Setup"?

Another thing people have to look out for when using the default SB posts, is that they command the tool to start it's z plunge as it is on it's way to the start point of the first cut. This can cause possible gouging or clipping of any hold down setup that may be in the path. A slight modification to the post is needed to stop that behavior. Also, the Z1 Z2 ability in Aspire is not enabled in the SB post either so it will have no effect.

[GlenP]

can someone with a Alpha chime in please. I have looked at Franks files and they are fine but I think he is using the wrong PostP. When aspire updated last it changed some posts and made a directory for the old ones. I have removed all posts I don't need to reduce confusion but I am thinking he is using the Standard Machine post and needs the alpha. We have been emailing offline but want someone with a alpha to give opinion. Should he be using the Shopbot Arch Inch (with speed)??? In Aspire 1.0 they had a post called Shopbot arch inch (alpha control).

[srwtlc]

Other than the control of spindle on/off and rpm, the movement commands are the same.

What's the Aspire (.crv3d) file look like? Z zero set to the material or table in material setup? If it's set to the table and you zero the tool on the material surface, it's going to go too deep and gouge on it's way to the start point.

[dlcw]

The postprocessor I use for my PRS Alpha is:

ShopBot Alpha (arcs)(inch)(Spindle RPM)

and I've never has a problem cutting Aspire files. I just completed cutting 2 48' mantle scenes create in Aspire and toolpathed with the above PP and they turned out really good.

Don
www.dlwoodworks.com (http://www.dlwoodworks.com)

[frank134]

I talk to shopbot and they insist it not zeroing right. So we went thru it and zero to the top and it work fine this time. I will cut a bunch tomorrow and let you all know. At this point I just want the problem to go way. I like to thank all you guys for you help and suggestion. I will let you know

[frank134]

Hi, All. Here is the latest update. As I said, I called shopbot and they said that It was in the zeroing of the bot. So I re-zeroed it while I was on line and it worked fine. Now don’t I feel stupid. So I thank him and hung up. I am happy. I start to cut. One ,two, everything fine. I get to the third one and the bit goes across the board. I wanted to take a sledge to it. What did I do? The only thing I touched was the key board, when I pushed it back. So I shut it all down. Re-start and I can’t get it to move. Now what? As I look at the keyboard I see that the USB cable is near it. So I wiggle it and I get the bot to work. So I find that I had a bad USB cable. Every once in awhile I would move the keyboard which hit the USB cable and broke the connection.
Thank everyone for all your help
Case solved.
Frank