By Gary Campbell, January 31st, 2010
Daylight Method
One of the handiest things we can learn from big iron machines with Automatic tool changers is how they keep track of multiple bit lengths in up to a dozen tool holders. Even tho most of us do not have ATC’s, there are some real advantages to implementing a method to zero or rezero …
Continue reading >>> The Daylight Method
By Gary Campbell, June 2nd, 2009
In my last article I explained why we need a toolchange routine, and in this one I will try and show you what it takes to do this and how it works. During this explanation I will give reference to the toolchanger code. Included with SB3 Version 3.6.1 (the latest), in the C:\SbParts\Custom folder is …
Continue reading >>> The ShopBot “Virtual” Toolchanger- Part 2
By Gary Campbell, June 1st, 2009
Recently, the Thermwood Corporation and ShopBot Tools, Inc. introduced a new product called “The ShopBot Link”. The ShopBot Link is a nesting and toolpath program that allows us, the ShopBot user, the same ability to cut files on our ShopBots as were previously only afforded to Thermwood owners. These cutting files are generated by Thermwood’s …
Continue reading >>> The ShopBot “Virtual” Toolchanger
By Gary Campbell, December 2nd, 2008
There are many reasons that your gantry can be out of square or plumb. The gantry can be jostled during shipping, bolts can loosen due to vibration, moving parts wear, metal can fatigue, or the machine may have had an impact. No matter what the reason, you should add checking for square and plumb to …
Continue reading >>> Tuning Up the PRS Gantry
By Gary Campbell, November 2nd, 2008
Occasionally when assembling our cabinets we need to install pocket hole screws for a blind screwed connection. Cutting the screw pockets on the ShopBot is a natural progression from cutting the panels and then moving them to a pocket machine. Commercial pocket machines use an angled drill bit that plunges laterally into the material face. …
Continue reading >>> Adding Pocket Hole Joinery to your Cabinet Panels
By Gary Campbell, October 2nd, 2008
While waiting for our shipping date to arrive, my son and I, like most new users, agonized over all the details of electrical, vacuum, placement and layout of all the items necessary to running our Bot. We probably read every post on the TalkShopBot Forum concerning vacuum going back to 2005. After asking a few …
Continue reading >>> My 4 Motor Vacuum Setup
By Gary Campbell, August 2nd, 2008
One of the things that we always had in mind for our ShopBot was to use its automation capabilities to replace some of the operations that we had previously outsourced. Due to increasing lead times and decreasing quality, our first chore was to start in house manufacturing of the solid Maple Dovetail Drawers we use …
Continue reading >>> Dovetail and Mortise Jig
By Gary Campbell, June 2nd, 2008
A plenum is little more than a few slots cut into a piece of material, but there are some options to consider when designing one for the first time. Start out your design with a size that is very close to your finish zone size so that any resizing is minimal before cutting. The general …
Continue reading >>> A PVC Vacuum Table Part 2: A little more on Plenum Design…
By Gary Campbell, June 2nd, 2008
As a relative newcomer to the ShopBot community, let me first say I am honored to be asked to join the likes of my fellow columnists. I am sure that all of you respect them, and their opinions, as much as I do.
Over the next few months I will try to use my woodworking and …
Continue reading >>> A PVC Vacuum Table
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