Editing CNC Router (section)

==ShopBot Software==

#Apply power to the ShopBot Controller (The beige computer tower).

 <nowiki>!!!SAFETY NOTE!!!
   Ensure that you power off the ShopBot controller when you are done to ensure that you do not overheat the Stepper Motor windings and cause serious damage.</nowiki>

#<li value="2">Click on ShopBot 3 to open the ShopBot software.

[[File:ShopBot3 Icon.png|right|75px|ShopBot 3 Icon]]
[[File:ShopBot Sidebar Load.png|frame|right|150px|The ShopBot Control Panel shows you whether you are in preview or move/cut and whether your movements are absolute or relative.]]

#<li value="3">Position the gantry to your desired home position. First, switch to Move/Cut mode. You want to move the gantry to your desired XY Home position. This should be the bottom left corner of your piece as you look at the CNC table. You can move the gantry in either absolute or relative mode. Start with relative mode by typing SR. The control pane should then say relative. JX is the command to move in the X direction and JY will move in the Y direction. Relative moves are relative to the current position and absolute moves will move you to the absolute position you type relative to the currently defined home position. Make sure you pay attention to what mode you are in before you move. When in relative mode it will show say RELATIVE above the MOVE/CUT text of the control pane. Stick to relative moves and small distances to ensure you don't try to drive the gantry to somewhere it shouldn't go. Type JX -2 and watch it move back to the left by two inches. Great! You now know how to move the gantry. Use a tape measure to measure how far you need to move to get you to your desired home position. Once you are there, type Z2 to zero the X and Y axis.
#Zero the Z-axis to the top of your piece. If your home position is right on the edge of your piece, you can move the gantry away from home but still close to home to give you more room to zero the z-axis with the metal plate.
##Use the metal plate with the wire attached to it and position it under the end mill.
##Type command C2 to run the zeroing routine. The end mill will go down and touch the metal plate twice to zero the Z axis.
##Put the metal plate back in its box.
#Check your XY home position again. Check your max tool path distances in the X and Y direction and make sure that from your 0 position, you will not be trying to move the motor to a place that it cannot go. For instance, don’t zero the XY axis in the middle of the gantry and then try to move the motor 30” to the right.
#Home everything. Type JH to jog the gantry to the home position.
#Turn on the dust collector. Ensure that you are getting good suction from the dust collector inlet. You can increase the suction by ensuring that all other unused dust collector inlets are closed (picture of open vs closed).
#Switch to Preview Mode
#Import your file.
#Look at your file in preview mode.
#Turn on the spindle motor (see section below).
#Switch it over to move/cut mode.
#Hit the button to start the cut.
#You can pause at any time by simply left clicking the mouse or hitting the space bar. The big red button on the desk is an emergency stop and does NOT pause the program, it kills power the gantry motors. You should not have to press this.