Carbide3D SHAPEOKO XXL, Assembly Manual

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8. Disconnect the Touch Probe
If you’re using a Touch Probe , remove the ground clip and secure it safely outside of the machine’s working area.
9. Double Check the Work Area
Ensure that nothing has been left in the work area. Optionally, you may traverse the working boundary of the job as a
final check.
10. Send NC File to Machine
Browse for the NC file (the G-code which gives the machine its instructions) which you have already simulated and
send it to the machine, following all prompts for tool changes and starting the compact router as required and setting
it to the correct speed.
11. Monitor the Machine During Operation
While staying clear of the work area, monitor the machine during operation. Ensure there is no build-up of dust,
debris, or fumes, and that nothing works loose. Do not reach into the machine’s working envelope or insert any object
into it while the machine is operating.
12. Finish and Clean Up
Once the job is complete, turn off the router, return the gantry to the home position or a known offset from home,
and ensure the end mill has stopped spinning before removing the finished piece and any waste.
Store end mills carefully when not in use to protect the cutting edges. Collets and accessories should be cleaned
between uses. Wipe them off with a suitable solvent such as isopropyl alcohol.
Glossary of Terms
Collet: A collet is a cone-shaped sleeve that holds an end mill in place in the router.
Eccentric Nut: Eccentric nuts are off-center nuts which allow you to adjust the tension of your V-wheels. Adjusting the tensioning
of the eccentric nuts allows the V-wheels to slide smoothly along the v-
rails, which as you’ll see as we begin to assemble the
Shapeoko XXL, that this allows the carriages to slide easily along the rail system.
End Mill or End Mill Cutter: End mills (or cutters) are the cutting tools used by a CNC machine. End mills are similar to drill bits,
though, typically they can cut in all directions. End mills come in several varieties (including square, ball-nose, and v-carving) and
lots of sizes. Learn more about end mills here:
docs.carbide3d.com/tutorials/tutorial-tooling .
G-code: G-code (general, or geometric, code) is a CNC programming language that controls when, where, and how the machine
tools move (for example, when to turn on or off, how fast to travel to a particular location, what paths to take, etc.) across the
workpiece.
Gantry: A gantry is an overhead motion system for use in multi-axis operations. It is the three extrusion rails that make up the
Shapeoko XXL’s rail system.
PEM nut: Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. brand fastener providing self-clinching, permanent threads and mounting
points in thin sheet metal.
Toolpath: A toolp
ath is the “route” the cutting tool will follow as it shapes the workpiece. We use Carbide Create, Carbide 3D’s
cross-platform CAD/CAM program, to define the toolpaths for a project.
Working envelope:
A working envelope is the CNC machine’s range of moveme nt across each of its three axes, X, Y, and Z.
Workpiece: A workpiece is a stock piece, the sheet of material to be milled.
NOTE: It’s a good idea to keep a log of machine usage, making note of when adjustments are made and fasteners
are (re)tightened. Also keep a tally of usage time, including time for specific end mills, to determine when parts
need to be lubricated and when end mills should be relegated to rough work, re-sharpened, or recycled and
replaced. Finally, record machine settings and specifics of each tool chain used with the machine.