Shop Talk: Project Set Up

Bob and Keith walk you through the steps of setting up your first project on the Evolution Series CNC Router.

[reddsmorris]

Just got my machine today, hope to start making the table this weekend then start the cnc putting it together. Very cold here so we will see. Is the gcode program in the box?

[donjensenep]

My back is starting to feel up to getting my machine assembled. Been sitting in the box for such a long time i am hoping all is well with it. Had life items come up hoping to getting this up and running this winter. looking forward to seeing what I can create between this and my 3d printers.

[allenhutchinson]

My Evolution 4 will not change to inches. Where your videos is showing 1 big button to swap over to standard. Mine just has 3 skinny buttons labeled Millimeters, Larger and Smaller.

[fxsrider]

I just finished building the Evolution 4. After the first few needle nose placed m4 nuts I switched to a small bar magnet to slip them into the slots, it also would hold the screw to it while I started to thread it in with just the #2 bit in my fingers. Twist the screw to snug than went back with an actual screwdriver to give them a bit more. That worked for most of the areas. About halfway through building it I remembered I had a hot glue gun. Holds the nuts in place quite well. I suggest the painters tape and a small paintbrush with a shot glass or bottle cap of Loctite. After a while I was just dipping the end of the thread, That stuff really goes a long way. Do yourself a favor and identify the top/bottom, Left/Right, front/back of the gantry and the base as you will be flipping it around a bit and it can be time consuming to reorient yourself.

Reading the comments below it seems some are struggling with the operation of the machine. I have to finish the wiring and put some open source programs together. I will take some notes and get back to let people know how it went, what I used etc.

[randyhenson]

It's not quiet that easy for someone who hasn't been exposed to CNC's. Every time I hit play on my file either cut path is past parameters or idle time out or always some different error code. Also using F-engrave to create your G-code file is a little muddy as well.

[HectorPerez-ecwl]

How do I know where to place the board and take those measurements cause you forgot to mention that in the video?

[jameshaire]

You need a professional video team to redo ALL your videos! ..these are very hard to follow, especially with all the banter between you two! But speaking for myself, I can't see a thing on the screen behind you, much less understand how to find anything on the UGS screen at the same time! Ridiculous!