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→Instructions CNC Router Tutorial (6/1/2025)
The Onefinity is a CNC router. It is used for precision-carving of wood, acrylic, soft metals and other materials. Onefinity generously discounted this unit through a Makerspace support program they offered to Hacksburg. Hacksburg paired the router with a powerful, 24,000 RPM water-cooled cutting motor. A CNC router processes "G-code" to tell it where in X,Y,Z space to go, how fast, and in what order. The essence of the process is to first create a model or design (CAD, STL, Thingiverse, Inkscape), then convert that design into G-code. The G-code is transfered to the router controller on a thumb drive, and the router controller executes that code to completion.
[[File:Onefinity Motor.JPEG|320px|thumb|Hacksburg's Onefinity spindle and Y axis]]
[https://www.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/original-series-woodworker-32-x32-cut-area Onefinity website original model, 32"x32" workspace]
[[https://youtu.be/DcBWTpXAgfE|[File:Onefinity Video thumb.png|thumb|center|[https://youtu.be/DcBWTpXAgfE|20 second display video of cutting with attached vacuumOnefinity running]]]
== Safety ==
** Fusion 360 (hobby/education license available)
== Instructions CNC Router Tutorial (6/1/June, 2025) ==
You can use other resources to generate g-code. Use LinuxCNC or other simple gcode<br>
* Max F400 in/min for rapid 10,000 mm/min
* Max cut around 100 in/min 2500 mm/min
* Spindle speed 24000 rpm!
* Use gcode M3 for spindle on. Delay for spindle acceleration with : * ''S24000 M3 * G4 P8 ‘ dwell for 8 sec '' * At the endo end of your file, Use gcode :* ''M5 ‘to turn off spindle''
Please have someone check your code first until you're very comfortable with this machine!<br>
Note that this file uses metric for X,Y,Z and feedrates (mm/min)<br>
===Code Example. Units in millimeters ===
# G17 G21 G40 G49 G94
# G0 X0.000 Y0.000 Z6.000
* Air compressor on
* Air valve (red) on
* Controller on. - black box , silver button
* Home? Clear the edges of debris and tools to allow full motion range!
* Jog with Xbox controller
[[File:Program List.jpg|thumb|center|Find the warmup program used for the Onefinity spindle]]
** Clear the spindle, then hit play. Caution: it’s quiet! 8 minutes, then it stops
** See progress on the touch screen** Check motor housing for shake, heat. Should be cool to touch, else the bearings are first suspect** Warmup.ngc only needs to be run once at the start of the day’s machining - good for 24 hours
* Wiggle-check workpiece.
* Remove dust shoe to layout workpiece zero
* Turn off controller
* Clean up everything
=== Notes on making a long run ===
For the size and speed of the Onefinity, it’s certainly possible to do long, complex cuts! A few notes about the process:
* Any long-running cuts should be preceded by a practice cut - don’t let your first run of the Onefinity be an all-day attempt. Gain some skills and train-up before going on a marathon!
* In addition to the vacuum system, longer cuts require additional room ventilation. There are ceiling-mounted vents in the wood shop. Slide open the one above the Onefinity (climbing and/or step stool needed), and turn on the “light switch” just above the air-control station (see photo). Don’t forget to shut it back down at the end.
[[File:Ceiling Vent and Switch.jpg|thumb|center|Ceiling vent and switch ]]
* There is an air-quality monitor near the main door. The dust & smells you create DO permeate through the building. When in doubt, open the ceiling vents.
[[File:Air Quality monitor.jpg|thumb|center|A digital air quality monitor tracks parts per million within the air. Located near the main shop door]]
* Pay extra attention at the end of your cut to clean ALL around the Onefinity, the floor surrounding it, and the computer/control equipment. Dust/shavings get everywhere!
* Rough cut then Finish cut! Divide your work into a rough cut with a large, material-removal bit, perhaps 60% step-over. Then build a finish cut with a fine detail bit, with a step-over in the range of 25%.
* Other: watch the dust collector fullness level. Check the router-head’s case temperature (by touch) for overheating. Pay attention to your dust collection and potential interference with the shoe/brush. Watch for potential collision from the shoe / brush support arms.
* Example: In the photo below, the workpiece was cut up to 2.25” deep in 2.75” pine, 12”x31”. Rough cut was with a 3/8”, 3-blade cutter for a 4-hour cut, planned for 1mm material remaining. The rough—cut planning involved layers of 6mm (1/4”) until final depth. After 3/4” of depth, the code was paused, and the dust shoe was removed since the tool-head plunge began to get close to the shoe exterior. From then on, the dust vacuum had to be held manually. Once complete, the machine was shut-down, cleaned up and left overnight (or two). The finish cut was a 1/16” taper bit, 30% step over, with no dust shoe. The vacuum/dust system was only needed every 4 to 10 passes, along with some air-hose bursts, to keep the workspace clean. The ceiling vent was still used for this work, since it was fine particles and long-duration. [Inspiration was Touch Terrain website, with a terrain model based around Claytor Lake]
[[File:Finish Cut Touch Terrain model.jpg|thumb|center|Carving a large Touch Terrain model, early in the finish cut]]