Changes

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|400px320px|framethumb|The Hacksburg 's Onefinityspindle and Y axis]]

[https[File://wwwOnefinity Video thumb.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/original-series-woodworker-32-x32-cut-area Onefinity website original model, 32"x32" workspace]  png|thumb|center|[https://youtu.be/DcBWTpXAgfE | 20 second display video of cutting with attached vacuumOnefinity running]]]

== Instructions CNC Router Tutorial (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 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# S24000 M3 'set speed and turn on spindle# G4 P8 'allow 8 seconds to spin up# G94# G1 Z1.000 F1200 'move to height at 1200 mm/min# G1 Y37.271 Z-2.261 F1284 'plunge into work# G1 Y0.000 Z-5.522 ## 'lots of other G1 commands, or skip "G1" and just give X, Y, Z coordinates since G1 is assumed## G1 Y64.295# G1 X65.965# G0 Z6.000 'return to clearance height# M5 'turn off spindle# M30 'end of the program===Workpiece fixturing===Ensure your workpiece won't move! <br> [[File:Belt Sander.jpg|thumb|right|Use the belt sander to ensure the workpiece is flat before fixturing]]As we improve the aluminum hold-down fixture, we can use screw-in clamps<br> Always use a spoiler-board: sacrificial wood or acrylic in case you cut too deep<br> Ensure the workpiece is flat by using the belt sander. Test for wobble before mounting.<br> Attach workpiece to spoilerboard with double-sided carpet tape (white roll in shop)<br>* Ok to shut ball-valve while fixturing* For carpet tape, weight down workpiece a few minutes while doing the other start-up procedures === Machine Tool Power Up===* 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* Green=slow, red= medium Yellow= fast. * Warm up procedure:** Air back on** Power for 220 VFD: behind crates, bottom of the metal shelf [[File:220 VFD behind crates.jpg|thumb|center|The VFD's location]]** Radiator: beige box on floor, top right rocker. [[File:Radiator for CNC.jpg|thumb|center|The Spindle Radiator/Cooling system]]** Spindle will ramp up to 24k. Load & run Warmup.ngc on screen scroll list[[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* X0 Y0 according to your Gcode process. Convention is to have (0,0) at the close-left side, so that X+ is to the right, and Y+ is away from you.* Set the tool in collet (also see the change tool process details in the section below this one)* Hold tool, press pedal until completely out, release pedal* Leave pedal in the location where it is tough to accidentally hit* Hold tool collet just under, press pedal to air clean a few seconds, push tool up and release pedal to catch collet. Test spin with fingers and pull by hand to ensure seating. [[File:Zero the Y Axis.jpg|thumb|center|Use the touch screen to zero each axis]]* X zero: Machine is actually in metric mode for input values, but displays “inches”. Or “in”. It wakes up in metric mode. So input a 1/4” as 6.35. * Y zero: same process. * Replace dust shoe- magnet catch. Adjust dust feet with wing nuts for brush to contact work surface. [[File:Dust brush fixture clamp.jpg|thumb|center|Pointing at the fixture clamp for adjusting dust shoe in Z axis]]* Z zero: you can use feeler guage or paper to position the cutter 0.005" above the material. Negative Z is into the material, 0 is at the top.* Load your guide by inserting thumb drive in back of controller* * Press black folder and find thumb drive, folder and file. Then find file in drop down list* [[File:Browse Files.jpg|thumb|center|Browsing files using the touch screen]]* Hook in dust hose[[File:Connect dust hose.jpg|thumb|center|Connect the dust hose to the brush guard]]* Check everything!* Turn on dust collection, gate open for your hose === Run the Gcode!=== * Play button becomes the pause button. Hover your finger a while to be ready for any weirdness. [[File:Digital Readout with stop and play buttons.jpg|thumb|center|Digital readout showing play/pause/position]]* Issue with job: screen pause* Issue with machine: red stop button located on back of controller* See “remaining” indicator for job time. Progress bar is by line number* Scroll display to x,y,x readout. * With the whine of the spindle plus the vacuum, wear hearing protection* Never leave tool running unattended. Stay right there for the duration of your job.* If you need to use the bathroom, tag-up with a friend, or pause the cut!

CNC Router Tutorial ===Change a tool===Changing a tool manually involves releasing the collet, explained in the Power Up procedure<br>Once you have the collet, use the collet wrenches to open the jaws<br>[[File:Release the Tool holder.jpg|thumb|center|Use the wrenches to release the cutting tool ]]Sometimes, the tool bit will not release from the collet<br>Use the Tool holder bit extractor, stored in a ziplock bag<br>[[File:Tool holder bit extractor.jpg|thumb|center|Parts used to extract a stubborn bit: pipe, wrench, and rod]]Once the top collet nut has been removed, place the collet in the aluminum pipe, and the brass rod into the collet, resting on the captured bit. Place the assembly in the large woodworking vise located mid-shop. Slowly turn the vise to gently release the bit. Have your hand ready to catch the assembly when the bit releases![[File:Bit Extractor in Vise.jpg|thumb|center|Slowly turn the vise to release your stuck bit, and be ready to catch the assembly!]]=== Shut down process ===* At job end, use dust collector to clean area, then turn off the dust collector. * If you take out your tool, leave a tool in the spindle to keep it clean and spring-catch engaged* Home the tool to back left to leave table open* Power off the air ball valve, then the air compressor* Turn off the radiator* Turn off the 220 Volt VFD* 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 (6climbing 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 (1/20254”) 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]]