Checklists for Operators

1

We’re interested in creating checklists for different applications and workflows with the Avid CNC EX CNC Controller. We would appreciate any and all input. Please comment to this post with your checklists, suggestions, or observations.

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Step “Power On” Checklist
1 Boot up PC
2 Turn on Machine Controller, feel/listen for fan
3 Turn on Spindle Controller (VFD)
4 Launch Avid Profile Manager
5 Launch Profile
6 Reset Emergency Stop, Clear Faults
7 Home Machine
8 Warmup Spindle

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Step Run G-Code Checklist (manual tool change)
1 Load material on the machine
2 Apply workholding (screws, clamps, vacuum, etc)
3 If there is no tool installed, install the first tool for your program
4 Use the “MTC” button to measure the tool height offset
5 Set XY work coordinate system (WCS) (G54) using touch plate or manually
6 Set Z height of material using touch plate, manually, or by editing Z height in WCS table to nominal materail thickness
7 Load Job (F2) and select G-Code file
8 Check smoothing settings to make sure they are appropriate
9 Click on “Graph Job” to confirm toolpaths to be run
10 Press “Go to XY Zero” to verify work coordinate system is set correctly
11 Install dust shoe and brush ring and turn on dust collector
12 Press Cycle Start to begin program

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Stop or Pause Machine Checklist
Use “Tool Check” button in the event of unexpected behavior
To proceed, hit cycle start. Spindle will restart, the machine will safely move back into the cut line, and job will resume.

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If “Stop” or Emergency Stop was pressed
Rehome the machine
Verify workholding is intact
Verify work coordinate system with “Go to XY Zero” button
Select “Run Job Options (F4)”
“Search (F2)”
Enter / Confirm the line of code you want for restart
Select “Accept (F10)”
2

Before running a program, I read out the tool table in the program and compare with the tools in the rack to make sure they’re correct. For important projects I might switch between some of the listed tools and verify tool offsets are changed correctly, with a 1-2-3 block.

Before shutting down my machine, I have a program I run that prepares it for startup - make sure there’s no tool in the spindle and return the spindle to its home position.

If I replace a tool in the rack, I always zero out the tool offset for that pocket to force an “unknown tool measurement” (I run linuxcnc, and my custom code looks for this) even if I’m not going to use that tool right away.

3

I have found I need to do this in reverse with my particular setup of CNCDepot spindle, EX controller, then PC last once EX controller has blue heartbeat. This may be similar for those with non-avid spindles.

With running a job with multiple tools, I have the same steps as above, but with a separate g-code file for each tool. I do this so I can make sure I know which tool is for what part of the thing I am cutting. I double check this with appending the tool to the filename, i.e “101_projectName-T4..tap”