Hello all! My Avid PRO 4896 is assembled and (almost) running. I have the new CNC12 software, the 4HP spindle, and the 45w laser.
Aside from some confusion due to some incorrect labels, the assembly instructions were REALLY GOOD. This thing is pretty genius and the stellar assembly instructions helped us get this thing running in just a few days.
This is my first CNC and I have been struggling for 2 days to run a very simple job. I have been in touch with Avid Support team but have not heard back. I’m at a standstill until I can figure this out.
I have watched hours and hours of Eric’s videos (which are awesome), but I can’t find a “step by step” video where the pre-req steps to run a job are outlined. I’ve also been unable to find step by step instructions on the AVID website.
Would anyone be kind enough to list the steps you take before running a job? I’m running into Z and X axis limit errors, even after setting the machine limits (I’m sure I’m missing something).
Also, could you please clarify… In this video, Erik says to follow the image in the software, but then when setting the z-zero, he doesn’t. The image shows the touch plate on the corner of the material, and the magnet on the tool bit, but he puts the touch plate directly on the material, and doesn’t use the magnet.
Could you please clarify which is correct and when do I need to use the magnet? I can’t find the documentation on this.
Sorry for the newbee questions. Hopeful there are easy answers! I think I’m on the cusp of “getting it”, I just need a little assistance. Thanks!
I can’t help with the rest because I’'m running linuxcnc instead of windows, but I can help here. ALWAYS use the magnet. Since your machine is metal, there’s a good chance it will conduct through the spindle, mount, gantry, frame, and metal box, and so seem like it’s working, but… it isn’t, and it will fail you at the worst possible time.
Other “getting started” tests - you should be able to jog the machine to its mechanical limits (after homing, of course). Using the touchplate just moves the relative position of your job, but shouldn’t affect the machine limits, unless you’ve enabled the “don’t cut into the spoilboard” option (linuxcnc doesn’t have one of these, so I’m just guessing)
You can use the touchplate to set the origin of your workpiece, and jog around, watching the display, to make sure all the numbers make sense and it can do what you ask.
Hopefully by then someone with cnc12 experience will have more answers
You don’t always need to use the magnet. You can test this on your spindle to see if it reads without the magnet in the touch plate utility. It never hurts to use the magnet, but in many machines you don’t have to. TEST FIRST.
As far as the steps, basically watch the touch plate utility video to learn out to zero your material (looks like you already have)
