Why You "WANT" To Cut Grids On Your CNC Router & How To Engrave Them On The Spoilboard or Wasteboard
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- čas přidán 2. 02. 2021
- This video explains why you want grids on your CNC router spoil board (wasteboard), and how to design it.
Engraving a grid on your spoilboard, aka waste board, gives you exact positions to place your projects. Basically, it eliminates the guesswork altogether for where to set your XY zero positions.
Without a grid, you are adding at least 10 minutes to your setup time.
The other thing that makes it nice...grids look cool. This should be your very first CNC woodworking router project when you get your CNC router.
This video gives you guidelines for doing this. It can be done on any software and on any CNC router.
This project was done on a BobsCNC router and designed in Vectric Vcarve.
BobsCNC Evolution 4 G-code files is no longer available
__________________________________
VECTRIC SOFTWARE LINKS
[Please use these links when you order. It gives me credit. Thank you]
→ Vcarve Pro (Recommended): shrsl.com/36xfh
→ Vcarve Desktop (24x24” size limit): shrsl.com/36xfj
→ Vectric Aspire (3D modeling): shrsl.com/36xfk
→ Cut2D (for the budget-minded): shrsl.com/36xfm
__________________________________
CNC FOR BEGINNERS playlist: bit.ly/3rg4WTl
CNC ENTREPRENEURS playlist: bit.ly/3mxz6Ok
VCARVE FOR BEGINNERS playlist: bit.ly/3pdmFsi
BEST STARTER BIT SET FOR CNC ROUTERS
Beginners complete CNC router bit starter set (+ free vector files)
idcwoodcraft.com/products/the...
1” Surfacing bit required for surfacing your spoilboard
idcwoodcraft.com/products/ult...
OTHER ‘MUST HAVES’
→ Calipers: link.idcwoodcraft.com/smymui
→ Hearing protection (plugs don't work): amzn.to/2Hs1RgW
If you currently own a CNC router, please take a moment to take this survey to share your experience with it: bit.ly/3r5XzNh
Cool vector files for CNC router & CNC laser: etsy.me/3oxX79l
Learn how to start an online business from scratch: bit.ly/2ZUEIKK
Words are the top-selling items of all time with CNC products. Get the free WORDS THAT SELL list: idcwoodcraft.com/cnc-lp-1/
CNC For Beginners Podcast: anchor.fm/garrett-fromme
CNC Insiders sign up (free files and more): idcwoodcraft.com/cnc-lp2-free...
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL
→ LIKE the video
→ COMMENT about the video
→ DONATE: www.paypal.me/garrettfromme
→ PURCHASE through links I provide in these descriptions. I receive affiliate commissions and the cost is the same to you.
Facebook: IDCWoodcraft
Website: www.idcwoodcraft.com
Email: support@idcwoodcraft.com
#cnc #cncrouters #cncforbeginners #vcarvetutorials #vectric
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What can I say. You make things simple & easy to understand. You're the man.
lol, thanks Patrick. Making things simple and easy for others takes a lot of friggin work...
I can't believe I waited so long to put grids on mu spoil board. What a blessing it is. Thanks.
Know you know, my friend!
I never thought of doing a grid. I can see how that will make seeing up much easier. Thanks for explaining this so clearly.
Hi Hunter! Yeah, it took me a bit to realize it was the smart way to go.
Wow! This type of tool path is so much more efficient! Thanks for sharing the technique!
You are welcome, my friend. It sure helped me. Wish I thought about it earlier.
Your videos are so wonderful. I just got a Shapeoko XXL and your videos are really helping me learn the machine and Vectric Vcarve.
Hi Triple. Congrats on getting the machine and getting started. I am excited to see another CNC'er get rolling!
You are the the man Garrett. Your explanations are so clear for us new to CNC. Thank you so much.
Phillip, you're so welcome my friend! Happy to help!
Thumbs up Garrett👍👍👍. These are those details I was talking about. Thanks so much. I use grid lines when I draw my designs on paper for alignment purposes. So I can see how they will work on the waste board. 🕵🕵🕵
Wish I did it sooner. I always knew I needed to do it. Know I know why it's so handy
Thanks Garrett. You made this simple and straightforward. I've now set up a grid for my 25 x 25 Shark. Once I get the spoil board in place and leveled then the grid will be cut next..
Martha, I am glad to see you are going at this methodically!
Fantastic. Thank you for not over talking the steps
Hi Ed. You are welcome. So many videos out there are full of blah blah blah.
Thanks! Just purchased the plan on Etsy. So there is my $1 toward your $100,000 goal. Thanks again
Love the intention, my friend. That gave me a smile!
grat videos, im just finishing my cnc now and this is the perfect information for me!!
Erik...hello! You will not regret putting a grid on your machine.
Thanks, I just did my first project on a X-Carve Pro. I was thinking that having a grid would make alignment so much easier when setting up a job. I just saw this video and really enjoyed it. Thanks for the help. Nice job carefully and patiently explaining this.
Hey Jeff. Grids save so much setup time, it isn't funny! You'll see. What kind of projects are you making?
once again well thought out and explained i never about putting grids on my board but i might just do it now after watching this vid thanks again
Geaorge...grids are awesome!
great job, thanks for your videos
Thanks Mike
Very interesting moor overstanding thank you
you're welcome Ras
Hi. Smart work. Thank you for sharing. Greetings from Sicily!
Junk Workshop, glad you liked this one brother!
thanks for another show.
Almost every day. I should sell tickets to them
Perfect, Improve ,improve ,improve my steps to create a better cncer.For me it is the little things one step at a time.I will always pass you on to my friends, Thanx Loyde
Loyde, thanks my friend. And I'm glad I could help! Keep up the good work!
who would ever down vote this guy?? man thanks you are awesome!!!
Hi Jackie. It's funny, isn't it? I don't let it bother me. I have realized some people simply WANT to find things to disagree with (and they don't even realize it)
Another amazing video!
Steve, thanks again my friend!
I am going to try it out
Joe, let me know how it works out!
Outstanding Vcarve tutorial. My CNC will be delivered late April and I downloaded a Vcarve Pro trial today. Want to learn the software a bit before I get my machine. Also playing with Carbide Create, F-Engrave and Fusion 360. Hope I didn't jump the gun on getting the trial too early.
You can never jumpt too early. You're starting to learn now. Can't wait to hear "It arrived!"
Great video!
Thanks Joshua!
Good stuff. Thanks!
Tom, you bet!
Can across your videos by fluke! And I love them. Thank you
Hey Joe. Welcome to the community. I am glad you like these videos. What makes them something you like.
Not familiar with vcarve but most other CAD/CAM software, have a rectangular pattern command which basically lets you enter your grid size and extents and creates that grid for you. Takes about 10 seconds.
Twenty, Vcarve does have that but I wanted to show you a few other ways too!
Garrett: this is just what I was looking for as the "other" video that you referred to got too far into the weeds for a CNC newbie like me. I will be purchasing yours on Etsy shortly. One question: did you ever think of showing how to run an Air Cut tool path file so that us newbies can confirm that it will run properly before we make some unwanted cuts?
Lewis, you bring up a great suggestion my friend about the air cut. I'll have to add it into my video to-do list! I'm glad this one got you going in the right direction my friend. Keep up the good work!
Fantastic I'm going to do this tomorrow! If I understand correctly for example where you placed the wood I would set the 0 point to an offset of x: 6" and y: 8" in vectric?
Hi Don. Yes, you you nailed it!
Really cool video again, been watching a lot of your content, very good concise information, really like this way. Mentioned in another video I purchased an x carve to start, a year later and I got a 1500x1500 queenbee, and my boss got one too, so I had the priveledge of building two. I work at a large format digital print shop and was able to use our flatbed printer to print a grid on the spoil board, 59 inches square is a little unorthodox to source at a big box, so I had him look around for 5x10 sheets and we got two. My point is that carving it into the board itself Is WAY more practical as you get a per machine reference which is gonna be properly proportionate to the machine. What kind of bit did you use? (I'm still in the middle of the video)
I used a 30 degree. Nice thin lines. 60 will work too. Don't do 90. too wide
Gold right here boys. I am planning on purchasing some bits from Garret. I am learning a lot just by following this page. I am assuming I can buy a kit but I'll be looking for these sizes.
Very cool.
I can see how helpful this would be on any cnc. i have a shapeoko pro xxl arriving in ...well soon i hope, and was wondering if you would recommend this on that platform as the spoilboard isnt a solid piece. Also , just received your bits in the mail amazingly fast and really appreciated the hand written note!!!
Hello Tyler! You are welcome for the note. I always know there is a human being on the other side of everything I do.
I recommend a grid for any CNC. It helps more than you'll ever know. Basically, it eliminates 'finding' X and Y zero points.
Does this work with any CNC machine
When securing your stock for carving with the grid, do you prefer double sided tape, hold down clamps, or something else? I’m currently using cam clamps, but have had them slip once, which ruined a small project.
Also, which would you use … a 60 degree v-bit or a 1/32” end mill?
Thanks, and thanks for all your great content!
b-radg916, I haven't had a good time w/ cam clamps. I recommend hold down clamps or double sided tape, it's really just whatever you prefer on that one! And I would use a 60 degree vbit.
Coming from a fabrication background I can see the value in your grid board.
I will be purchasing this as soon as I am set up.
I will be running mach 3 controller with V carve. That is my plan anyhow. I'm thinking this will work for me.
Thank you sir very much for your videos.
What's up, David. Yeah, makes perfect sense. you'd think I would have done this sooner. Vcarve...excellent. I've not worked w/ mach3. Let me know when you make the jump!!!
@@IDCWoodcraft I will for sure. Your page is great and just what I needed.
Currently I'm sitting in front of my QueenBee Pro 1500 x 1500. It's all still inside the box and I am devising a build plan. But your page is making me want this baby put together now.
I have seen V carve works with mach 3 controller but we will soon find out.
I will be purchasing some bits shortly and seen you offer those so I will be checking your store out tonight when I get home.
I can't say thank you enough for your page. Super cool.
@@daviddalton5851 the site revamped website is operational tomorrow. Get on the priority list in the video description
@@daviddalton5851 Mach 3 is not tied to vcarve. It runs your machine. It's supposed to be an excellent program
@@IDCWoodcraft copy that. Mach 3 is the controller. Very cool I will get on that link tonight and see what all your offering.
Again this is exactly what i needed.
Awesome 👌
Just what I was thinking
sfg18b, great minds think alike my friend!
New to CNC. The grid sounds like the best way to go. Thanks for the tutorial. Do you have to have the homing switches for the grid to be placed in the right spot? Or do I just drive the Longmill to the front left side and start.
Jeffrey, to make your grid you will zero your machine on your spoilboard just like you would zero it onto a project. Depending upon how you set up your project in Vcarve, your zero might be in a different spot but I recommend zeroing it to the center of the spoilboard for the best results.
I know it's an old tape but I just use it to use on my new onefinity wood worker. Thanks
paulcreech7731, right on brother! That will work on your onefinity no problem. I am excited for you to cut it out.
Again, very informative video. Thank you. Do you have a layout grid on Etsy for a 48x32?
Ron, no I don't sorry brother!
Nice video! What do you think of the Onefinity machines? It's a newer one but the setup is a breeze from what it looks like and the steel bars look pretty sturdy.
Hey Rone. Price is good and, yes, everything I've heard is good. It is one of my top picks
@@IDCWoodcraft Sweet! I don't care for their customer service so far but the product looks pretty good for an entry level machine. Thanks bud!
@@RonMarshallrone my pleasure. Always there to give my humble, yet experienced, advice.
Per you recommendation I have purchased a Longmill 48x30 MK2, and I am using Vectric VCarve. I am trying to cut the grid in my spoilboard but VCarve tells me that I need to use tiling due to parameters. I am not having much luck finding that feature in VCarve
slvrbullit56, congrats on getting your longmill brother! You shouldn't need to utilize tiling for your waste board my friend. This may be due to the version of Vetric you're using. I do have spoilboard file you can check out on Etsy that will definitely make your life a little easier, here's the link if you want to take a look→ etsy.me/3oxX79l. Otherwise I recommend joining Kate and I for our youtube live sessions we do every Wednesday at 8PM EST and we should be able to help you then brother!
Garret, appreciate the video. I have an Axiom pro. I follow your instructions and when go to carve the 2x4 grid it says I’m outside the Y+ soft limits. I’ve dealt with this before and it’s usually easy to find reason. Not so this time. Running vcarve pro. Any thoughts?
soaringeaglesadventures9028, Unfortunately, I am not much help here. I am not a tech guy when it comes to CNC machines. I may be good with the programing and operation but when it comes to troubleshooting, I'm an absolute deer in the headlights. I recommend reaching out to your machine manufacturer regarding your issue. They will be able to help you the best my friend!
love your work, I seem to have a problem with my mouse pointers?? My cursors don't change to show the range of tools being used. eg. when I select and try to use the polyline I don't get the cursor change that you do, it appears with all tools as cross hairs with coordinates, not the corresponding cursor graphic of the polyline. Can you help please?
Hi Tony. This is a technical issue that you need to contact vectric about
How do you get around the Z- limit switch do do this on a dyi CNC? Only way I can think is to remove the bit, loosen the spendle to lower it, home it out, raise up in Z, add bit back to spendle, then Zero to surface....? Then replace spendle to previous potion when done to avoid crash in future. Will that work?
Allen, that is a bit tricky on your CNC. You should set up your Z axis to where you can extend the Z axis into the spoilboard at least half an inch. In your case, removing the z limit switch for the time being might be a good idea.
Can you use the X,Y at the home position and then Z of the bottom of probe (Onefinity Machine)?
Lojack, you can but I would still recommend a different position to set your zero.
Do you think using the grid lines as reference is accurate enough? I would think some sort of edge reference that you push the board up against would be better than eyeballing it against a line.
Hi Dave. A stop board is great. Grid references are useful for anything. It's up to the user. Personally, I use both.
@@IDCWoodcraft cool thanks! I'm new to CNC but am learning a lot from you. Thanks for being so helpful!
@@DaveGeddes you got it!
Garrett, any idea why a spoilboard flattening Phantom CNC toolpath would state Y- is out of soft limit, X- is out of soft limits?
Tom, reach out to the gents that made the spoilboard flattening file brother. I think your issue lies in not having the right zero location to start the cut! This makes the machine think you are going to crash into itself.
Great video Garrett but every time I go to create my toolpath for my grid I get this error "One open vectors were identified in the selection and are being ignored. There are 0 remaining vectors." I don't know how to fix this. Thanks for any help. I have a cut area of 48in X and 32" Y.
Hi AK. You need to run Ve tor validator. Watch this video about it → czcams.com/video/s5XvV0F7VcQ/video.html
This happened because you didn’t separate the vertical poly line from the horizontal when drawing.
great tutorial however i dont understand where you are typing 24 and 2 to get the lines all the same
Chuck, 24 is the total distance and 2 is the distance between each of the lines. This way we get 12 equal distant lines.
Hello great video, do you have this grid for the 30x30 longmill g file that I can purchase thanks
Bearded Locos Woodworks, thanks! Yes, I have a file for creating the spoilboard on the 30 x 30 longmill. Here's the link → www.etsy.com/listing/1080756899/longmill-spoilboard-file-make-your-own
Garrett when you building the grid are you holding down the mouse button and entering 2" and 24" until your done?
dcaudio, this one is a bit too tricky to answer over comments brother! Join Kate and I during our weekly live session on CZcams Wednesday nights at 8PM EST! We would be happy to help you then.
Hi Garrett. I purchased your BobsCNC Evolution 4 & E4 Grid Engraving G-code Program With Instructions yesterday. How long does it take before I receive the downloads? Thank you
user-mz3gk9eg4h, you should be able to download them from your purchase history in Etsy brother! If you are having any trouble with the Etsy interface, reach out to Etsy! They will be able to help you immediately.
Hey Garrett, new to this so please excuse my naïveté but when making this grid you keep mentioning “entering your X or Y distance” off screen but when I attempt to do this it follows my command but in the opposite direction towards my workable space. Not offset like you suggest at first and then move. Any thoughts?
John, that's a strange one brother. It's a little tricky to troubleshoot over comments. I recommend joining Kate and I for our live sessions on Wednesday nights at 8PM EST and we should be able to help walk you through it a little better and give you some tips!
Do you have a phantom version?
Tom, not yet brother but it is in the works!
What are the feeds and speeds?
Niko, you can find all the recommended feeds and speeds for each bit here brother→ bit.ly/3xiLebv. It will be a great guide to have on hand for any project/bit you're using!
Great
cyber0005, thanks brother!
how do you get your bits sharpened
Rodney, its typically best to buy new bits unless you get into sizes of 1/2" or above
I copied everything exact to fit my Onefinity Journeyman but when I go to calculate it says there is 1 open vector and is being ignored so there are 0 remaining vectors and won’t calculate. Any ideas? On Vcarve Pro 11.0. Confirmed only the one green square on bottom left in node mode.
Hi Steven, have you looked to see where the open vector is on your design software overview? It should highlight the area where it detects an open vector and allow you to fix it by trimming it or removing it.
@@IDCWoodcraft Thanks. That video did the trick in the first 4 minutes. It was the “on” I needed.
I did not originally have a grid on my machine. However, after overcutting a board I did use it as a reference. I did not realize that if you cross a line, the line disappears. I will have to do this and see what happens. Thank you.
The line is still technically there in the design. It's just the overlap that makes it disappeaear
Funny enough I made one similar a few days ago for the same reason
Grids are so handy!
Why use profile instead of Vcarve?
Vcarve is for letters...things with closed boundaries on both sides that need to be cut to. This is ctting lines 9vectors0. Basically, vcarve is much more work and not needed for this type of job.
Not sure where I went wrong. Vcarve tells me 1 open vector and being ignored, 0 remaining vectors. Vector validator comes up with a tonne ofr Overlaps/Intersections. Join Vectors comes up with 1 closed vector and 0 open.
Shay, try to reduce the problem down to smaller parts of your project and look for spots where there might be overlaps. They should be highlighted on your screen when you do vector validator.
Is that v carve pro or just v carve?
Hi A3! I am using desktop version. works the same except for size limts and a few other features.
Will this file work on my Genmitsu 4040 Pro machine
Ed, you can absolutely create your own gridelines. But, I'm sorry the file I have on Etsy is designed for the longmill specifically my friend!
@@IDCWoodcraft okay thank you
Garrett, I know that I am dumb, but I can't find your ETSY store
Larry, heres the link my friend: www.etsy.com/shop/IDCWoodcraft
For some reason when I calculate I'm getting an error message because of the overlapping vectors. How can I correct this?
Hi Brandon. I'm not sure why that is happening. Are you using Vectric?
@@IDCWoodcraft yes Sir
maybe not worth the time, but a nerdy thing to do would be to carve the x,y coordinate label near each intersection
Lochinvaroome, that is a great idea brother!
I’ve tried at least 10 times. And when I get to the nodes. I’ll only get half of them. Either horizontal or vertical lines. What am I doing wrong. I looks so simple. Any takers will be appreciated
sfg18b, I recommend taking a look at this one here brother: czcams.com/video/RYP5TA4k70I/video.html. I think you'll find it super helpful!
Are the screws in the spoilboard just to hold it down?
Hi John. Yes they are.
@@IDCWoodcraft
The reason I ask is I see and hear a lot about people installing T-nuts on their spoil board. And laying things out in tracks.
I ordered a track kit from Sienci and have been wondering how that works with a spoil board.
@@TheJonboix tracks are great. It takes a little more time to set up but they're easy to work with once they are
@@IDCWoodcraft
Then, instead of a solid board do I lay it down in strips?
@@TheJonboix there are screws to hold down and most of the holes have threaded rivets for clamping
Tried this but keep getting "an open vector " error
Hateweek1984, This one is a little tricky to walk you through over comments my friend. I recommend joining Kate and I for our live sessions we host every Wednesday evening at 8PM EST. We should be able to help walk you through it then brother!
Hey Garrett....I clicked the link for the gcode file in your etsy store, but it's not there.
Hi Lori. Yes, I removed it. It's a dollar product. If you email me, I will send you the file.
garrett@idcwoodcraft.com
Thanks for the information! I just ordered a SD110 and this will be my first project.
Along with the CNC I am waiting for your router bits as well that I ordered form your Etsy account.
Cheers
GB
Hi Greg. Exciting...you ordered your machine! Your router bits are on their way!!!!!