How to Handle Situations When a Complicated Carving Process may Run for More Than 8 Hours For CNC Router

Complicated Long Time Carving Never Let The CNC Engraver Run Overnight

How to Handle Situations When a Complicated Carving Process may Run for More Than 8 Hours

For the CNC Engraving Machine, what is the general practice for carvings that take eight plus hours? Do you pause the program and leave everything on overnight and resume in the morning, or do you just make sure there is nothing that can go wrong and let it go overnight?

If it were me and I knew it would take eight hours to run then I would start it first thing in the morning and let it run through lunch and breaks. Although I have heard of others leaving it run, I have too much invested in equipment, building, and materials that time saved wouldn't be worth the risk. If a malfunction occurs and a fire starts in the dust collector or a tool breaks etc. someone really needs to babysit the machine. A broken tool could ruin your part or you may have to start over with a fresh tool, so no time would be saved. Also, if something messes up you won't know where the error is in your program. You could pause like you said but the power is still to the machine. I can't pause and turn off the air compressor because the machine will fault for lack of air and need to be reset. I can't pause and turn off the vacuum because matter can get under the part when it relaxes and not stay put when turned back on. I'd say it's not a good practice to do.

Leaving the CNC router to run overnight by itself should be illegal. Sure, CNC machines especially in the automation industry are designed to be left alone overnight because they have systems that work out scenarios and fixes for anything that could happen. Most commercial machines aren't designed that way. While they have faults and sensors and proxy switches things can still happen that are otherwise totally expected.

The fact that you would risk losing everything in your shop for a carving is ridiculous. I mean seriously, if you can't comfortably run the situation by your insurance company you shouldn't be doing it. Run the program, if it goes beyond business and even reasonable overtime hours then stop the program at whatever line it is at and restart it the next day from that line at your safe z. I just don't see the advantage to letting your CNC router machine run all night, you may get the job done a day or two earlier but is that profit enough to justify risking what you may have spent your life building? I rarely walk away from the CNC router, and if I do I'm within a distance that I could stop it fast enough before something bad happens. I've seen fires started and they are usually because someone isn't watching and listening to the machine. One in particular because the CNC operator decided to let the program run while he unloaded units of plywood from a delivery truck reckless leaving it alone for almost a half hour. The program was wrong (z in the wrong location) and the collet bottomed out on the MDF and started a fire that got sucked into the dust collection system.

Did he really save that much time doing what he did? No. Would have been better to even pause the program with the spindle still on and lock the software than leaving it unattended. Be smart guys. The machine is only as good as the operator/programmer and even that is saying a lot it seems.

To pause the CNC machine or let it run overnight, from this article, I believe you will know to how do with the CNC router engraving machine now.

 
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How to choose an industrial CNC Machine?

How to choose an industrial CNC Machine?

We should start the selection of the right machine tool that will meet the user's expectations by defining its purpose. Will it be used for occasional, individual hobby products? Or should it be an industrial one whose task will be to contribute to the company's profit?

If we are talking about the professional machine, then important parameters to be taken into account are: frame rigidity and precision of its execution, the size of the working area, the quality of components, technical support in the implementation and the availability of the service. All these elements affect the smooth operation and efficiency as well as accuracy of production.

 

What is the best type of construction for an industrial CNC?

Once we decide, it is important to remember that the best frames are made of graphite or steel. Only these materials are characterized by the right vibration absorption coefficients (rigidity) and have very small thermal expansion and deformation properties during long-term loads. Additionally, if they constitute a single monolithic structure and are machined from “one clamping”, as a result they guarantee the machine precision and accuracy of products manufactured – without any visible shifts. This also contributes to long-term geometric correctness.

How to select the spindle that meets production conditions?

Matching parameters of the milling head (power and speed) is crucial for the service life, performance and precision of work and the selection of a particular material for production. The speed of majority of professional spindles is in the range from 12.000 to 40.000 RPM. It is controlled by a frequency converter that allows you to change the speed in a very wide range. High speed can be used in the case of Aluminum, wood, composite materials, laminates etc., and low ranges are used for machining of steel, in particular stainless steel, and thermoplastics. In the case of head power, the primary determinant that should be considered is the maximum diameter of cutters we want to use and materials machined with them. For the processing of Aluminium, plastics, wood, laminates with milling cutters to 5 mm a spindle of 1.1kW 24.000 rev/min is sufficient, with milling cutters to 8mm – 1kW, to 12mm – 3.3kW, to 16mm – 5.6kW. For steel we should choose a spindle with a lower speed of 15.000 to 18.000 RPM and power of 3.3kW to 10mm, 5.6kW to 12mm, 7kW to 16mm, 10kW to 20mm. However, we should remember that if we want to drill in a steel with a drill of 8mm at 2000 RPM with a spindle of 7kW 18.000 RPM, then we may choose only 0.7kW. It is related to the fact that the spindle is controlled by the inductive inverter so when we reduce the speed at the same time we reduce proportionally its motor voltage, i.e. its power. Therefore, we must always choose a more powerful spindle.

 

Accessories for improving the production

At the end it is time to decide on additional accessories improving the production, such as: tool height sensor, cooling system, dedusting system, or a system of automatic exchange of tools, or others according to the production needs.

 

Representatives of the company should be experts

When we think what individual parameters will suit our needs in terms of production and we have little knowledge of CNC technology, we may always take advantage of assistance of representatives of a company that offers such devices. They will be pleased to help match individual features to your expectations. They should also be willing to help with logistics and provide support in the implementation of your machine and subsequently in its use.

 

Service must be always at hand

When continuous production and confidence about the use of the machine are important for us, it is essential that the service is available for 24 hours/7 days a week. The least likely things happen when we do not expect them. For example, a forklift operator drives into a machine tool gate when the largest order is to be done. The experience of the service team is also important. Its efficiency determines the speed of removing any defects.

 

If you need help setting up your milling machine, engraving machine, cutter, laser or plasma machine, we will be happy to help you in finding the right set for you.

 
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How Do CNC Machines Work?

How Do CNC Machines Work?

CNC Basics

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It refers to the use of computers to control the movement of the axes of the machine. It could be a cnc milling machine, cnc router, cnc lathe, cnc engraving machine, cnc laser, wire cut EDM, cnc plasma cutting machine, cnc waterjet or vertical machining center. The machine could have 2, 3, 4, 5 or more axes. The CNC machine has its own controller which drives the motors and the spindle.

The procedure to make every job more or less remains the same on a CNC machine, regardless of the industry, be it a sparking electrode, a punch die, shoe sole die or a name plate, signs, signage.

The process can be summarized in three simple steps:

1. Acquiring the CAD data

In most of the cases, a 2D drawing created in any CAD software like AutoCAD, CAXA, Corel Draw acts as a CAD source. Sometimes, a 3D model created in software like Pro-Engineer, SOLIDWORKS, IDEAS is used as source.

2. Generating the toolpath

The CAD image is taken to the CAM software and the required tool path is made using the appropriate tools. It is very important to use the proper tool and proper feed rates to get a good output. It is essential to take into account what material is being used, what is its hardness and then decide on the proper tool.

Before generating the tool path ensure that the appropriate machine was selected. Every CAM software comes with various drivers for different machines. This generates the tool path in just the way the machine can interpret, some use G code, some use 3B code etc. If the appropriate machine is not selected the tool path generated will be useless for your machine.

3. Sending the toolpath 

Sending the tool path is as simple as sending a file to a printer. The only difference is that interface software like Cimco has to be used to send the file to the machine. Some machine use DSP control system, so send file via USB. Some machine by PCI control card computer control, so just load the file into the control card is ok. Some machine use Syntec, LNC, FANUC, MITSUBISHI, SIEMMENS, FAGOR control system, file can be send via LAN or CF card.