X-Carve
X-Carve CNC Router
What is it?
It's a computer-controlled router that can be used to cut or carve designs on wood and other similar materials, based on a design drawn on the computer. It's controlled by a computer next to it, usually running Easel, a cloud-based, browser-based program that lets you draw your design and send it to the X-Carve. It was donated by Dan Dugmore, Lowell Makes 3D printer captain. It's located in the Rapid Prototyping shop.
This is an easy way to learn CNC. Easy, because it's hard to do any expensive damage i.e., crashing the tool against its stops will not damage anything. About the worst that can happen is a broken bit or marring the spoil board.
The Easel software is cloud-based. It has design capability, generates toolpaths and controls the CNC router.
What can it do?
See some example projects here: https://www.inventables.com/projects It can V-Carve crisp letters for signage. It can do full 3D profiles but this would require 3D CAD tools in addition to Easel. It can route PCBs.
How do I get started?
Create a free account at http://easel.inventables.com/users/sign_in
Watch tutorials here: https://inventables.desk.com/customer/en/portal/topics/1022638-easel-tutorials/articles
Create your own project(s) such as a name plate with your name and a rounded rectangle to cut around the text. You can do this right now, at home, for free.
Contact Jim Fred to get checked-out. It'll take about 1 hour. Have your project (e.g., name plate) ready to carve into a piece of scrap wood.
What's covered during the checkout
I short, just enough to use the machine without injuring yourself or the equipment.
- How to turn on the machine and jog it
- How to secure a work-piece
- How to zero the Z axis (telling the router where the surface of your wood is)
- How to zero the X+Y axis (telling the router where your wood is)
- How to start the cut and how to stop it if something goes wrong.
- How to clean-up
Easel Pro Login
Inventables gave Lowell Makes a free PRO account for shop usage. The login credentials are... user = [email protected] pw = makers (8 characters required, all lower case)
FAQ
What approval is required for me to use it?
Ask Jim Fred or Dan Dugmore for a check-out.
Where do I get bits?
Borrow bits from the shop (there's a box of bits kept in the shop) then consider buying bits from https://www.toolstoday.com/cnc-router-bits-and-insert-bits.html.
What materials can I cut?
Wood and plastic of any kind. Metal is not prohibited but the gantry isn't rigid enough for most metal.
What if I have more questions?
Ask people around the shop
Contact people on BaseCamp, either pinging them directly or using the campfire
Check the Easel forum https://discuss.inventables.com/c/easel
What are the working dimensions?
maximum cutting area of 500mm x 500mm x 65mm (about 2 inches deep, which would require a long bit). The Easel software automatically calculates the number of passes based on the bit selected and the material selected.
How do you secure work stock (wood) before cutting?
Use the clamp set in the kit kept near the router. If you are cutting through your wood, please put a thin piece of scrap between your wood and the cutting bed.
Use double sided tape.
What can this do that the laser cutter can't?
- Cut 3/4" thick plywood
- Cut partially thru wood (pocket holes with a flat bottom)
- V-Carve 3D text into wood
- Cut plastics. The laser cuts acrylic just fine. Some plastics (PVC) release corrosive gases and other plastics (polycarb) tend to meld back together.
- Cut without leaving a charred edge
