CNC Shark TM Instruction Manual. Version 1.01 Created 1/21/2008 Updated 03/09/10

Transcription

1 CNC Shark TM Instruction Manual Version 1.01 Created 1/21/2008 Updated 03/09/10

2 Table of Contents: CNCShark Assembly Instructions... 1 Assembly of the CNC Shark... 1 To power the CNC Shark:... 2 Downloading Software... 3 Step 1: Go to Website... 3 Step 2: Run Install... 3 Installing the Driver (XP Only)... 4 Step 1: Plug in CNC Shark... 4 Step 2: Begin New Hardware Wizard... 4 Step 3: Choose the Driver... 7 Step 4: Complete Driver Installation... 9 INSTALLING WINDOW 7 OR VISTA DRIVERS...11 Using Basic Control Panel...17 Step 1: Make Sure CNC Shark Driver is Installed Before Proceeding...17 Firmware Update Step 2: Setting the Starting Position for Your Project...20 Step 3: Load G Code...21 Step 4: Run Code...22 Step 5: Complete the Process

3 CNCShark Assembly Instructions Assembly of the CNC Shark Please carefully read all of the instructions! To assemble the top part of the machine, it has the two black motors, (AKA the gantry) to the base **You will need a star T27 bit, the 12 bolts and nuts that were packed in a baggie, and pliers, needle nose, or wrench. Before using tools of any kind, it is critical to insert all the bolts and nuts by hand first to ensure proper alignment of the machine! 1. The motor already connected the front of the base must be closest to you (pointing towards you). 2. Take out the 12 bolts and nuts from the baggie 3. Unscrew the all of nuts from all of the bolts. 4. The gantry (top part of the machine) needs to have the router holder facing you (the router holder is AKA the z-axis) with the motor on the base still facing you. 5. Line up the gantry to the base s part that slides on the two metal bars, the part of the machine that slides on the base is the y-axis. 6. The six holes on each side of the gantry and the y-axis piece are already drilled 7. Match up the six holes on each side (6 on one side, 6 on the other side) of the gantry and put all 12 of the bolts and nuts into these holes by hand, first. 8. Once everything is straight, then tighten with drill or screwdriver and needle nose or pliers or wrench. To mount the router: 1. Loosen the bolt on the router holder. It is directly in the front parallel to you when facing it. 2. Place the router into the holder. The fit is tight so twist the router left and right while putting a little downward pressure on the router. 3. Make sure the router goes down as far as it can. 4. Tighten the holder by screwing down the main bolt on the holder 5. Make sure all of the connectors labeled x, y and z (the white ones with the cords) outside of the control box are still connected. Never plug in or 1

4 unplug these connectors when the machine is on and/or powered doing so could damage the controller. To power the CNC Shark: Plug in a power strip to the wall outlet. Then, plug in the Shark s power supply (which is the regular cord) and finally the router s cord into the power strip. The power strip will function as a master off and on switch as well as a reset for the machine. Make sure upon powering that the fan is working inside the controller box. You will hear it and see it spinning. If the fan fails for any reason turn off the machine. As a reference, it is best to keep the large fan of the controller box facing up this is the correct orientation of the control box and is necessary to keep air and heat currents the flowing in the correct direction. This machine is not designed to work with fluids. The router is a dry router do not cut with any misting or wet material it may cause a fire. Keep fan intakes clear of material. Keep your CNC Shark away for any moisture and in temp range from 50 to 80 F. Lightly blow air through the fan occasionally to remove any particulate from the electronics. This will to prevent additional heating inside the box that could result in damage. Do not expose the system to high humidity this may cause condensation on the electronics and cause a short. Never operate your machine during a thunderstorm to prevent circuits being damaged excessive line voltage. Keep Static charges from discharging into the Motors. If you think this is an issue then a ground wire can be added to one bolt head of each of the motors. Wipe down the CNC Shark rails with silicon or Teflon spray lubricant. The lead screws do not need continual application of a spray lubricant but applying one to the X and Z axis occasionally will keep down unnecessary wear. 2

5 Downloading Software Step 1: Go to Website Open your web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) and go to the website Click on the Downloads section located on the right side of the website. The Downloads page will give you a list of software, tutorials, and videos to download. There will be future updates and also a copy of this entire manual will also be located on the Downloads page. If you are using XP then click on the file labeled CNC Shark Control 1_0. The Vista and Windows 7 Versions are loaded by using different controller software. If you have Vista or Windows 7 then load the two files in the order shown here from the website ( vcredist_x86.exe and CNC Shark Control 1_4 ). The vcredist_x86.exe is the drivers that must be loaded first then the control program can be loaded Please check back in the Downloads page for this update and additional free software in the future. Vista screens will look different then XP version shown. If using the Vista or Windows 7 then download those programs only in the download section on our website. Step 2: Run Install All the files regardless of which version of windows you are using are downloaded the same we will show the XP control file here. The CNCSharkContol.exe file will include the CNC Shark Drivers and the control program for the CNC Shark. When you click on the download, the screen shown below should appear. Click on Run and it will download and begin the install. 3

6 The program will ask you to unzip to a specified folder. There is no need to change the folder location just click Unzip to start the process. Now you have downloaded and installed the CNC Shark Control program. Next, you need to install the drivers. Installing the Driver (XP Only) Step 1: Plug in CNC Shark First, turn on your computer. After Windows loads, plug in the rectangular end of USB cable into the corresponding USB port on your computer. If you are unsure of what a USB port is, refer to your computer s manual. Now, plug in the square end into the corresponding port on the CNC Shark control box. (The control box is the box with the fan on the top.) Insert the memory card into the slot next to the USB port on the CNC Shark control box. Step 2: Begin New Hardware Wizard 4

7 As soon as the USB cable is connected, Windows will automatically detect the new USB and begin the New Hardware Wizard. Below is a screen shot of the wizard for the driver installation. When the screen below appears in Windows and asks Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for the software? Any of the three choices listed will work; however, the default option is the first option Yes, this time only. After clicking the circle next to Yes, this time only, the Next button will become enabled. Click the Next button to continue the wizard. 5

8 On the next screen that appears, you will be asked how you would like to find the driver. Click on the second option, Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) which allows you to find the driver in a specific location. Now, click the Next button. 6

9 Step 3: Choose the Driver The next screen will allow you to choose the correct location where Windows can find the driver for the CNC Shark. First, click on Search for the best driver in these locations. Next, click Include this location in the search: Finally, click the Browse button to find the location of the driver. It will be located in the folder USB Driver which is located in the same folder as the CNC Shark USB Control Software (C:\CNCShark\CNC Shark Control 1.0\). Highlight or select the USB Driver folder and click OK, and then click the Next button in the Hardware Update Wizard window. Refer to the screen shots below. 7

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11 Step 4: Complete Driver Installation While searching for the driver, the following screen will appear. 9

12 When the search is complete, the Next button will be enabled. Click the Next button to display the following window. Click the Finish button to complete the installation. 10

13 INSTALLING WINDOW 7 OR VISTA DRIVERS After you have loaded the Windows 7 or Vista control software you have to finish the install so that the computer will see the CNC Shark. Easiest way is to have the CNC Shark USB controller plugged in to the Computer or laptop. If a screen pops up to install hardware close it before continuing. Proceed to the start menu as shown above and right click on the Computer show above. This will create a drop down box and in that drop down click the properties. 11

14 This will open the control panel to the system screen. Now click the device manager show above. NOTE: This will prompt the user with a screen to see if they wish to continue click the continue button. 12

15 If the NCpod is not yet installed it will show up at the bottom of the list where the arrow is showing with a yellow question mark. It might also show under the OEMTECH CNC Controller tab see next page. 13

16 Above is a simulated screen, your screens will look slightly different On your computer Click on the NCPOD and select the Update driver software. 14

17 Click on the Browse my computer for driver software 15

18 Regardless of what is in the software location click the Browse button to pick the correct location. 16

19 Navigate starting from computer area to the local C: drive down to the program files then the CNC Shark basic panel then the USB Driver. They have to click on it so it lights this is important or will not work. NOTE: on vista 64 machines the CNC Shark control Panel is in the Program Files x86 folder. When you click ok it will put you back to this location and you will have the window setup as show above. The only difference is if they are on the 64 version and it would have C:\Program Files x86\ instead of the C:\Program Files\. Click the next and it should say install driver software. When it finishes (takes about a min) then the CNC Shark control panel should work without a reboot The USB cable should be unplug and plug back in the USB controller just to be safe that is it reset with the new driver. Using Basic Control Panel Step 1: Make Sure CNC Shark Driver is Installed Before Proceeding For the XP version 17

20 Go to the C:\CNCShark\CNC Shark Control 1.0\ folder. Click on the CNC Shark Control Panel icon this will start the program. For Vista and Windows 7 you need to goto the start menu (circle in lower left hand corner of windows) then click the All Programs then scroll down until you find the CNC Shark Basic panel. Click on this and there will be a program file named CNC Shark Basic Panel. When you click this it should jump into the program. Firmware Update. When running the control program the first time. The program may ask you to update your controller firmware (this is the software in the controller). Just click the button to proceed. One this is finished then start the CNC Shark Control Panel again and you will be in the program. 18

21 Upon running the application, the Next Wave Automation Basic Control Panel will be displayed. If the status bar in the lower left of the screen says to Please check CNC Shark power and USB cable and if the buttons are gray and unable to be clicked on, then check to make sure the USB cable ports are completely plugged in. Once this has been verified, and still you get the Please check CNC Shark power and USB cable in the status bar, go back to step 1 of Installing the Driver section. 19

22 When the CNC Shark driver is properly installed and the USB cable is plugged in, the status bar will read The CNC Shark is connected and operational, and the top two buttons Load G Code and Run from SD Card in the right pane will be enabled. Step 2: Setting the Starting Position for Your Project Click on the Jog tab, this will display the position controls of the X, Y, and Z axes of the machine. The buttons on the far right next to Fast, Med and Slow are used to control the speed all of the axes movements for jogging only, there is another set speed controls called FRO that controls how fast or slow the program runs. (The Fast, Med, and Slow options are not used when a program is running.) In the right pane of the Next Wave Automation Control Panel, you will see the buttons for controlling the position of the machine. Use the X+ or X- buttons to move the router either left or right along the X axis. Similarly, use the Y+ or Y- buttons to move the router position forward or backward along the Y axis. Finally, the Z+ or Z- buttons move the router up or down on the Z axis. You will position the router s bit according to where the zero was set in the VCarve program. Please see VCarve Manual and/or Tutorials with any questions as to where zero would be set up in VCarve program. Typically, this is either in the center OR the lower left corner of the material you are working on. Make sure the bit is one sheet of paper s width above the material you are about to carve. This is 20

23 the starting or zero position which should correspond to the zero position in the VCarve program (see Material Setup in the VCarve Manual). Click on the buttons next to inches or millimeters to select the unit of measurement you want to see displayed in the Part Coordinates side of the window. Step 3: Load G Code First, click on the G-Code tab. This will display the program run screen. Click the Load G Code button to load file that contains CNC Shark G Code that you created and saved from the VCarve Program (usually saved as a*.tap file extention). If you have not yet created a Gcode file with Vcarve but would like to test your machine then you can load the file square-1in.ngc from the folder C:\CNCShark\CNC Shark Control 1.0\. This program will move all the axes 1 inch in each direction so make sure that you have all of the machine away from the sides of the machine and the router bit 1 inch off the table. Make sure you zero all of your axes before you run this program 21

24 A standard Windows file selection window is displayed. Browse to where you saved the program file you to cut that you created in VCarve. Make sure you have the memory card slid into its slot in the CNC Shark s control box. Click the OK button and the file will be loaded to the memory card. Because the file size will determine how long it takes to load, it can take anywhere from 5 seconds to 2 minutes. While the program is being transferred to the controller the Load G Code and Run from SD Card will gray out and become inactive. When they become active again the program has finished loading.. Step 4: Run Code Once the code has been loaded and coordinates have been set, turn on your router and click on the Run from SD Card button. This will instantly start the program running you can adjust the speed of the program while it is running by changing the FRO also known as the Feed Rate Operator. If you need to stop the program before it finishes you can click on the Pause button. To start it up from where the program paused click the Continue button. To stop and reset the program before it has finished click on the large red E-Stop button. The program cannot be continued if the E-Stop is pressed, but it can be started over again by selecting the Run from SD Card. 22

25 While running the Load G Code, Run from SD Card and Continue buttons will be grayed while the Pause button will be enabled. The X, Y and Z coordinates will also change based upon where the router s position is from the starting or origin point. Step 5: Complete the Process When complete, the buttons will return back to the status prior to beginning of code execution. The program is now complete. Finally, you can close the Control Panel or load another program. To load another program and begin a new project, go back to Step 1 of Using the Basic Control Panel and follow Steps

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