ShopBot Desktop


The ShopBot Desktop is a high resolution, small footprint CNC tool from ShopBot Tools

 

Assembling your Desktop

 

Unpacking:

Your new ShopBot Desktop comes securely crated for shipping, in a crate held together with metal clips. Straighten the clips with a screwdriver or pair of pliers, and lift off the top of the crate. Remove the packaging containing the dust enclosure and the plastic bag containing the power cord, allen wrenches, and a USB thumb drive with the ShopBot software. Next remove the sides of the crate. Remove as much of the foam and cardboard packaging material as you can, and clear an area of your work surface that's large enough for the Desktop tool and the computer to run it.

CAUTION: The ShopBot desktop is a substantial tool, weighing 120 lbs. Have AT LEAST one more person help you lift the tool, and make sure you lift with your legs and not your back!

CAREFULLY lift the Desktop onto your work surface and make sure it's in a stable location. Adjust the leveling feet on the tool so that it doesn't rock, then use the nuts to lock them into position with the .

 

Mounting the Dust Enclosure:

If you ordered your Desktop with a router or spindle it's already mounted, and the only assembly step is to mount the acrylic dust enclosure. The dust enclosure is attached to the YZ-axis plate...the plate that your router or spindle is attached to...using five socket-head bolts.

Start by removing the 4 phillips head screws holding the lower back plate to the dust enclosure.
Remove the back plate and set it and the screws aside for re-attachment later.

 

Remove the five enclosure mounting bolts from the YZ plate, using the included allen wrench.
Tilt the dust enclosure a little so that it can clear the stepper motor, and start to pivot it into an upright position.

 

You may need to move the internal dust foot down to clear the collet of your router or spindle, using the wing nuts on the side of the enclosure. When it is in the correct position the holes in the enclosure will match the tapped holes in the YZ plate
Bolt the enclosure to the YZ plate using the bolts you removed earlier. Make sure the included nylon washers are between the head of the bolts and the enclosure, and don't over-tighten.
Replace the back section of the enclosure.

Making Connections:

There are only two connections for a ShopBot DeskTop...a 15 amp 110 volt power connection and a USB connection to the computer that you'll use to run your desktop. The 110 volt power cord...the same cord that most computers use...is included in a plastic bag in the crate. The USB cable and USB hub are stored in the frame of the Desktop for shipping.

Plug the power cord into the socket on the back of the Desktop, and then plug it into a 15 amp receptacle.

If you have not installed the ShopBot Control Software on the computer, do it now before connecting the USB cable for the first time! You'll find the software on the thumb drive included with your Desktop. This will install the driver for the USB connection between your ShopBot and your computer. Follow the prompts to install the Shopbot software and drivers. If you installed ShopBot Software on your computer earlier to try it out and chose not to install the USB drivers, you may want to repeat the installation.

Once the Shopbot software has installed, remove the thumb drive and plug the USB hub (with the cable from the tool plugged into it) into your computer. Pick a USB port that you'll plug the cable into...it's best to always use the same port whenever you connect the cable.

Flip the red cap and toggle switch on the front of the computer to the ON position (up) and Windows will recognize a "New Device". Once that has finished you're ready to go.

 

Operating your Desktop

The operating methods and techniques for all ShopBot tools, including the Desktop, are essentially the same, but there are a few Desktop-specific items that you should be aware of:

Emergency Stop

There will be situations -- hopefully not many -- in which you will need to abruptly terminate the action of your tool and shut it down to prevent damage to people, material, or the tool. On your Desktop tool the red power switch acts as an emergency safety stop switch (or EStop switch).

To shut down your Desktop in an emergency situation, turn the power switch to the OFF position by hitting the red cover over the switch. An Emergency Stop activated by the power switch removes all power to your tool, and because of the shut-down, the Control Software no longer knows the exact current location of your tool. To go back to work with your tool you will need to: Turn the Red power switch back to ON Clear the disconnect message box in the Control Software and then re-start the ShopBot Software. Re-zero the X and Y and Z axis to make sure all axis locations are correct before resuming work.

Z-axis Zeroing

Using the Z-Zero plate to zero the z-axis is covered in the ShopBot documentation. The plate and grounding clip are stored in the frame on the left side of the tool.
When creating your toolpaths you'll have a choice of zeroing at the top of the material or the bottom..the table surface. In most cases you'll be zeroing at the top of the material, so our example will show that. If you will be zeroing at the bottom of the blank...the table surface...the steps are exactly the same except for mounting the blank...it's usually done after zeroing. For our example we'll mount the work material on the table surface first
Open the Enclosure door to give working room. Open the access section of the Dustfoot if necessary.
Clip the grounding alligator clip onto the shank of the Spindle or Router, above the nut, to ensure a good ground
Test contact with z-zero plate. The #1 input switch indicator should some on with contact, and go off when no contact
If the test is successful, place the z-zero plate on your blank directly under bit, or on the table or holding jig surface if you're zeroing to the bottom of the material
Type C2 to run the z-zero routine, or click the Z-zero icon in ShopBot software.

The spindle or router will move down until the bit makes contact with the plate, then move up and down again for a second contact...DO NOT REMOVE THE PLATE UNTIL AFTER THE SECOND CONTACT!

When the Z-zero routine is finished, unclip the alligator clip and return it and the plate to the storage area in the frame. Your z-axis is now accurately zeroed

 

Spindle and VFD Operation

If you ordered your Desktop with a spindle, there's a power switch on the bottom of the vfd drive to turn it on and off.

• The display on the vfd reads in Frequency, and to convert to rpm's you'll need to multiply that number by the frequency of your electrical service...60 hertz in the United States and typically 50 hertz in many other countries. You'll find a chart to convert Frequency to RPMs here.

• The spindle speed can be set using the knob on the front of the vfd, or by opening the hinged front of the vfd and using the arrow keys.

• For a long life, a spindle requires a warmup cycle to bring the bearings up to operating temperature. The ShopBot software include a routine to make warming up easy, which can also be used to test your spindle. Refer to the "Getting Going" section of your documentation for information on this.