[PCHBCIT]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this group and I am a student doing a project for a company that is in the woodworking industry. We are having issues with regards to drilling and/or milling accuracy. I am not experienced with CNC's and I would really appreciate some help if you can.

Currently, there are four holes that are being drilled roughly 2.5-3.5 mm from the edge of the wood. These holes are varying from under 2 mm-6 mm. We have clamped the wood down with C clamps to insure no movement, but there are still problems. We have taken tons of measurements and there is somewhat of a trend to be drilling to one side, but the distance still varies quite a bit.

The machine that is being used is a Techno LC 5024.

I am wondering if there is a programming problem or an issue with the servo motors, although the machine is pretty much brand new.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[zool]

Call the factory and have them send technician out.

[PCHBCIT]

Yes, thanks. That will be our last option as the manufacturer is on the other side of the continent. It would be much easier if someone has had the same issue and I would be able to trouble shoot it with the aid of some advice

[camsys]

Just a few ideas:

Try to further define what's actually varying, is it location (I'm assuming X Y axis), or is it just off in one or the other axis.


I'm not familiar with your machine type, but with regards to programming, are
you using a CAM system and post-processing it, or are you doing it manually?

Are you drilling the hole(s) or generating it in g02/g03? If your program can be viewed in its Gcode format check locations and whether any cutter comp
is active.

I would probably try to use a center drill and simply put a dimple where your
holes should be, and measure location. Repeat the cycle several times to
see if it's missing the location in a consistent way (i.e. adding .005 each time).

Are you in G91 and your movements don't equal up to 0 in all axis?

Just some things to try.

[zool]

No service techs local??!!!

No telephones to call the factory, especially a small one like TECHNO, INC., 2101 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
TEL: 516.328.3970 · FAX: 516.358.2576
E-MAIL: TECHNO SUPPORT

Last time I drove New Hyde Park [which is on Long Island] Jericho Turnpike is pretty much all retail from one end to the other.

No warranty or support for a machine that "is pretty much brand new"?

Further, something about this question from a "student" who is "not experienced with CNC's" is very odd. Mainly, the "issues" are so technical and yet stated so clearly such as:

1. "Currently, there are four holes that are being drilled roughly 2.5-3.5 mm from the edge of the wood. These holes are varying from under 2 mm-6 mm. We have clamped the wood down with C clamps to insure no movement, but there are still problems. We have taken tons of measurements and there is somewhat of a trend to be drilling to one side, but the distance still varies quite a bit."

2. "I am wondering if there is a programming problem or an issue with the servo motors...".


Yet other statements are so ambiguous such as:

1. "a project for a company that is in the woodworking industry",

2. "a Techno LC 5024" that is "the machine is pretty much brand new".

3. The "student" stated "...the manufacturer is on the other side of the continent...", yet the machine is made by TECHNO, INC.
2101 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
TEL: 516.328.3970 · FAX: 516.358.2576
E-MAIL: TECHNO SUPPORT. IF I were in Canada I'd more likely say: "The factory is in the US." [Yes, I do go to Canada a lot.]

And a LC 5024 has a 50" x 24" x 5" Z machining platform, which is more for sign making or prototyping than "woodworking industry" use.


The question is written in such a manner, based on grammar, punctuation, phrasing and sentence composition, and in such a sequential and logical manner, certainly rises the concern if everything is being divulged by this "student".

Think I will just send The URL of this off to TECHNO, INC.
and see what happens.

[zool]

The "student" is implying that this "company that is in the woodworking industry" owns a $16,600 CNC router, and:

1. Nobody at this "company that is in the woodworking industry" can figure the situation out, and

2. Nobody at this "company that is in the woodworking industry" can pick the phone up and call TECHNO, Inc.???

The following is from: Action CNC Routers and Supplies helps you find the right cnc router and cnc software for your business.-Techno LC Table Top quality cnc router

"LC5024 table top CNC route with Porter Cable 3-1/4 HP spindle w/dust collection hood ,G-Code software.

Only $16,600.00 allow 4 weeks for delivery."

[PCHBCIT]

Thank you guys for the responses. I am a student and I have very limited knowledge of CNC's. I only know what I have been told.

As for ambiguous statements, the owner is sensitive to releasing information so I do not want to divulge too much information.

I'm sorry if you have suspicions. I am just trying to get a better idea of what I can possibly do with little information.

The company has not called the manufacturer. I will be doing this.

Thank you to all who try to help. To others wh are suspicious... I am sorry

[PCHBCIT]

Also, the company is very young and has little experience with CNC's. The programming was done by the owner when he got the machine.

No one in the organization has the skills to troubleshoot the technical specifications of the machine.

[zool]

Anyone would be suspicious as what the "student" wrote the first time as it made no sense, and the additional writings make even less sense.

It makes no sense that someone would lay out $16,600 for a machine, plus several thousand more dollars for software, as well as shipping costs, and not know anything about the machine, yet can apparently program it, and won't call the company that made the machine when the machine does not perform.

What about the manuals for the software and hardware?

There is something going on behind the scenes that is odd.

[zool]

The languaging in this thread in the Techno forum sounds familiar: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/techno..._question.html

[michaelthomas]

Oddly enough.......there are lots of people that have purchased machines costing $300,000 and up that know nothing about them. I have done programming side work for 3 woodworking shops that barely know how to turn their machines on. They bought their machines to cut out cabinet box parts and the code for them is generated from a cabinet design program. If they have to do anything outside of their box generating program......they are completely lost.

The machines sit idle for 95 % of their life, but each of the companies are totally satisfied with the value that they get from just cutting out boxes. They figure that the savings from 5 or 6 jobs per month is worth the 3-4 thousand dollar payment per month.

A 16,000 dollar investment is paltry compared to the above, and may amount to a lease cost of maybe 300 bucks per month.

Most woodworking shops would probably not sweat 300.00 per month. The owner of the shop that I work for spends nearly that much on beer in a week.

To the original poster......I would suggest scouring the net and learning as much as you can about G-code. With a little knowledge, you will be able to determine if the code is bad or there is some other problem.

[zool]

$300 a week on beer .. ??!!

Let me guess, it ain't connoisseur quality beer is it?

On the payments for machines vs. getting a lot of work out of them part: Yea, you are right. And it is just as much a mystery to me as it is too you.

Be that all as it may, this "student's" inquiries are too well formed and too informed for them to be from a "student".

[michaelthomas]

I don't have much beer knowledge.....but I'm pretty sure Coors Light is not the good stuff. He's more into quantity than quality, I think.

[zool]

As I recall .. there is a term for Coors Light that has to do with what bears excrete. I do not think it is a compliment.

[PCHBCIT]

Thank you Michael Thomas. I will be doing some research. I have also set a meeting with a teacher who teaches a CNC course.

Zool- I'm sorry you don't believe me. There is nothing I can do about that. There is no need for you to keep posting in this thread.

[zool]

The “student” states: There is no need for you [Zool] to keep posting in this thread.

I intend to continue to post to this thread.

First, this is a public forum.

Second, you, as induced by your employer, are engaging in one of the most heinous and pernicious of exploitative behaviors: Taking advantage of other’s kindness for monetary gain, when there is the ability to pay others, in this case the manufacturer of the CNC machine, for the knowledge and the services needed. This behavior also deprives the manufacturer monetarily, as you and your employer are taking knowledge and not paying them for that knowledge. In a word, this is a form of theft.

Third, you are being exploited as well; thrice. First, by your employer inducing you to post to this public forum, you are being deprived of more relevant experience, that being operating a CNC machine so you can gain skills. Until you have a basis of skills, you cannot engage in productive problem solving.

Second, the experience you are gaining by your behavior of posting in this public forum, is sociopathic [a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in antisocial attitudes and behavior], as you are learning how to exploit rather than cooperate. Exploiting is neither moral or ethical; enlightened cooperation is moral and ethical.

Third, your brain, specifically your frontal and prefrontal cortices, and the accompanying cognitive and psychological function emanating therefrom, are being developed inappropriately as this experience your exploitative employer is providing you is the basis for further sociopathic behavior in the future. [I am married to a psychiatrist and this is dinner conversation.]

In the future, if someone did not stand-up to you, and your lazy, ill-informed, and exploitative employer, and point out to you both what your behaviors are, you will pay the price for this “learning experience” from your employer when the cost is much much more expensive, possibly monetarily, but more likely psychological and reputationally.

So, “student”, you just got a good healthy dose of “experience”. A wise response would be for you to go back to your exploitative employer and tell him you do not want this kind of experience and that he should pick up the telephone and call Techno and pay for the knowledge that it will take to make the CNC machine perform as expected rather than continuing to engage in a most heinous and pernicious behavior, that taking advantage of the kindness of others for his personal monetary gain.

And if he fires you, you will have gained even more relevant experience which should, upon reflection, help you to develop a backbone.

[PCHBCIT]

Thank you for your "valued" input.