Tag Archives: Shapeoko

July 20, 2019 Shop Log

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It seems that the laptop I used to run the Shapeoko and K40 Laser Cutter and Engraver bit it the other day. It use to run the ChiliPeppr Serial-Port-JSON-Server, but I decided to move that over to an old Raspberry Pi I have laying around unused. The problem is that Pi hasn’t been maintained, and the updates to the OS are taking forever.
I mounted the Raspberry Pi on the Shapeoko table, next to the TinyG.
I managed to finally get the Pi updated and running. A scan of the local subnet found the Serial Port JSON Server on the Raspberry Pi and the USB port I connected the Raspberry Pi to the TinyG CNC Controller.
I finished my USB Battery Storage Tray. This should clean up the clutter in my office. Currently the battery are scattered about the desktop while charging. This should take up less room and make it easier to keep track of my batteries.

February 17, 2019 Shop Log

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I needed to start tidying up some of my equipment, like the dust collection barrels cluttering to the shop floor. For one of my Dust Deputy-equipped Shop-Vacs, I mounted the collection barrel on the top of the Shop-Vac cart with the help of the X-Carve CNC Router. This will make the Shop-Vac a bit easier to move around the shop.
Like I said, getting the Dust Deputy-equipped dust collection off the shop floor was a priority today. Now when I move the Shapeoko CNC Router Table, I am not dragging its dust collection system behind it.

The SD card for the QuickDraw Bot went back, and I had to re-flash a new operating system for the QuickDraw Bot. It is now back up and operational.

I started working on my rotating flip-top power tool bench to help reduce the amount of floor or bench space my power tools were taking up, especially those I seldom lay used.

January 26, 2019 Shop Log

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I decided to start making some work-holding tools I found on the Shapeoko User Group on Facebook, some cam holding clamps and holding L-brackets.
While the Shapeoko ran its job, I cut some additional directional signage for the Amphitheater on the GCC Expert24LX Vinyl Cutter. However, I just noticed a mistake. The signage was to read Main Gates, not Plaza Gates.
I also fired up the Stacker 500 to start printing the nave of the Sagrada Familia model.
I finished drilling the mounting holes and installing the mounting T-nuts on the backings for the Amphitheater Parking Lot Solar Work Light Panels.
The L-brackets I found on Facebook weren’t designed from my X-Carve CNC Router, so I decided to design one myself. It will be 3D-printed rather than cut from MDF.

February 18, 2018 Shop Log

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  • Continuing to progress on the CEIA Magnetometer Storage Dollies
  • The slow part to the whole process is the cutting of the yokes…
  • Only 5 more stacking pallets to construct…
  • While waiting for the Shapeoko to finish its cutting job, I worked on the Loading Dock Video Patch Panel, cutting out the inner mounting plate on the Muse Laser Cutter and Engraver.
  • The finished product looks promising.
  • Last visit, I finished the installation of dust collection system on the X-Carve CNC Router.
  • During my reconfiguration of the X-Carve in Easel, to accept the dust shoe, I found myself stuck on setting up the Z-Axis Probe. Easel takes you through the setup process step-by-step, not allowing you to continue on until you complete the current task. The first step was to plug in the Z-Axis Probe, which I did and immediately instructed me to attach the clamp to the spindle collet. This is where I got confused, because the next grayed out instruction was touch the touch plate to the collet. However, when I touched the collet with the touch plate, nothing happened. I rebooted the computer, I reinstalled the X-Controller firmware and Easel driver software, I checked the continuity of the circuit, and I still could not move forward. Then I finally realized that the “attach the clamp to the collet” was a button that had to be pressed after clamping the collet. Idiot.

January 27, 2018 Shop Log

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  • The key is to get the Shapeoko started right away while you are working on other tasks. You cannot leave it unattended, but at least you have something to do while you wait for a cutting job to complete.
  • I finished the last wheel board for the CEIA Magnetometer Storage Dollies and the first of the ADA-compliant stacking pallets. Only 11 pallets to go…
  • I also assembled more yoke assemblies…
  • And cut and routed some more components…