Table of Contents

Unimatic CNC Router

System

The CNC router is made up of multiple parts.

laptop ← Parallel port → Motion controller → stepper motors
laptop ← Serial to RS485 converter → VFD → spindle

How to use the CNC router

Start up procedure


1) turn on the laptop

2) Pull out the estop (gently) on the motion controller
3) Release the estop button on the machine by twisting it
4) Log in by tapping your token on the tool controller
5) Turn on chiller
6) Push green button mounted next to VFD.

Shut down procedure

  1. Press the main estop next to the machine - this is done first, the rest can be done in any order
  2. Turn off the chiller
  3. Log out from the tool controller
  4. Turn off the laptop

Note: the motion controller Estop does not need to be pressed

Using the router

Double click the 'Linux cnc' icon on the desktop TODO

Recovering after emergency stop is pressed

TODO

How to use the manual touchoff pad

There is a touchoff pad plugged into one of the inputs of the motion controller The spindle + tool are grounded, so the tool contacting the touchoff pad completes a circuit TODO (Gcode sequence)

Estop: chiller, button, tool controller chiller estops when water temperature is above 60*C or water flow flow is stopped or water level is low

Maintanence

Dust extractor needs emptied periodically, follow instructions on the dust extractor

Status

In use, but there are some tasks that still need to be done to make it better (E.g. touchoff pad):

Task list

Usage Notes

Ideally this section should be a step-by-step guide, but for now, it's just some key notes on the CNC's quirks.

The spindle is watercooled. The cooling unit has a flow sensor which is wired into the e-stop loop - this will stop the machine if the pump ever fails.

The CNC laptop runs Debian 7 and should not be updated as the CNC functionality relies on a special realtime kernel which is (in technical terms) a royal pain in the arse to set up.

The out-of-date OS means the laptop can't access network shares. Load your gcode files using the SD card reader in the front of the laptop.

Gcode files need to have a “.ngc” file extension. The last line of the gcode should be “M30”; this is a programme end signal and LinuxCNC will refuse to load any files without it.

The step blocks and clamps we have at the moment are 3D printed. Don't push the machine too hard while using these. If you want to mill thick metal at high speeds, you'll need a metal clamping set; the lab has discussed purchasing a set like this one in the past and there should be no problem doing so if anyone needs them.