Adding T-Track Clamps and a New Z-Axis To My X-Carve CNC 🤖// How To

[@craftedworkshop]

Hope you guys enjoyed this one, even if you might not have a CNC in your shop (yet)! Expect to see more CNC content in the near future (including a guitar 🎸)! Thanks to Filter Buy for sponsoring this video. Save 5% on HVAC filters with a subscription at bit.ly/crafted-filters !

[@barnshopproductions7132]

Thanks for your optimism that I might have a CNC in my shop later. Good video, even though it's all Greek to me at this point lol.

[@barnshopproductions7132]

OH, WAIT! I do speak some Greek. lol.

[@dpmakestuff]

Hell of an upgrade! I noticed on the compression bit cuts you were taking fairly conservative cuts. I did the same thing until someone kindly explained that unless you're cutting deep enough to hit both the down cut portion of the bit you're only using an up cut bit. Hope that makes sense... Basically on my compression bits I have to cut minimum 1/4" deep or it's just not worth using it.

[@craftedworkshop]

Good tip man! That makes a ton of sense. Have you had good luck with that kind of DOC on the X-Carve? I've always followed the adage of your cut depth should be half the diameter of the bit at max.

[@dpmakestuff]

@@craftedworkshop I push my mostly stock X-Carve as hard as I can. For plywood I wouldn't cut any less than 1/4" depth with a 1/4" bit. If you get into Fusion 360 you can do some nice deep roughing passes and then make a clean up pass to remove all the cut lines. It's heavenly when it all works just right!

[@MyersWoodshop]

@@dpmakestuff your right Dustin! Make sure you go past the head of the compression bit! I added some feeds and speeds to my blog! www.myerswoodshop.com/blog

[@mitchman1155]

Thanks for this video- I'm getting my X-Carve today and I'm stoked to get started! I appreciated all your insights and suggestions. Thanks again and keep putting out great content!

[@drewwithamericansouthdesig9288]

I am in the middle of upgrading my x-carve to the 1800x1000 size. TBD is legit, I purchased a good bit of stuff from Luke. Top Notch so far!

[@craftedworkshop]

Nice! I’d love to do that upgrade at some point for sure.

[@JohnMadeit]

ive had my x carve for just over a year now. ive learnt what i like and dont like about it. and im in the progress of making my new waste board and clamping system. it was great to see what you did with yours

[@craftedworkshop]

That’s great, good timing!

[@alexreynaud7960]

This video is huge. Got me thinking about my xcarve and its future. Thank you.

[@DaVidJimenez-to6xj]

Hi, Love the upgrades, how did you calibrate the z axis?

[@bg73]

Its amazing it's taken so long for CNC to get into mainstream. I was using a Gerber Sabre CNC over 20 years ago in the signage industry, cutting Plexiglas, MDF, brass and aluminium.

[@craftedworkshop]

It really is, I think it's been the price point, but these machines are considerably cheaper than a lot of the other tools in my shop and are incredibly versatile.

[@Artisanwoodworks73]

Thank you. Nice and informative. I'm going to do the exact things to my machine.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Nice upgrades! That is some serious travel of the X-axis now. Can't wait to see what all you make with these new capabilities!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks Bruce, pretty pumped about it!

[@rossweiler8715]

Great video! Literally getting my x-carve delivered today and am exited to dive in and start learning. I’ll keep these upgrades in mind for when I’m ready. Thanks!

[@craftedworkshop]

That’s awesome, good luck!

[@Alex4n3r]

Can't you put a pen on it to redraw the carved lines of the board?

[@maxwellyedor7610]

That expanded z capacity is primo! When you check that square part for square, it's also worth measuring it with calipers in both directions. I've had the X and Y axis get out of sync a couple times, usually as a result of something being wonky in the belts. It's now on my regular maintenance check list, run a square and a circle inside and outside and make sure all the dimensions are correct.

[@craftedworkshop]

For sure! And good tip. That was part of that calibration I did when I changed the belts, and the measurements are dead on, which is great.

[@Artisanwoodworks73]

do you have a link for the dust boot upgrade parts?

[@nosby30]

What about the dust collector? I don’t like the one from inventables where can I get one like yours?

[@WelcomeToJ]

...that fade transition at 2:28 (and throughout). Nice. It's the little things...

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, thanks! I spend way too much time on the edits (and I have an editor who helps), glad some folks notice those little details 😊

[@WelcomeToJ]

@@craftedworkshop Of course! Makes for real quality videos. I know how much time it takes. Definitely appreciated here :)

[@MultiTom1956]

Very nice !! I'm sure we shall see great projects from this CNC machine . 😊

[@craftedworkshop]

Indeed!

[@Cuttin_It_Close]

Have you done anything to the gantry to help stiffen it up? What belt upgrade did you go with the GT3 or GT2. Also how did you get the old gears off the steppers for the belt upgrade.

[@xxlt73]

Just look up the dust boot it’s not on there site. Do you know how to find it

[@FredMcIntyre]

Cool stuff Johnny! 👍🏻👊🏻

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks Fred!

[@cliffart7398]

why route the boards for the t=tracks. WHy not lay the t tracks down and press the stripsa up next to them? I am, getting ready to do this on my SHapeoko and want to do it right.

[@MrKingtiny]

Can you share how you used that bit in easel. Speeds and feeds and stepover.

[@craftedworkshop]

I leave the stepover standard in Easel. Speeds and feeds will depend on how stiff your machine is, but I was around 60IPM and taking about 0.1” per pass.

[@andrewbrown8148]

Great video, Johnny~! The next tool that I'm saving for is an X-Carve and having seen your video, I think I'll look into ordering these upgrades at the same time. I've read/watched A LOT of reviews & videos on the X-Carve and a common theme seems to be beefing up the same areas that you've addressed, so this seems like a logical starting point~! As always, thanks for providing great content and keep it coming~!

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks Andrew, glad I could give you some upgrade ideas! I definitely think they’re great to add as you’re assembling the machine, a heck of a lot easier that way.

[@ssquared8076]

Awesome video. I've been eyeing getting one here in the next few months it seems like a fun tool to have in the shop and love all the upgrades.

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks, definitely a fun and productive tool!

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

The thumbnail for this video really took us back to the good ole' days lol

[@ronh9384]

Great video. At 8:51..... where did the DEWALT bandsaw come from? And if it’s custom, where do I get one?

[@lukewilson825]

Check out SWAG offroad. We have one too, and absolutely love it.

[@crucialjosh5951]

Looks pretty awesome now, nice red wings btw 😎

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, thanks! Love my Red Wings, this is actually a second pair since I was wearing my Iron Rangers every day.

[@ZacJones]

Great build man, that'll make things a lot easier when you go to clamp your work piece in there. Great looking CNC too!

[@craftedworkshop]

For sure, thanks!

[@halsaresnowpaw522]

How wide did you cut the slats?

[@kevinmorgan3626]

Apologies if you already mentioned this but what bit did you use to clean the top of you spoil board? thank you

[@evanbarnes9984]

Its a wasteboard surfacing bit from Whiteside, I use the same one

[@truth6027]

Did anyone see the link that he mentioned from his friend to engrave the grid onto the new boards he installed? Also does anyone know the width of each board?

[@allistergreene4845]

Hey man. Nice descriptive vid. I too am trying to up grade my z axis however i am unable to remove the pulley from the acme rod. How did you prevent the rod from turning while loosening the nut? 😥

[@craftedworkshop]

You can loosen the stepper motor and remove the pulley that way. The entire rod is replaced so no need to remove the nut from what I remember. Hope that helps!

[@allistergreene4845]

@@craftedworkshop My pulley has a nut above it as well. :( and it doesnt seem to want to break loose. Im not sqitching over to the linear rail just yet but i want to switch the pully for the thicker one than takes 9mm GT2. My stepper motor can but the existing pulley can't. Unfortunately

[@craftedworkshop]

Ah gotcha. Maybe carefully grab the rod with some vise grips, wrapping the rod in something soft first?

[@bentheredonethat9296]

Great video!!!!!!!! I do have an Xcarve and definitely looking into the same upgrades. 🙂👍

[@craftedworkshop]

Nice, thanks!

[@christofix]

cnc machines are awsome, som day i will buy one. i have enjoyed your video ( because i don't own a cnc i have to watch cnc videos hahahaha)

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, thanks! CNC videos are definitely fun to watch :)

[@JB_1776]

I really enjoyed the video!! I had the same intentions with upgrading mine and have already bought all the upgrade items except the new Z-axis. That comes in a bit after the machine earns the money to replace it. I do have a couple of questions and I will also send them to your Facebook site. First, is where did you get the files to make the cuts for the t-tracks and next, the file to cut the reference lines? Thank you for any help you can give me.

[@Michaeldashizz]

Any thoughts on an upgraded router? I feel limited by the power of the Dewalt and only being able to use 1/4” bits

[@jackfaulkner3698]

hey there! you just need a collet adaptor on amazon to use smaller shaft bits

[@MrBez007]

great vid. I've not got a c n c but found this really entertaining

[@doubledarefan]

0:57 It's no longer a spoil board. It's now a spoiled board.

[@craftedworkshop]

😂

[@Subscriber-zq2fd]

nice work johnny

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks!

[@fergalflynn3688]

Hi Johnny, I really enjoyed this video and has me intrigued to use the tbdcnc.com upgrades on my own x-carve! I am curious as to why you went with the belt drive option instead of the acme screw option and also on the z-axis you also went with the belt drive in place of their direct drive option? Was it a price based decision? Or would you not get a noticeable difference going that step further? Thanks in advance! Also I’m really enjoying following your journey! Keep up the great work

[@craftedworkshop]

He didn’t have those options available yet! Luke is pumping out upgrades faster than I can install them.

[@michaelbreaux9164]

Great Video. What happened to the SHAPEOKO?

[@paulmurray938]

Totally you said the dust boot company was "Yellow Box Shit" instead of Shed....haha. Cool video!

[@JakeThompson]

Pimped it out good!! 😂😂👍👊

[@benzmansl65amg]

Better be careful with depth of cut now

[@craftedworkshop]

Yea I’ve got about 3/16” of buffer, so I should be good.

[@MyersWoodshop]

Skip the t track and add threaded wasteboard. Here's the video walking you step by step kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIDSfqaAmt96i8U and my blog has the free files www.myerswoodshop.com/blog

[@craftedworkshop]

The X-Carve comes with a threaded wasteboard and I was not a fan.

[@johnlafferty5032]

Keep to try a T Track method

[@ryangratland2330]

Great video. Can you link to the magnet dust boot upgrade? I can’t find it. Thanks!

[@craftedworkshop]

I linked to it in the video description. Thanks!

[@moth.monster]

Air filter auto delivery... If I happen to find myself with a central HVAC system any time soon I'll be sure to check that out :V

[@zachjohnson41]

HAHA got you this week Zack Johnson :P

[@Zack_Johnson]

NOOOO you got me lol

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah!

[@CrafterMaker]

Lol, love the name of the video but I can help it hear Xzibit's voice saying"Hey man I hear you like T tracks so I put T tracks on your T tracks" 😆 🤓

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah, that was the goal! X to the Z 😂

[@bjsmithart]

Nice work! I'd like to have one of these to go with my CNC laser. I actually looked at that TBDCNC site to see if they had stuff that would work with my laser so I could expand its capacity. Unfortunately they didn't. Just curious, are you concerned about cutting too deep and hitting that T track with the bit?

[@craftedworkshop]

Shoot Luke a message and see if he could custom make you something! And the MDF is high enough that I’d have to really screw up to hit the t-track.

[@mikahidiot2614]

I don't really understand why putting in those rails makes "making the same product over and over again easier". Why would being able to clamp down a smaller piece of wood in various places of the workstation make this process easier than just having it anywhere on the station and having the CNC mill it? Any other benefits to this upgrade that I might have missed?

[@craftedworkshop]

For sure! More clamping location options make it easier to clamp different sized pieces. I can create custom fixtures that clamp down to the t-track, plus I can use a ton of different t-track clamps that I wasn’t able to use before. T-tracks are far superior to the threaded inserts that come with the X-Carve, just so much more versatile.

[@zackb6045]

Such a nice entry level machine with upgrades & all.. then you open up easel lol

[@markpalmer3071]

That's so cool...

[@craftedworkshop]

Thanks Mark!

[@reforzar]

I’m a little disappointed there isn’t a 70” plasma tv on it. #pimpmyride

[@craftedworkshop]

Or an aquarium 😂

[@TheRangeControl]

What's up, buddy... No "Direct Drive"?

[@craftedworkshop]

He hadn’t come out with it yet! Luke is coming up with upgrades faster than I can install them 😂

[@horsefeather]

"What's goin' on everybody? I'm Johnny Brooke. Welcome back to another T-track Workshop video"

[@jerryseinfeld9768]

Just flip the spoil board over 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@craftedworkshop]

There are threaded inserts on the other side and the recessed holes that the mounting bolts go through are on that side. 🤦‍♂️

[@natelee8666]

1st

[@craftedworkshop]

Congrats!

[@natelee8666]

😂 this was my first time getting first I just couldn’t help myself

[@The_Joker_]

WARNING ⚠️ WEAR SUNGLASSES #BrightLightBrightLight

[@bandols]

...you kind of blend into your wall. #notracist

[@Johansentrae]

Might just be me, but I really feel like this is cheating :) Cool machine though.