CNCJS - For beginners with Shapeoko 3

[@WhisperWinds-jh8hj]

Awesome video, I just setup my 3020 with a Raspberry Pi 5 running CNClinux with CNCjs added to it for GRBL . Can’t wait to make my first cut after I learn a bit more

[@JeffWard]

TIP: when copying macros from github, it's safer to either click the "Copy button" (looks like overlapping squares - maybe it wasn't there 4 years ago) -- or click "RAW" to load only the macro contents, then CTRL-A (select all) and CTRL-C (copy) -- than trying to select the right text with the mouse. Thanks for the video!

[@oldboot]

Used the bit setter with Shapeoko 4. Worked great... Thank you; I couldn't find this info anywhere else!

[@QAYWSXEDCCXYDSAEWQ]

First Video I seen that closes the gap in my understanding between the the design and the cut!! I am a complete beginner, and this is an excellent video. Sure I subscribed!!

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tq2655]

Superb sir, what a help. More please!!

[@StonefieldMusic]

Mate, that was a better tutorial than the supplier of my machine has on offer. Subbed and the bell is on! Thanks.

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Thank You. Glad it helped.

[@boosterg]

Well watching this has gotten me through the question "but does it work with the BitSetter" and you answered that question. Very helpful video. Thanks

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Yes sir. Glad it helped.

[@richardsmith8625]

I was stuck at download!!! so this was so great Thanks

[@92Amt]

Thanks

[@bentebrunsvelt319]

Thanks verry good👍👍

[@LaBizounerie]

Hi thanks for sharing this! I watched before using CNCJS for the first time and I was good to go!! (+1 sub) !!

[@lylet100]

Very helpful, Thanks for taking the time to show us the “how to”

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

No problem 👍

[@philjacobus860]

As someone new and very old. Thanks

[@dennispeacock6079]

I can't say - Thank You - enough for posting this.

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Thanks. This is exactly why I made the videos. Just trying to help.

[@biggmoney31]

Thanks for another video

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Our pleasure!

[@wilsonmarroquin4299]

We have to use the z probe always or we can just do the tool change???

[@carlchiverton3120]

So very helpful, thank you!

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Yes, appreciate it.

[@ambroribo6079]

Thanks a lot tfor the video. I am asking if is there any possibility to include the autolevelling or height map estention to this program . I can not find an easy way to do it ! thanks

[@zakirida6424]

Thenkyou👌👍👍

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Absolutely.

[@agustinbmed]

Thanks for the video, this is def gonna help out... I've been using CNCJS for maybe 6 months now, love it, didn't have a touch probe, and still don't have a bit Setter.... my question to you now that I bought a touch probe, would be.... are we able to just run the touch probe macros for initial zeroing? I like the idea of running this instead of eyeballing it... and finally why can't we use the touch probe as a bit setter? I mean probably not the same macros, but could it work for tool changes? I just hate that we need 2 different tools for basically / technically the same detection (bit height) which can be achieved by either... thanks again for the great video!

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

You are correct. They do the same thing. They actually share wiring. The only thing with the bitsetter is the spring loading preventing bit damage. But it can be done.

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Oh, and yes you will need to run the initial. Then run the other for any tool change after that.

[@agustinbmed]

@@PricklyGuyCreations thanks for that, I ran into a bit of trouble with my shapeoko 3, and long story short I had to get my X stepper replaced... now it's all good... but I'm finding an issue where after running the mid-cut tool change, the Z axis does not find zero again, it actually goes higher than the zero about an inch or so... is there an update that fixes this? or have you found this issue before? thanks again!

[@triwibowo8500]

Tolong, saya ada masalah di cncjs. Ketika listrik padam cnc diam tapi di cncjs tetap berjalan.

[@agustinbmed]

nice! Funny enough I had the same problem with my limit switches, contacted them and they were gracious enough to send me a replacement one. I looked for them and they were like 25 bucks a piece on different places... crazy eh? luckily I had a few spare cheaper ones from other 3d printers i’ve assembled. For the CNCjs I would have loved to have seen this before I started.... I went through 3 different gcode senders until I settled for this one which I don’t regret... I tried bCNC and another one I can’t remember right now, but this one was the easiest to work and get used to :). Funny enough, for the macros I didn’t need them for tool changes... but maybe because I don’t have any of the probes or bit setter I just manually change the Z :( haha

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Same way I started. One tool at a time. Lol

[@mauriciorivera1205]

thanks broo, a question i have and arduino, some time the program cncjs send me a server conection probem

[@arturosovino]

Hi..nice video. For users that not have shapeoko. Is necesary to have bitsetter? or is possible with something to simulate for example an a second probe plate? thanks

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Having a Shapeoko is not necessary. I also have a new carve that I have customized. It has a bit-changer as well. But you do not have to have the bitsetter on either.

[@acusto_]

Good information! What model is the Bosch router?

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

The one in the video is the Carbide Compact router. Looks like a Makita knock off. Upgrading to an actual spindle soon.

[@triwibowo8500]

Saya dari Indonesia. Terimakasih vidionya. Saya masih pemula sekali di cnjs. Dan saya ingin belajar. Saya pakai kontroler arduino.

[@davidfaris4700]

You never showed us how to set the bitsetter coords in the macro. DO you have that someplace?

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

14:45 mark. After you home. Manually jog the spindle over the top of the bitsetter. The machine coordinates that show are your bitsetter numbers for you Macros.

[@Aenema2208]

@tnt creations. I was curious about the spoil board setup, the red parts holding the material in place. Did you order those or 3d print them ? Just curious I'm currently settings up my spoil board and pushing toward this setup. Thanks in advance!

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

I 3D print them. I designed them in Fusion 360. I share the files for free on Thingiverse.

[@Aenema2208]

@@PricklyGuyCreations Thank you sir. Just wanted to confirm.

[@gabrielcampbell3911]

Hi I am using shapeoko pro xxl, I tried using the bitzero like normal as per your instructions but the endmill just kept pushing down into the bitzero and wouldn't stop. I used bitsetter first, what am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance!

[@fenders9911]

nice video but that is a lot of work ..could I just jog to my center of work piece and just set the z height .

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

If you have to change bits, you’ll want to pick an area they will not be cut. If you’re just using one bit, yes you can.

[@resorter66]

So i assume you have used the cncjs program for a little while now. So what do you think of it and what are the benifits of it over the Carbide Motion. Jeff

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Well, I will be really honest with you. I was forced to use it the first time. My homing switch is apparently lost in the mail, so I still can’t use CM. CNCJS is all I can use. But it is growing on me. It’s not as polished yet as CM. Being that CM was all I used for the first 6-8 months, I was comfortable with it and how it works. I think CNCJS can do all the things CM can do, but it’s not there yet. I will continue to use both, for now. But I do see me at some point moving mainly to CNCJS. I like the open control of the console, and the ability to add any macro I want to customize the machine for me. They just need to polish the wrapper. lol

[@johnangel1512]

I followed you step by step with the macros but seems like mine didn't want to take them, I've got a 3018 cnc is it the same set up, never used a cnc b4 and I only got this and put it together Tuesday/Wednesday,also Visualizer and connection widgets aren't ticked greyed out

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Hmm. Sounds weird that the connection widget is greyed out. Without being connected, it will not save your Macros. I’m not familiar with the “3018 CNC”.

[@johnangel1512]

@@PricklyGuyCreations tried again this morning to load the macros in was ok but not as big as yesterday, oh well

[@jasonragsdale8446]

I have the Carbide 3d probe with the hole in it. Just bought it so I assuming it is the newest version. Do I get the C3D 3axis probe file or 3 Axis Probe WIth Hole file? Thanks in advance

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

There is a new file for the one with the hole in it on Neil’s GitHub. I personally haven’t tried it yet.

[@Sonicexpres]

Im using Aspire 8.5. Will the post processor you loaded in this video still work for me?

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

I’ve had one other viewer say it worked for them perfectly. I personally have not used Aspire. “Yet”

[@Sonicexpres]

@@PricklyGuyCreations thanks. I use 9.5 and its great. there is a video on youtube to show you how to get it for free if you're into that kind of thing. it works.

[@ronaldvonk]

Love the video, but the background music makes it difficult for me to follow (Dutch native).

[@nathanwijnands3]

Somehow it doesn't want to save my macro. Help?

[@nathanwijnands3]

Also. How can adjust the "$" I'm trying to adjsut the G0, steps/mm and the workspace

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Are you connected to a machine? It won’t save unless you’re active.

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Type in $$ enter in the console area to see current values. Then type $xxx and the value you want.

[@nathanwijnands3]

Sick! Got it. It was connected, but somehow didnt work. Put it in another com port and it worked

[@johnangel1512]

do I need V-carve?

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

You should not have to use Vcarve for CNCJS. It will work with most gcodes.

[@nickrooney893]

Great video. Im having a little bit of an issue with the bit setter macros. Whenever I do A tool change mid job, or changing it in general, its like it doesnt reset the work offset Z height. I ran into an issue on a job, so then i did a test. I took an endmill, stuck it out as much as I could, ran the initial macro, and zerod it off the workpiece. Then I shortened it up, and tried both the Initial and in game macro, got the endmill to touch the workpiece, and the work cordinats says that I have 16mm let to go to get to zero. Any ideas?

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

I’m not sure what going on but let’s go through it real quick. Before you start your job, you must set your xyz zeros. Then run the initial tool change macros. This stores the “starting” point. Then during the job you would run the “in game” tool change. You only run the initial macros when you first turn on the machine and set your initial zeros.

[@resorter66]

Question I did not understand the why the inches PP did not work and you had to use the MM .also Do you design in inches and then switch to MM. Does Neil PP work ok in the newest version of CM with the bit changer. What is the benefit of switching. to CNCJS

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

I can tell you my experience with the inch post processor. I did a cut using a gcode that I had used before with CM. When I ran the program with CNCJS it only moved in a small area about a quarter. It is defaulted in mm. You can change the default each time you open cncjs to inch. It’s just easier for me to do it in the post. I’m not comfortable enough with metric yet to design in mm. I still design in inches, I just export to metric when I use the mm post p. Yes, the new post processors work with new carbide motion and bitsetter. Here’s the tough one, “benefits of switching”. That’s kind of a personal choice. CNCJS gives you more control, visual representation of where the cutter is and where it’s going, and is not tied to one product or GRBL for that matter. But with more user control comes more opportunities for issues. Carbide Motion- I personally don’t have anything against CM. It’s very polished. It does lack a manageable console interface, does not have the visual representation of the gcode, and is designed for the carbide control board. But what is does very well, is communicate with a Shapeoko and works very well with all Carbide accessories. It is a personal choice. I will personally continue to use both. I like the design of cncjs, but feel it needs a few tweaks. Carbide motion is solid, but could also use some of the goodies that cncjs offers. Hope this long drawn out response actually answered some of your questions. Lol

[@resorter66]

@@PricklyGuyCreations Thanks It does. I would like to have something that showed where the cutter is cutting. But wanting to use another something new with what I saw you doing just to get to the point of cutting I think I will probably stay with The CM. what version are you running. There will still be a learning curve with it. when did you in the video switch from inches to mm and was there any recalculating that needed to be done. Ps I want to but some of the red pieces you designed for your waste board do you print them and sell them. Thanks Jeff

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

I didn't have to do any calculations to get to mm. You design as normal, the only difference is when you select your post processor, instead of selecting Shapeoko_inch_TC, you just select the GRBL_mm_TC. That does all the math for you. Most of that hard part of that video is the setup. Once you get your Macros setup, and if your Z limit switch works, it's just as easy as CM. There were a lot of extra steps in the video because I could not "home" my machine. That would have eliminated a lot of the grunt work. You still have to setup your macros the first time. After that you just "home" and zero. Just like CM. It's free, download and try an air cut. If you feel it's too much. Hit delete. I'm not pushing CNCJS, it's just an alternative that will carry over to other machines if you have them. I am using build 513 of CM and 1.9.22 for CNCJS As far as my guides go, I've never actually printed and sold them. I give away the design on thingiverse. How many of which are you looking for? There are the corner "L" guides, the straight guides, and the hold down clamps. I truly wouldn't know what to charge. Time and shipping are the biggest issues here. Let me know how many of what you want, and I'll try to get you a respectable quote.

[@resorter66]

@@PricklyGuyCreations When I go to the site where your corner and straight edge guides are am I allowed to down load the files and see if I can get them printed where I live. Jeff Peters

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

resorter66 when you go to the thingiverse page, there are some boxes under the pictures. They say “Thing Detail”, “Thing Files”, “Comments”, etc. click on thing files. Then download the tnt_clamps_v2.1.stl On the guides, download both. One is the straight piece and the other is the corner piece. Hope this helps.

[@LoST5757]

Great video, keep it up.

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Thanks, will do!

[@LoST5757]

@@PricklyGuyCreations Any idea why I'm getting an error when I start up my Vectric software after putting in Neil's Post Processor?

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

LoST5757 It should not cause an error in the program. It will not even use the post processor until you try to output the file. Are you getting the error upon opening Vcarve, or trying to output gcode?

[@LoST5757]

@@PricklyGuyCreations I Got it working, I wasn't downloading off Github correctly, :(

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Glad you got it.

[@hanspijpers2100]

Did you know there is a shortcut to center your selection ? just press the F9 key Kind regards Hans by the way thanks for this "tutorial"

[@muserbellamy1140]

Hi very helpful video mm is more accurate than inches

[@SteveJones172pilot]

Very nice.. I believe (correct if wrong) that CNCJS can run on a Raspberry pi.. I think i'm going to get rid of my big windows machine in the garage and just stick a Pi on the back of the monitor to save some space..

[@PricklyGuyCreations]

Yes, it absolutely can.

[@rogerhartje5964]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghk! i cant get past the music going over and over and over and over .... next