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If you get prompted to setup the X-Carve; use the pictured settings (click to enlarge) and choose no homing, manual spindle control and no z-probe.
If the X-Carve is cutting too deep, the lead screw setting is wrong and needs to be set to Acme (coarser thread/less revolutions than M8). I'm not sure what is causing it, someone using the default/wrong settings or the X-Carve loosing its settings and falling back to the default settings.
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The new dust collector swings out of the way for easy bit changes and provides good cut visibility.
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The fixture is a combination square and spoil board that allows routing multiple pieces using the same home position. While the square is not particularly square, it does allow for reasonably accurate repetitive (re)positioning. The example is one of three marble mazes that were routed with a bullnose bit and then repositioned and through cut with a straight bit.
The fixture has 5mm holes on 75mm centers (same as the X-Carve) that allow positioning and clamping anywhere on the table. There are also some special 2 hole clamps for clamping 1/4 and 1/2" stock to the fixture (example stock is 3/4).
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Generally, cutting wood works best with straight two flute bits and plastic with single flute up-cut spiral bits. Down cut spiral bits can provide cleaner cuts in wood and may be worth the extra cost in some applications (I'm not sure the X-Carve is rigid enough for them to make a difference). Compression (up/down spirals) bits are worthless on the X-Carve, they are only beneficial on single pass (full depth) through cuts.
Wood pocket cutting works reasonably well with a 3/8" T-slot cutting bit. The primary reason is the relatively large cutting surface on the bottom of the bit. Most specialty surfacing/bottom cleaning bits are too big for the X-Carve. While 1/2" open center mortising bits are another option, they are typically significantly more expensive and the current Easel algorithms favor 3/8" (over 1/2 and 1/4")... Nov '19: anything over 1/8" takes longer, i.e. there's no advantage to using a larger bit.
Inventables bit articles:
Carving Bits 101 - Bit Basics
Carving Bits 201 - Feeds, Speeds, and V-Bits
Cheap Bits:
AliExpress : Milling Cutters
single flute single flute 10pcs (e.g. 1/8 carbide $6+)
straight two flutes straight two flutes 10pcs (e.g. 1/8 carbide $9+)
1/4" shank, 3/8" pocket cutting
The straight two flute HUHAO (Hozly looks very similar) brand is better than Fdit (Walfront looks very similar). Both the tip and edge grinding is simplified/slightly flawed/cheaper on the Fdit's. More facets on the ground shape generally means higher quality and a few bucks more... That said, the Fdit's seem to cut fine. The Weix spiral two flute bits are ground well (better than Kitbakechen).
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X-Carve
X-Carve topics. If you have any troubles with the X-Carve, please report it. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email davelers@gmail.com.
Sign In
The first step to using the X-Carve is to "sign in", you can also "request" an open time slot ahead of time. For how-tos, including machine setup, see X-Carve.
Signing in to use the X-Carve lets anyone anywhere interested in using it know that it is currently in use. All you need to do is click [new], enter your first-name last-initial, click Preview and Post Now!. The returned page includes a Login to Easel link. The current setup gives everyone a 2hr block of time. If you need more/less time, please add a note to the comments.
Requesting a time slot helps to insure that you can sign-in/use the X-Carve when you want. When using [new], replace the default title with "'month-day' request" and replace the default comment with the requested time frame. Please limit requests to the current or next day that Makerspace is open.
[ page | comments (2) - Sunday, 12-Jan-2020 | top ]
Signing in to use the X-Carve lets anyone anywhere interested in using it know that it is currently in use. All you need to do is click [new], enter your first-name last-initial, click Preview and Post Now!. The returned page includes a Login to Easel link. The current setup gives everyone a 2hr block of time. If you need more/less time, please add a note to the comments.
Requesting a time slot helps to insure that you can sign-in/use the X-Carve when you want. When using [new], replace the default title with "'month-day' request" and replace the default comment with the requested time frame. Please limit requests to the current or next day that Makerspace is open.
[ page | comments (2) - Sunday, 12-Jan-2020 | top ]
Machine Setup
If you get prompted to setup the X-Carve; use the pictured settings (click to enlarge) and choose no homing, manual spindle control and no z-probe. 
If the X-Carve is cutting too deep, the lead screw setting is wrong and needs to be set to Acme (coarser thread/less revolutions than M8). I'm not sure what is causing it, someone using the default/wrong settings or the X-Carve loosing its settings and falling back to the default settings.
[ comment | link | top ]
Dust Collector
The new dust collector swings out of the way for easy bit changes and provides good cut visibility. - Loosen the side knob and swing the plate out of the way
- Insert/tighten the bit and set its start location/height
- Turn on the CNC controller to lock the stepper motors
- Swing the plate over the bit until the bit is centered in the hole/plate
- Set the plate just high enough to clear all clamps/screw heads.
- Insure that the space between the router body and plate is >= depth of cut.
- Tighten the side knob.
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Repetitive Cut Fixture
The fixture is a combination square and spoil board that allows routing multiple pieces using the same home position. While the square is not particularly square, it does allow for reasonably accurate repetitive (re)positioning. The example is one of three marble mazes that were routed with a bullnose bit and then repositioned and through cut with a straight bit.The fixture has 5mm holes on 75mm centers (same as the X-Carve) that allow positioning and clamping anywhere on the table. There are also some special 2 hole clamps for clamping 1/4 and 1/2" stock to the fixture (example stock is 3/4).
[ comment | link | top ]
Router Bits
Generally, cutting wood works best with straight two flute bits and plastic with single flute up-cut spiral bits. Down cut spiral bits can provide cleaner cuts in wood and may be worth the extra cost in some applications (I'm not sure the X-Carve is rigid enough for them to make a difference). Compression (up/down spirals) bits are worthless on the X-Carve, they are only beneficial on single pass (full depth) through cuts. Wood pocket cutting works reasonably well with a 3/8" T-slot cutting bit. The primary reason is the relatively large cutting surface on the bottom of the bit. Most specialty surfacing/bottom cleaning bits are too big for the X-Carve. While 1/2" open center mortising bits are another option, they are typically significantly more expensive and the current Easel algorithms favor 3/8" (over 1/2 and 1/4")... Nov '19: anything over 1/8" takes longer, i.e. there's no advantage to using a larger bit.
Inventables bit articles:
Carving Bits 101 - Bit Basics
Carving Bits 201 - Feeds, Speeds, and V-Bits
Cheap Bits:
AliExpress : Milling Cutters
single flute single flute 10pcs (e.g. 1/8 carbide $6+)
straight two flutes straight two flutes 10pcs (e.g. 1/8 carbide $9+)
1/4" shank, 3/8" pocket cutting
The straight two flute HUHAO (Hozly looks very similar) brand is better than Fdit (Walfront looks very similar). Both the tip and edge grinding is simplified/slightly flawed/cheaper on the Fdit's. More facets on the ground shape generally means higher quality and a few bucks more... That said, the Fdit's seem to cut fine. The Weix spiral two flute bits are ground well (better than Kitbakechen).
[ comment | link | top ]