If you are using VCarve to complete your CAM for either Big Red or the EBF, here are some of the many things you should check prior to running your project. Using a shared PC/VCarve can introduce changes to your file that you didn't intend which can do everything from make your project take a lot longer than expected to ruin your workpiece and endmills.
You see the Job Setup screen when you create a new file, but not when you open an existing file you created on a different machine then open on the shared computers with VCarve in Leesburg and Purcellville. To open the Job Setup screen after you open your project, click the icon below:
It's important to check that the "Z Zero Position" is set to "Material Surface" and that the "Use Offset" box in the "XY Datum Position" section IS NOT ticked, unless you really want to use offsets. For some reason, an offset added by a prior user can flow through to your project, even after the program is restarted.
In theory, the feeds and speeds that you setup on your own computer should flow through to VCarve when you open your file on one of the shared computers. In practice, many of us do a little more work on our files when we get to the shared computer which can cause issues from settings others have put in. It's worth a quick check of all of your tool settings before you start. On each toolpath, click the "Edit..." button and check your settings.
Feeds and speeds are an art and science to themselves so Members are encouraged to do their research based on their tool, the material they are cutting, what kind of cut they are doing etc. We have recommended baseline settings that will work for most users who are cutting wood or MDF, however it is your responsibility to research and test settings so that you don't break your endmills or damage your workpiece.
These settings are for baselines for wood and mdf.
Pass Depth = the radius (also 1/2 the diameter) of your endmill. So a 1/8 endmill should cut 1/16th per pass.
Spindle Speed = 12,000 for 1/4 and larger diameter endmills, 14,000 for 1/8 and smaller endmills
Feed Rate = 100 IPM for 1/4 and larger diameter endmills, 80 for 1/8 and smaller endmills
Plunge Rate = 30 for 1/4 and larger diameter endmills, 20 for 1/8 and smaller endmills.
Tool Number = Applicable to the EBF only. It is up to you to choose the tool numbers that correspond with which tools you plan to put in each tool holder slot. VCarve will usually show an error if you try to use two tools with different profiles with the same tool number.
Before you cut your project, press the "Set..." button on the Toolpath menu.
The following menu looks a lot like the first Job Setup menu, but has some additional settings that should be reviewed: