CNC Milling Machine Controls –
Place the base into the clamp and firmly secure it into place. Use the view buttons to position the drill above the base. Push the “Spindle Test” button to start the drill. Lower the drill by using the “Z-“ button when you are within a few millimeters of the base use the large white circle to lower the drill. Lower the drill until you see that it has just grazed the surface of the base. Push the “Menu” button until the display shows the values for the X, Y, and Z-axis. Then push the “Spindle Control” button until asterisk is next to the Z-axis value. Push the “Enter” button and you will see the option of selecting that value for either Z1, Z0, or Z2. Push the Z0 button under the display then hit enter, this Z-axis value is now the zero value of your Z-axis. To return to this Z-axis value at any time all you have to do is press the Z0 button under the display. Raise the drill a few millimeters off of the base by using the “Z+” button. Use the “View” arrows to maneuver the base so the lower left corner is lined up with the drill. Press the “Menu” button until the display shows the X, Y, and Z-axis values. Push the “Spindle Control” button until the asterisk is next to the X-axis value, press enter. The display should show values for the “Home position” (origin) of the X, and Y-axis. Press “Enter,” this is now the “Home Position” of the base.
Computer Controls –
In order to open the Milling Machine program, go to the start menu, programs, MODELA App Group, then open MODELA Player. Go into the options menu of the screen that pops up and click “layout,” you should have another screen pop up that looks like this.
When this screen opens look in the lower-right hand corner for the section of surfacing. Uncheck the box that says “Automatic” so you can have access to the textboxes. Measure the length and width of the base, it does not have to be precise. Add 5mm to your measurements and place those values of length and width into the correct place of the “surfacing” section. Place the value of -5 where it says “LowerLeft X” and “LowerLeft Y.” Put the value of how much you want to smooth off of the base into the “Depth” box, when smoothing the base you will usually want to smooth off 0.01mm. The dark orange box on top of the light orange box shows the area where the drill will cut. For example if you had a base with a length and width of 70mm this is how your “surfacing” box would look.
The smoothing procedure needs to be done a few times to make sure the base is truly smooth. Just hit the start button three times and the computer will automatically go to the next smoothing sequence when it finishes with the first one.