As you work along, if you get any insights on connection stability of AP mode vs local network, let us know. I tend to run in AP mode most of the time, unless I need an internet connection for grabbing an update or getting a file for a job. And let us know if you have any more macro issues, especially after an update. In general updates shouldn't monkey around with your macros...by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Glad to help. Wifi issues are above my pay grade, but do you have a better connection when you are directly connected to the Handibot in AP mode rather than through your local WiFi network?by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
The Custom cuts in the ShopBot Opensbp language map to Macros in Fabmo, and the C6 command runs macro #6. So the first thing I'd suggest is to look in the list of macros that are installed on your Handibot. You can access that list from the left side flyout menu in Fabmo...it's the icon that looks like a file folder.You should have a bunch of macros listed including #6. If it'sby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
I'm still on the road, but here' the Readers Digest version: This project was done for the Autodesk Forge Developer Conference last week as a experiment. The engraving was done in 1/16" engraving plastic (Rowmark is one brand) with a 1/32" downspiral bit from Precise bits. The blanks were held in a jig we created, with a recess for the blanks and a vacuum holding system basby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hey Mark...did you ever hear anything back from Barnes and Noble?by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Sorry for the short notice. We were so wrapped up in prep for the NY Maker Faire that this one slipped through the cracks. Glad to hear that you could apply...good luck! Billby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Great news! MakerMedia (the folks behind Maker Faires and the Maker movement, which ShopBot Tools has supported from the beginning) has teamed up with the 600+ Barnes & Noble stores around the country to host mini Maker Faires November 6-8. It's a chance to show cool things you've created and talk to people for a couple of hours about what you do with the amazing tools that you workby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
One generic note. That stuttering noise that you hear when it hits a hard stop, or when you try to move the tool faster than it's capable of moving, is annoying but it isn't damaging to the tool. It's not grinding teeth off of the gears or anything awful like that. It's doing what's refered to as "missing steps", and the motors are internally jumping between magby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Excellent! What was the final solution?by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
I don't know which version of the ShopBot software you installed originally but there was a Handibot-specific issue in 3.8.26 that caused a runtime error. There's a thread that talks about it at The "works most of the time" workaround is to start the ShopBot software and type "UR" to do a software reset. Answer YES to all the prompts and select the "Shoby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
It seems like an end cutting jig that you could mount on a table could be pretty simple, like the attached image. It would just need to stay square and have a fence and surface to clamp to to accurately position the blank. If you needed to cut wider that the native 6-8", some accurate spacers might allow that? Along with traditional joinery techniques there are some CNC specific ones thatby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hey Dave, Here's how I set the router height on my Handibot: *) Remove the bit and loosely hand-thread the collet nut back onto the router. *) Move the Z-axis down until it hits the hard stop at the bottom and can't go down any farther. *) Loosen the bracket bolts that clamp the router in place and slide the router down until the collet touches the table surface so is flushby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hi guys, Turns out that problem is Handibot specific and occasionally shows up if you've never installed any ShopBot software before. There's a release candidate of the ShopBot software that fixes the error that's available at: http://www.shopbottools.com/files/Setup_sb3_8_28.exe There's also a workaround that should fix it if you'd prefer. Start the ShopBot sofby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Finished up 12 sets of plywood parts over the weekend, so they should be back in stock very soon.by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Thanks for the report Mark...glad they are a help. Redoing the lumber jig to the latest baseplate is my next project. It's mostly done but just wanted to get the large material jigs done and out the door before moving on. Hope to have it done and on GitHub this week. Billby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hey guys, We're aware that the shipping calculations on the jigs the Handibot store are wonky, and our web team are working on getting it sorted out. In the meanwhile if you've already ordered a jig set, the folks in shipping are manually re-calculating the shipping and will be in touch about refunding the difference. We'll post an update when it's fixed...sorry for theby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Gil, Not sure about the problem you're having with the dxf file. I just checked and it downloaded ok for me, so maybe give it another try and let me know if you still have a problem. It's not my call about what is sold, but we cut the plywood jig parts as a set so if we sold just the X Indexing rails we would have an extra set of Y-spacers that we would have to find a home for.by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
The files for the set of large material indexing jigs that are for sale in the store are on GitHub at: They are available in VCarve's .crv format, dxf, and svg, and are all named "handibot large material sheet jig v2" with the appropriate file extension. The svg version is an export from Vcarve and hasn't been tested...let me know if anyone tries it and has a problem.by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Let me make a quick clarification on the jigs, the two versions of the Handibot, and why we included the baseplate and aluminum bracket in all the indexing jig kits: *) Kickstarter tool owners will need to install the new baseplate and aluminum bracket to be able to use the jigs. For them there are a lot of benefits, including the built in pointer so a thicker plywood base isn't needed, iby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
The baseplates and brackets are done to upgrade the Kickstarter tools to the current model...they will be part of the package.by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
And once it's all verified I'll stick the VCarve and dxf files in Github, for those that want to cut their own. Billby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Just a quick update...here are some pix of the first production cutting of the Indexing jig parts. There's a set of update parts on it's way to me from the fabricator today, and as soon as I install them and verify that everything fits the way we expect we'll stick the jigs in the store.by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hi Carlos, Just as an FYI, currently with a manual indexing jig a Handibot has the ability to cut full sheets of plywood, but it's slow and labor-intensive and really only intended as an occasional capability and not as a full-sheet production tool. I think you would be dis-appointed if you bought one to do full-sheet processing with any regularity. In the future we're hoping thatby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hi Florian, We're not at the point of developing specific apps like that, other than some simple example apps that do basic things like cut circles. Our focus currently is on developing the API so that app developers will be able to connect their apps to tools and send files. We should be making a doc explaining how that will work very soon but you have the right idea...that web-based appby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hi Richard, There have been a bunch of small changes...I don't know most of them...but the three that have the most effect on the jigs are: *) There's a removable pointer now that's integrated into the baseplate, which means you don't need to bolt the Handibot to a separate base for indexing like the one Eric has been using. That means that you don't lose a 1/2"by Bill Young - Handibot Forum
I haven't forgotten you guys, honest! I sent out three sets of what I think are the final version to beta testers yesterday, and David has worked hard and figured out a way that you guys can upgrade the Kickstarter tools to sync them with the current shipping version....we'll post details soon. As soon as I'm sure that the "final" version is really final and are reby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
I have the same problem and find it easier to use the on-screen keyboard. You can access all ShopBot commands from the keyboard...for instance the "SM" command puts you in Move mode, and the "SP" command in Preview mode. Billby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Hi Tony, What post processor are you using in Partworks 3d? You don't need a specific postprocessor for your Handibot...I'm running version 1.002 and the default post is the "ShopBot TC(inch)" post which includes the "C6" command at the start that calls the custom cut that starts the spindle. If that's the post processor you're using, then one thingby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Here's a quick tip for adjusting the fit tolerance. Instead of offsetting the parts in your drawing, use the "Allowance Offset" in the profile Toolpathing section, or "Pocket Allowance" when doing pocketing. It does the same thing as offsetting, without actually resizing the parts in your drawing which can cause problems down the road. In an outside profile cut, a posiby Bill Young - Handibot Forum
Version 7.5 of VCarvePro has been released! Open your copy of VCarvePro and then the Help menu. Click the "Check for Updates" item and it will do the rest. Here's a link to info on some of the new features: Billby Bill Young - Handibot Forum