Any modern PC (or other computer) should be just fine for running your handibot. However--the design software that is included with tool (VCarve) is Windows specific--so I would recommend picking up a windows PC. Vectric (maker of VCarve) has a list of system requirements for their software here: Looking through those requirements--it seems that any computer that they recommend would be more thby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Just to be sure--you'll need to recalculate your toolpath with the 1/32 profile selected (the one that came from the bit profiles I sent). Then re-save that toolpath and upload the new cutfile to fabmo. Alternatively you can adjust the max speed settings in FabMo. In the configuration menu under "axis" there are max speed settings that are probably set to 360 inches per minute (by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
The link there that says "VCarve Bit Profiles" should download a ".tool" file that can be imported into you VCarve tool library--Here's a direct download link: For the 1/32" bit, the recommended federate is 1.5 ips in the X and Y -- 0.5 ips in the Zby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Let me know if this shows up--I did a lot of updating to the wiki over the weekend while we were taking shelter from the hurricane! bit profile is linked at the bottom of the article.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
I've got VCarve tool libraries that can be downloaded and installed--just a sec! I'll put them on the wiki and post the link here.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Ah! That’s great news! I was concerned that there was an electrical problem. Try changing the spindle start command in your file from M03 to M04. The spindle can only rotate in one direction and the M03/M04 commands are just used to flip a relay that sends power to the router. I think it was an oversight in some early versions of FabMo that both commands did not work. Updating should solve theby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Tim, I just tested your file on a handibot here in the shop and the router did turn on. I'm attaching a document that goes through steps for troubleshooting a router not turning on. My other question is: what version of FabMo are you running? This can be found by opening the configuration menu and looking for a number in the top, right hand corner of the page. Brianby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Yay!by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
That's right--normally it is set to 0.8" (to account for the plate thickness + the thickness of the base to which it is mounted)by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
The "Fire Up" app that runs the z-zero routine has a setting for "plate thickness" in the preferences tab--if you add 0.1" to that setting and click "save" at the bottom of the screen--then re-run the routine--it should make that 0.1" adjustment for you.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
The FabMo developers actually prefer GCode--I'm the goofy SBP holdout. I'll check with them about G31. One of the developers had added an interpolation function back at the beginning called "rotate" in the configuration menu--but I'm not sure if this is functional anymore.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
P.S. Here is my app for oscillating tangent knife on github--I'm definitely not a great coder--so it is a bit of a mess--but anyone who want to could probably create their own app from this framework: It just reads the SBP file line-by-line and runs each line through an algorithm--when it finds an M3 (move) command, it calculates the length and angle of the move, breaks it into chunks (bby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Hmm--So I've been working on a number of applications of what I've been calling a "post-post-processor" which is just taking code output from v-carve and running it through an algorithm to create a modified cut file. I've been using it to make tangent knife cutting files (breaking up arcs into discrete moves and calculating the tangent angle for the knife--plus addingby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Carmen, When you download and install fusion--you should be given the choice of "educator" or "small business" that allows access to a free license to run the software. FabMo runs on a linux computer--which is actually built into the hardware of the handibot. You can connect to this mini-computer using any device or OS that has a web browser. So windows (any version) wiby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Hey! There is a motor direction setting in the Configuration menu in FabMo on the "Channels" tab. The Y axis is Channel #2--switch the direction of that axis and you should be good to go.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Couple things in review about ethernet-- you'll need to be on FabMo version 1.6.0 or above. once you connect to the tool--you'll find the dashboard at 192.168.44.1 (rather than the usual 192.168.42.1). It may help to use one of those USB to ethernet adapters--I've had good success on customer computers with those.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Perhaps it is referring to the feedrates or spindle speeds? Spindle speed settings don't do anything on a handibot because the spindle speed is set by the dial on the router. But it is still possible to program them in from vcarve.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Cuervo, The most robust way to connect to your tool (fastest communication, most consistent connection) will be a hard wire--over ethernet. We've got some instructions on our documentation page--I've also attached the doc to this post.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Ah--there is a setting in the configuration menu called "tool profile" on the top right of the page. Check that it is set to "Handibot 2" if it is already set to that--change it to something else and set it back to "Handibot 2" this will reload the routines for homing the tool. If you PM your address I can send you a new Z Zero plate!by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
That is definitely a V2 handibot! Let's check the z-zeroing circuit first--if you look at the digital position readout (on the right in the fabmo interface) you'll see a series of inputs and outputs laid out under the tool position. Input number 1 is the circuit for the z zero mechanism. If you tap the copper clip on the z zero plate, you should see input # 1 light up. Is that whaby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Thanks Andrew! It's always good to get requests like this--when I'm working on a personal project it can be very tempting to take advantage of one of the larger tools we have in the shop here--but I always try to find some way to adapt the handibot to the job so that it might be as convenient as the large tools. Here's what I'm up to with the larger router right nby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Andrew, I will have to agree with you that the cutter length limitation is going to be an issue for what you're doing. I will occasionally cheat and let the shank of the bit pass into the cut I'm making (this of course only works with a 1/4" bit) ... but I'm never really comfortable with it. You are not the first person to ask about using 1/2" bits--in factby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Jake, To control the rotary axis with FabMo--you'll just need to enable that extra axis. It's a quick setting update in the configuration window. Instructions are contained in the doc that I've attached to this post. I personally use VCarve for all of my rotary work. Vectric has some tutorials on setting up "wrapped jobs" in VCarve--check out this link:by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Oh there is definitely a lot more development to be done on the FabMo software. ShopBot has two developers that work on the project. They're trying to pull together all of the features necessary for a launch on the larger ShopBot tools (things like automatic tool changing, multiple spindle support...more industrial stuff). I try to just keep pestering them for features that I think would beby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Hey, PZ is short for Probe-Z it was a command introduced in the 1.6.0 release of FabMo. The syntax is P(axis), distance to probe, speed to move at, input to look for Unfortunately at the same time that this new command was introduced--the older command "ON INPUT" was eliminated. On input was a very useful logical command in SB3 which allowed you to execute any bit of code after aby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
That should be all it takes really--there isn't any risk of screwing up the router (FabMo will screw itself up regardless so it can't hurt, lol) I would suggest you give it a try. If you connect the ethernet cable direct to your computer--you should be able to locate your tool at the IP: 192.168.44.1by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Glad you're up and running again Steve...and I really hope your class goes well. I'll be monitoring the forum and twitter--if you need any help during your class just let me know!by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Whoa--that's gorgeous! and a really clever way to make big 3D parts!!by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
Actually that bit of code should work now--however, it just needs to be tweaked to look for closure on input #5 rather than input #1 The system variables for inputs are in the 50s range-- so input #1 is %(51) and input #5 is %(55) and of course closure is indicated by a status of 1 and open is indicated by 0 (you can change the default status of a switch in the inputs section of the configuraby Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum
You can use input #1 (handibot v2 has inputs up to 8). You'll just need to update the macro (code snippet) that runs the routine. I'll attach the updated routine here.by Brian Owen, ShopBot - Handibot Forum