Smart Desktop CNC Machine INSTRUCTION FOR THE ERA OF MAKERS v 1.0 www.makera.
02 Welcome 04 Safety 08 Unpack 14 Preparation Tool Preparation 16 Phone/Pad Stand Installation 16 Adjust Dust Shoe 17 Charge Wireless Probe 18 Control Software Installation 18 WiFi Configuration 19 Test Auto Tool Changer 20 22 Software Overview 24 Status Toolbar 25 Task Toolbar 30 G-Code/MDI 33 G-Code Preview 34 Manual Operation 35 Errors 36 General Steps 37 38 Tool Kit Wireless Probe Manual Probe Emergency Stop Button Air Assist Module Workholding Tools Bit Collar In
Welcome Hi！We are so excited to welcome you to join our Carvera world! Whether you are an expert or completely new to CNC, with amazing functions such as auto tool changing, auto probing and auto-leveling, which significantly reduce the difficulty of learning and operating, you will experience the extraordinary machining capabilities that Carvera brings you with ease. This manual does not include CAD and CAM tutorials but focuses on the instruction of this machine and its control software.
Safety Disclaimer Please read this manual carefully before using the Carvera. Failure to read the manual may lead to personal injury, inferior results, or damage to the Carvera products. This manual is provided for reference purposes only. We reserve the right to modify or revise this manual, users can download the most up-to-date version of this manual on our website. Carvera is equipped with multiple sensors (Motor stall sensor, Spindle abnormal sensor, etc.).
FCC Compliance This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
The mass of the box weighs more than 70Kg/ 154lb. The net weight of the Carvera CNC desktop milling machine is around 50Kg/110lb. We suggest moving this machine by at least two people (with gloves) to ensure both personal and machine’s safety. Please make sure your desk is sturdy enough and has no less than 60 x 60 cm space to place this machine.
Unpack 1. Pry up buckles as shown at bottom of the crate, open the upper part. 5. Remove the fixing structures at positions A, B, C, and D as shown in the figure, and restore 4 counter sink screws(in a plastic bag) to the red indication at positions A, B, and C. A E 2. Put the machine on a solid, flat and horizontal surface by two people. Keep at least 10 centimetres distance from the wall to ensure no obstacle for protective cover or plugs. B D C 3. Remove the plastic bag and printed materials. 6.
Parts list Side clamp x 2 Top clamp x 4 L bracket x 2 Spare tool bit x 10 4mm Dowel pin x 10 Spare 1/8" bit collar x 30 Bit collar installer x 1 Spare tool bit x 30 Spindle collet (optional) M5 Screws x 20 Spindle collet installer x 1 Screw driver x 1 Laser goggles x 1 Emergency stop button x 1 Safety goggles x 1 Manual tool setter x 1 Mini hand saw x 1 Sand block x 2 Spare dust filter x 1 Epoxy tooling board x 2 LED light assembly kit x 1 USB cable x 1 ABS Plastic board x 1 Power cable
Preparation Power On 1. Plug the power cable and turn on the power switch. 2. Carvera homes all 3 axes automatically and turn on the work lights.
Tool Preparation Adjust Dust Shoe For easy transportation, the tools are not loaded by default. Please put the wireless probe and milling bits into right positions as shown in the figure. You can find the wireless probe in the accessory box, milling bits in the tool box and the optional solder mask removal tool in the PCB pack. The default tool installed is a test rod (No 6 tool). This 1-6 tool positions are for the examples.
Recom Charge Wireless Probe WiFi Configuration mended The wireless probe is one of the main components of Carvera. It is an indispensable component for Z-axis tool setting and automatic leveling. Please fully charge it before using it for the first time. The purpose of configuring WIFI is to allow Carvera to join the network at your workplace so that your computer can control the machine without being restricted. 1.
Test Auto Tool Changer Auto tool changing is one of the key features of Carvera and also the base of all the automated function. Please test it at the first time. 1. Open the control software and connect to Carvera. If you have any problems or enquiries, please feel free to contact us: support@makera.com 2. Change to tool 1. The tools that pre-installed in the machine is tool 6. Click tool status; click “Change…”; choose “Tool: 1”, it will automatically change to tool 1.
Software Introduction
Overview Status Toolbar 1. Status Toolbar The status toolbar is on top of the interface. It shows the real-time data of key indicators and can be used to control these indicators. All indicators include 3 items: a symbol, main data and sub-data. Click the button can open the corresponding drop-down list. 1、Machine status and control 2. Task Toolbar Task toolbar is at the bottom of the interface. In the task toolbar, you can manage G-Code files, configure, track and control machining process.
2、Coordination status and control 2.1. Symbols: X/Y/Z/A 2.2. Main data: Work coordinate (The position of the tool relative to the work zero point). The position depends on where you put your workpiece and where you want to start on the workpiece. 2.3. Sub-data: Machine coordinates (The position of the tool relative to the machine’s zero point). The position is fixed and located in the upper right corner of the machine, so the coordinates are generally negative. 2.4. Drop-down list: 2.4.
6、Laser status and control 6.1. Symbol: Laser icon 6.2. Main data: Current laser rate 6.3. Sub-data: Laser power scale 6.4. Drop-down list: 6.4.1. Laser Status: Laser power scale 6.4.2. Enable Laser: Switch to laser mode. The working coordinates will be automatically updated according to the preset offset. If there is a tool on the current spindle, Carvera will drop it first and calibrate again to check the laser head’s height. 6.4.3.
Task Toolbar 1、File management and selection Carvera’s G-Code is executed in the controller to ensure the task’s efficiency and stability and avoid task failures caused by WiFi or USB connection instability. Therefore, the G-Code file needs to be uploaded to the machine before running the program. We have created examples folder on the machine and have already uploaded sample G-Code files. It opens the gcodes subdirectory under the local program installation directory by default.
G-Code/MDI 2.3. Scan Margin: Scan the rectangle path area before machining. When scanning, machine will switch to the wireless probe and turn on the red laser for observation. We recommend new users turn on this while running job. 2.4. Auto Z Probe: Z-axis tool setting is required after changing the workpiece or the zero points of the work coordinate. When doing Z probe, machine will automatically switch to the wireless probe and do probe at the set position.
G-Code Preview Manual Operation 1. Graphical preview: Open the G code file to preview the G code graphics in the tool path preview area. Green lines are G1/G2/G3 code, and red lines are fast moving G0 code. 1. Jogging control: Manually control the movement of the X/Y/Z axis and rotate the A axis at G0 fast speed (3000mm/min by default). You can set movement distance. The 2.
Errors General Steps The device triggers an alarm when encountering an abnormal. Some alarms can be closed by unlocking. Some require rebooting the machine. Different from the cumbersome operation process of general CNC, Carvera greatly simplifies the machining process. The general operation steps are as follows: 1. Turn on the Carvera device and wait for the homing to end. 2. Fix the workpiece to the anchor point. 3. Place the tools. 4. Open the control software and connect to the device. 5.
To o l K i t Instruction Tool clamp Installer Vacuum parts Rotary module Workholding tools Wireless probe Tool collar Installer
Wireless Probe 1. Charging: The wireless probe needs to be charged when it is used for the first time or after the machine has not been used for a long time (more than a week). The wireless probe will automatically start charging after turn on the machine. The charging indicator yellow light will be on and go out when it is full. You may start using it after the voltage reach 3.7v, no need to wait for full charge. 4.2. Click the “Start Pairing” button, and the machine will enter pairing mode.
Manual Probe Use case: Normally, using the wireless probe and the anchor-based positioning system is quite enough for most jobs. But when you need to place the workpiece not at the anchor point and need to accurately find the origin, you can use the manual probe. Usage: 1. Plug the manual probe into the 2-pin socket on the left side of the machine bed. 6. Click OK to start the probing process. Note: Tip: The manual probe process will automatically set the origin of X, Y, and Z axes.
Air Assist Module Workholding Tools Use case: There are two main use cases for the air assist module. One is for chip removal and cooling during CNC machining, especially when machining metal materials. The second is to prevent the material from burning during laser engraving to improve the engraving quality. Workholding is one of the most important steps when using a CNC machine.
Bit Collar Installer Dust Collection Module To cooperate with Carvera’s auto tool changing mechanism, you need to use the collar installer to install the collar when replacing new milling bits. The collar installer can do both installation and removal. (the collar is reusable). Chip evacuation is an important part of CNC but is usually ignored by other desktop-level CNC machines.
Rotary Module 5. Dust bypass: The built-in dust collection system is not very powerful and the capacity of the dust bin is limited, the Carvera supports the bypass of dust to external dust collection devices such as a vacuum cleaner: 5.1. Switch the end of the dust pipe (L-shape) to the bypass input channel as shown. 5.2. Connect your vacuum cleaner to the bypass output channel on the back of the machine, the inner diameter is 22mm. The dust collection channel 1.
3. Workpiece holding: 3.1. Loosen the locking screw at position A on the tail stock as shown in the figure, adjust the tail stock tip to the right side by turning the knob counterclockwise. 3.2. Loosen the 2 fixing screws at position B. 3.3. Use two wrenches to adjust the opening size of the chuck and place the workpiece in. 3.4. Align the tail stock tip to the end of the workpiece, and tighten the two fixing screws at position B.
Spindle Collet Installer Laser Module Carvera comes with a 1/8 inch(3.175mm) tool clamp. This is the common used size for desktop level CNC machines, which can meet most machining requirements. For special sizes such as 4mm/6mm/6.35mm, you can change the tool clamp and the tail shaft of the wireless probe. The Carvera machine has a built-in 2.5W diode laser module, which can engrave wood, plastic, and other materials, an excellent complement to the CNC function.
CAM Feed & Speed 1. Summary Carvera adapt standard G-Codes and is compatible with the open-source GRBL rules. Therefore, when using CAM software, select GRBL or standard G-Code should be all right. For laser engraving, you need to add sentences in front of the G-Code to switch to laser mode (M321), and return to the laser Z focus point (G0Z0), and add (M322) to exist laser mode after finished. 2. Software recommendation: The followings are the CAD/CAM software used in our examples.
Instruction Manual 56 MAKERA www.makera.com support@makera.
