|
|
Post by chrisn on Apr 26, 2018 11:33:16 GMT -5
Sanity check please.
So after I run a routine, lets say its an hour long, after the first couple iterations go smoothly. I have no issues with turning out the lights and going to lunch while it runs a part on my lunch break. Then when I get back, sometimes its still running. What a faithful employee that Axiom gal is, I really like her. Then I load another and keep going - maybe do paperwork or whatever.
Any body else have that level of trust or am I crazy?
PS this is the reason for the thread I made about having the dust collector on/off tied to the spindle being on/off respectively.
|
|
|
|
Post by ricphoto on Apr 26, 2018 11:39:27 GMT -5
I'd go nuts if I had to babysit every cut...some of mine are in the 12+ hour range
What I'll normally do is watch during the first passes/roughing and when it starts getting into the long finish passes I'll just check in every so often...Basically if it needs heavy dust collection then I stay with it...when it doesn't I feel ok with just keeping an eye/ear out...
|
|
|
|
Post by savannahdan on Apr 26, 2018 13:08:33 GMT -5
It will take some time before my confidence is that high. That's due to having another machine that caught on fire during a job and I had just stepped out of the workshop. Fortunately my wife heard the change in pitch and told me about it. I was able to control things before it turned into a major disaster. Interestingly the problem was at the control box connections for the motors. I don't anticipate that problem with my Axiom.
|
|
|
|
Post by traindriver on Apr 26, 2018 20:17:57 GMT -5
I agree with ricphoto. I have had mine running all night in the garage while I slept and all day while I'm at my real job. On the weekends, I crank it up and let it do it's thing all day while I prepare wood for the next project, or play with the other shop toys. I have come back about a half dozen times to discover a ruined project due to part moved because it was not clamped down good enough, or feed rate too high issue, causing the machine to loose pulses and essentially lose the origin, or I set Z height wrong (or forgot to after a tool change). Each time I was the root cause, not the machine, which seems to indicate that it is more reliable than I am.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2018 5:28:37 GMT -5
Things to consider when making such a decision would have to include the material being cut and the bit being used. MDF is wonderful kindle so I wouldn't consider leaving it alone. Down cut bits pack chips into narrow slots, causing chip recutting, heat build-up, and eventually smoke and fire. If you walk away from your machine make sure that if a fire were to start it couldn't spread and that there is a smoke alarm that will pass the information on to you so you can catch it early. There are many that do other work nearby or that use a baby camera type setup to monitor what is happening. I also have my machine on a UPS so if the power dips or goes out completely I can shut it down gracefully.
|
|
ronm
New Member
Posts: 23 
|
Post by ronm on Apr 27, 2018 14:59:41 GMT -5
At a bear minimum, I would get a Ring doorbell camera that you could use to look at occasionally to confirm all is ok. I have serious doubts if your homeowners insurance policy would pay any claims if your house burned down and the fire marshal determined that it was an unattended machine of any sort that caused the fire.
|
|
|
|
Post by savannahdan on Apr 27, 2018 17:30:06 GMT -5
Just to clarify, the machine that I had that caught on fire was not an Axiom. The simple job I was running had not run very long and was not on mdf or some similar nasty wood. I found out that other customers of that brand had the same problem for machines bought during a certain time frame. I was very perturbed that the company knew those units had a problem and did not reach out to customers regarding it. If the fire had gotten out of hand and caused significant damage to my house, my belongings and my neighbors house the company would have had significant legal problems. I really like the idea of getting a Ring doorbell camera and adding it to my arsenal of safety items. My recent electrical system upgrade included new grounding rods and huge grounding cables. I'll make sure the dust collection system is properly and fully grounded.
|
|
cyh
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by cyh on Apr 27, 2018 17:54:49 GMT -5
Recently installed a camera (Amazon Vsahome $40) that can be viewed on my smart phone. Works very well for lunch breaks and short times when I'm not in the shop, as well for security with a 350 degree motion on the camera.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevem on Apr 27, 2018 19:57:39 GMT -5
The question I have is when you are at work or at the store, while your machine is running and something were to happen, how fast could you get back home to do something about it???
The longest time I have run my machine so far is 6 hours! I have it in my attached garage and will go inside the house, but not for a very long time. Mostly to just get something, but I agree with the other post about having a fire and trying to explain that to my insurance company.
Just sayin!
I do have a friend that does run his machine all night and will go to bed and go out 4-6 hours to check in it. His shop is not attached to his house, so he doesn't see anything wrong with doing it. He told me he has never had a problem and has had a cnc machine for 5 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by RetiredAFChief on Apr 27, 2018 20:44:37 GMT -5
I will leave my machine running in the garage and go do things in the house (garage is attached). I took it a step further and ordered a $40 wifi camera that I can view on cell phone that when doing a longer cut I can watch it. If Its a project I have never ran before or a file that I have made adjustments I will not leave and let it run. If the file has been ran before I feel confident that it will be ok (nothing is 100% I agree). I wouldn't think of leaving the house and going to the store or somewhere else in town while it ran no matter what I had to watch it.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisn on Apr 28, 2018 12:45:22 GMT -5
Great comments from all. Thanks
Amazon Vsahome $40 - checking this out. May need one for machine and one for front door. THanks
|
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Apr 29, 2018 14:02:47 GMT -5
I'm a trusting person. Stupid me. I will let my machine run unattended, though I would never leave my property. If I'm in my house, I can usually hear it, but I'll also do work in the back yard, where I can't hear it. I'll check on it with some frequency though.
Other then possibly cancelling you, I would think a insurance claim would be paid should a fire start.
|
|
|
|
Post by garylyb on Apr 29, 2018 21:03:16 GMT -5
I'm a trusting person. Stupid me. I will let my machine run unattended, though I would never leave my property. If I'm in my house, I can usually hear it, but I'll also do work in the back yard, where I can't hear it. I'll check on it with some frequency though. Other then possibly cancelling you, I would think a insurance claim would be paid should a fire start. Better to check with your insurance company first. If the cnc is for a business, and you don't have business insurance, you are probably not insured. |
|
|
|
Post by chrisn on Apr 29, 2018 21:57:55 GMT -5
I'm a trusting person. Stupid me.
I feel your pain...
I am buying the nanny cam.. it'll be here Monday... Thanks CYH... buying the 720 version...
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisn on Apr 29, 2018 21:58:50 GMT -5
oh... its hobby all the way....
|
|
|
|
Post by creighton on Apr 30, 2018 9:55:01 GMT -5
Agree with Traindriver. In the course of a recent 500-600 hour job, I evolved a process of watching the redundant process for a minute or two to ensure homing, bit setting, etc., and then left for the ensuing 70 minute routine. I am more watchful when initiating a task for the first few times, but quickly find it unnecessary to babysit. Once or twice a piece has been ruined with a thrown bit, but I wouldn't have been able to prevent that anyway. With re: fire hazard, that's an interesting concept, but I strive to avoid routines that generate that kind of heat, if for no other reason, than that I hate to caramelize bits and burn substrate.
|
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Apr 30, 2018 12:27:38 GMT -5
Of course I agree with sticking around and making sure that everything appears to be set up correctly. I also use almost exclusively softwoods, milling at conservative speeds. Knock on wood, but in over 2 years, I have never even had a hint of burning on the pieces I cut. Any issues I've had while away (very few), would not have been prevented if I was in attendance, unless maybe if I had my hand on the kill switch.
Of course what is OK for me is not to say that others should follow my example.
|
|
309cnc
Junior Member
Posts: 124
|
Post by 309cnc on Apr 30, 2018 16:26:13 GMT -5
Gary Campbell's input on this:
Make sure your sound isn't turned off..... ;-)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 11:16:47 GMT -5
I'm a trusting person. Stupid me. I will let my machine run unattended, though I would never leave my property. If I'm in my house, I can usually hear it, but I'll also do work in the back yard, where I can't hear it. I'll check on it with some frequency though. Other then possibly cancelling you, I would think a insurance claim would be paid should a fire start. Better to check with your insurance company first. If the cnc is for a business, and you don't have business insurance, you are probably not insured. Since you brought up insurance, these aren't cheap machines and when you add tooling and other expensive accessories, including your other woodworking equipment, you might consider adding a rider to your insurance as policies often have limits for tools so to be fully covered you need the rider to raise the limit to an appropriate amount. |
|
|
|
Post by arsystems on May 12, 2018 7:38:56 GMT -5
I put a camera on mine because I have an extra, but I don't watch. If something bad happens, it's likely your part and bit are going to be destroyed way before you can get back to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by pjblues on Jun 4, 2018 8:55:13 GMT -5
I have been doing this for 3 years in my hobby shop and I leave my Axiom running while I am home. I do not stand and watch it for long periods of time. I may come back to check on it occasionally but as long as the tooling is good and the process has been finalizedI let it rip! I also have a CNC lathe and I do the same thing.
|
|
grg
Junior Member
Posts: 140
|
Post by grg on Jun 10, 2018 14:27:58 GMT -5
I have an Amazon Cloud cam mounted to my ceiling that provides some shop security and a way I for me to monitor my AR8. That said, I don't go far and I certainly wouldn't leave the property. I usually go upstairs to my graphics office and open the camera feed full screen with a computer monitor that faces the room. The Amazon Cloudcam setup is really cool, btw.
|
|
chief
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by chief on Jun 19, 2018 22:16:11 GMT -5
great idea on the camera. I'll have to pick one of those up for when I leave it unattended
I do leave mine running on it's own, if it's a 1-3 hr job and I'm usually in the house (unattached workshop / 1-car garage about 250ft from the house). As solid as the Axiom is, I never once had a concern something would go so horribly wrong as to start a fire (I know, it can happen, yes).
but an inexpensive webcam would be priceless for peace of mind.
heck now that I think of it - I need to put a second one out in the chicken coop so I can chuckle at whatever it is they do all day
thx for the idea!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2018 7:04:12 GMT -5
great idea on the camera. I'll have to pick one of those up for when I leave it unattended I do leave mine running on it's own, if it's a 1-3 hr job and I'm usually in the house (unattached workshop / 1-car garage about 250ft from the house). As solid as the Axiom is, I never once had a concern something would go so horribly wrong as to start a fire (I know, it can happen, yes). but an inexpensive webcam would be priceless for peace of mind. heck now that I think of it - I need to put a second one out in the chicken coop so I can chuckle at whatever it is they do all day thx for the idea! Put the chickens online, it could go viral like cat videos. |
|
|
|
Post by savannahdan on Jun 20, 2018 9:43:48 GMT -5
fean - you could get lucky like the grizzly bear researchers who put a trailcam up to monitor grizzlies using a scratch tree (on which they had added some barbed wire to capture hair samples). It was really comical to watch the bears do their dances while rubbing and scratching their backs. I'm sure chickens can give you lots of enjoyment and entertainment.
|
|
grg
Junior Member
Posts: 140
|
Post by grg on Jun 20, 2018 12:55:30 GMT -5
Just try to bore a .250 hole with a .250 compression bit in plywood - it starts smoldering and charing immediately! (short learning curve on that one). It doesn't take much.
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisn on Jun 20, 2018 13:33:37 GMT -5
Just try to bore a .250 hole with a .250 compression bit in plywood - it starts smoldering and charing immediately! (short learning curve on that one). It doesn't take much. This sounds like a learning technique for proper tool selection. Or in my case, an experiment worth trying. LOL I avoid line to line cutting like that, but that is just me. Thanks for the warning (aka experiment). |
|
|
|
Post by dickdelmi on Jun 21, 2018 12:20:23 GMT -5
Changing the subject slightly, what is the procedure for shutting down in the middle of a job and restarting? Assuming that no changes are made to the setup.
|
|
grg
Junior Member
Posts: 140
|
Post by grg on Jun 21, 2018 18:00:14 GMT -5
Changing the subject slightly, what is the procedure for shutting down in the middle of a job and restarting? Assuming that no changes are made to the setup. If you have a Rich Auto controller, hit cancel (yellow button). It will ask you if you would like to save a "break point". You have the possibility of saving up to 9 different break points. Press any of the numeric keys to save that breakpoint in that position (1-9)...press OK. To restart from a breakpoint sometime later, hit both "Run/Pause" and "#" where # is the number/position where you saved the break point and it will pick right back up where it stopped previously. |
|
|
|
Post by dickdelmi on Jun 22, 2018 9:58:15 GMT -5
Thanks GRG - I'll try that next time I have to leave in the middle of a job.
|
|
