Onefinity 101 Basics

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Hi All,

Just purchased at 32" Original today and am looking for beginner instructions on how to use it. I discovered ~1600 files/programs loaded on my system but have no idea how to decipher them. Any pointers for how to get started would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ian

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Do you have a local makerspace nearby? (Google might show one for you.) They might not have a Onefinity but they’ll likely have a CNC router. Once you learn how to use one, any other make including the OF is just a matter of nuance and the user manual and OF’s YouTube channel videos should take you over the learning hump.

@cyberreefguru also has some OF videos as does Hamilton Dilbeck on their YT channels. I think his forum name is @hamdiggity but I haven’t seen him post in awhile but he does a lot of great stuff on YT.

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Thanks much Jim. That’s helpful.

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If you want to give a screenshot or picture of the files you are refering to. We can probably tell you by file extension what they are.
To follow up what Jim said, read up on (there are manuals on line here) the machine. CNCs can be dangerous if you just turn it on and let it loose. Learn the interface of the machine first, how to jog, change speeds etc. then proceed to software. My very first project was a 5" circle on my Elite machine. Start slow and methodical. You’ll prevent crashes and damage to the tooling

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5

Thanks Jim.

Hi Ian - I have two playlists that might help:

Digital Manufacturing 101 and CNC Projects

Let me know if you have any question!

-Tom

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6

Sage advice Ken. Thank you.

And Tom, thank you for the tutorials link.

Taking it slow.

Ian

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7

That’s safe self-advice :blush: When I was teaching this stuff I always had issues with the ones who’d come in and want to be doing complex inlay projects with 3D embellishments. Going from 0-60 doesn’t work. Taking it easy and stepping through the process from starting simple is what works. Especially with CNC because it’s not just the machine someone is learning but also designing files to cut & carve. It’s a lot and taking it slow is the best way to make sense of it all.

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8

Okay Guys, the Guru just educated me on the difference between a file and the Gcode.
So I don’t have 1600 files, I have 1600 machine commands.
Thank you Tom.
Baby steps.
Ian

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