I’ve ran a CNC for years, but almost always with a solid wood or plastic material being cut. Never had a problem like this and looking for some guidance.
X35 woodworker with BB controller and MakerMade router (I gave up on Makitas after 3 of them overheated even on short runs). Excellent maintenance and clean area. Dust collection on machine. Some static in hose but not severe.
Yesterday I had to cut many smaller pieces out of plywood to form rings around a 4" pipe.
The first 10 cut fine
Started the 2nd batch of 10 and made it to #7 when the CNC stopped dead in it’s tracks, reset XYZ to zero and threw an error.
Shut everything down, re-homed and since I always write down my new job home, I was able to modify my drawing and restart the job at #7.
Made it to #9 this time when the same thing happened.
Again restarted and finished the job.
I’m sure it’s not the drawing as there’s nothing fancy about this job, small drawing, minimum points, but I have a bunch of these to make and don’t want more downtime or cause machine problems.
Never had a problem with regular wood and I’ve read where cutting plywood causes problems with static and maybe that’s causing BB controller problems?
Has anyone else had static problems cutting plywood and what did you do to fix it?
Later today or tomorrow I’m going to cut some pieces out of solid wood and see if the problem still pops up.
Are you in a dry region? I have massive static issues in the winter, here in Boston. I recently purchased an “anti-static” hose, which means it partially conducts. This is opposed to regular PVC hose, which doesn’t conduct AT ALL. Wrapping the latter hose in wire does nothing. Static can build even between the wire wraps. So… ani-static hose and ground the hose wire.
Using jumper wires where I had to, and the grounding wire in the hose, I grounded all the way from the dust boot to a grounded electrical box. Problem solved.
Thanks,
Pony
Wrapping the wire on the outside doesn’t help. The static charge is developed on the inside of the hose. Running a wire inside the hose and grounding it to an electrical ground like a box or other grounded attachment should work.
Agreed.
I have antistatic hose that has a wire moulded right into it. Turned out my problem was I didn’t think about 2 pieces of PVC that I had installed (1 corner and a pass through to get out of my enclosure). I jumpered across them, then a direct link to ground. Obviously I must had had a problem before, but never realized it until I cut plywood. This solved it.
Thanks,
Pony
Here’s a fun one I ran for a friend who has horses.
