laguna cnc router

CNC Machining With the Laguna SmartShop2 Overview:

This site has links to think[box] tutorials and resources, as well as other web resources and documentation that will help you set up and run parts on the CNC router

Running the Laguna CNC Router

Allowed Materials

Wood (plywood, MDF, hard and soft wood)
Most Plastics (see staff for approval)
Foam
Certain Composites (see staff for approval)

Disallowed Materials

Metal
Carbon Fiber
Fiberglass

Create toolpaths using VCarve Pro

Selecting tools

The Laguna SmartShop2 consists of several components:

Table - the 4’ x 8’ machining surface
Spoil Board - the MDF layer on top of the table that is slightly cut into during most CNC jobs
Spindle - the assembly that holds and spins the tools
Gantry - the assembly that rides along the rails to move the spindle around the table
Tool Cradles - the 8 finger-brackets at the back of the machine that hold the tools while not in use
Tool Touch Off Post or TTO Post - the wired sensor for automatically teaching tool positions to machine
Hold-Down Vacuum - the vacuum pump that provides hold-down vacuum force pulled through the spoil board
Control Cabinet - the enclosure that houses all the power and control components as well as the Syntec control computer and interface

All tools for cutting are held in place with a collet and tool holder.

The SmartShop machine moves in 3 axes.

X-Axis - the short (4’) side of the machine
Y-Axis - the long (8’) side of the machine
Z-Axis - the vertical direction along which the spindle moves up and down

The home position of the machine (X0, Y0) is the corner closest to the control cabinet. We will also refer to this as LLC, or Lower-Left Corner.

The SmartShop operates on G- and M-Code. This is a universal programming language for CNC machinery. Some machines may use G/M codes in a slightly different way, but our machine uses them in the most basic way.

The Laguna CNC machine can fit material within these given dimensions. The Z height may be affected by tool length.