The Support Show Ep. #2 - Machine Maintenance + Bitsetter Best Practices 

Hey Jeff, You always have to set a zero for any project. When the machine is turned on, generally it maintains the zero from the previous project. If you're running the same project as you did the last time you had your machine on, it's a good idea to confirm that your zero is still correct. Yes, on Shapeoko 5 you can surface the entire wasteboard.

Maintenance is here: my.carbide3d.com/docs/maintenance/?fbclid=IwAR3kAUmG8n4k1S1rADTgoDev5YdMjj2k7FAC1Gv5tcY9BKvIwPgZh1RHwBs&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Done. Also check out our newest video. More machine maintenance: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SE-36MmjrMQ.html

Here: my.carbide3d.com/docs/maintenance/?fbclid=IwAR1_RUIZgalQhFQLG36o3PjVhFM1LraJDvEGWn4NkaPxJFAj3woKJYAX-CE

The Bitzero is for setting your X,Y,Z or just Z. Once set, the BitSetter maintains your Z zero across multiple tools in your project. Two different functions. The BitSetter is a 100% necessity and stock equipment on all Shapeoko 5 Pro machines. Given that you can manually set X,Y,Z, the BitZero is an optional accessory. Anyone trying to sell you a machine without BitSetter functionality is doing you a disservice.

@@carbide3d Yes, exactly. So again, my question is why the machine would cycle the bitsetter first? - (meaning when you first start up the machine and initialize it). You need the bitzero cycle first, THEN the bitsetter, but the machine does it the other way around and I don't understand the advantage to that. That just adds a machine event cycle for no reason, does it not?

@@madpedalboards Humm, really quite over there. You guys ok?

​@madpedalboards387 Not correct. The bitsetter is for setting tool offset. Lets machine know where tip of tool is relative to machine Z zero. The bitzero is for defining your work coordinate system. They are completely different functions and they don't depend on each other like you say. The tool offset lets the machine know where the tool is. The work coordinate system tells the machine where the stock/work piece is. It does bitset first because to be safe, it alway needs to be sure that the stored tool offset is correct for the installed tool. On the other hand, you don't have to reset your work coord system if your stock hasn't changed. The machine remembers the last work coord.

@@Beerbatter1962 I fully understand, I don't think I could be more clear, that the bitzero and bitsetter have different functions. My question is about the sequence of use. But from your response, I can see that IF you are always using the same material (bitzero function), AND you trust that the machine remembers this correctly and thus do not re-set material zero, then you would ONLY need the bitsetter to do its job, so starting with it would make sense. So thank you for giving me at least one case where this makes sense. Due to previous experiences, I ALWAYS use the bitzero, so this case will never apply to my work flow, but at least now I can see some case in which the present sequence would be applicable.