Seeing when the end mill bit touches the material with suckit dust boot?

X-Carve
1

I feel like crazy newbie asking this question, but I recently got a suckit dust boot. I was able to see the home position fine when I was running the shop vac no dustboot. Now with the dust boot I feel like I have to be lucky on trying to listen for the sound when the end mill touches the material? I don’t know if it is my eyes or what, but it is hard for me to tell the depth perception with the dustboot on. Unfortunately, I am not able to place the end mill bit on the material and then putt the dustboot on because of having to go around the collet. I LOVE the suckit dustboot but it isn’t as see through as i thought it was going to be. It functions fantastic but…

Can someone help this newbie question out (SMH)? My cuts are so inconsistent with the wood depth.

Thx Ted

2

I’d suggest placing a piece of paper over the work and then slide it around a little as you bring the tool down towards the paper. At some point the tool will make contact with the paper which you will feel as you continue to wiggle the paper around.

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3

I suggest buying or making the components for automatic probing.
That is the most accurate way to set z height.

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4

After you set your zero point, you can raise the bit up 2 inches (or however much you need) and then put the boot on. Once you hit “Carve” it will lower back down to the safe height automatically.

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5

Invest in or make a Z probe. Then zero out your bit to the material. Then stick on the dust boot. This is what I need to do with my Xcarve. I also adjusted the home switch bumper to a point where the homing doesn’t interfere with the dust boot.

6

You’ll wonder how you ever got along without it…

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7

Well, some of us have never used a Z probe and touch off on a sheet of paper.
I made my own dust shoe that goes in place after touching off then raising 50mm before starting the cut.
Just becomes a part of the workflow and it works.