Power Route instructions are up

[Derek the Admin]

The Power Route instructions are here (click me)

As always, we value feedback.

[lostwoodworker]

Even though I just bought the Carve King, I will need to get this one next. Its too nice not to.

[Bruce]

I'm kind of anxious to see the videos people will post using it.

[freik]

Gonna assemble mine this weekend! Time permitting, I'll maybe carve the PCB and case for a custom 2 piece bluetooth keyboard, too. Looking forward to having a machine that can chew through purple heart...

[Derek the Admin]

Cool. If you come across anything on it PM me. Since this is version 1 of the instructions I want to make sure it's the top most thing on my priority list to make sure they are smooth and understandable.

[firemuir]

Hello, Derek, I just started my build tonight and have found a few issues with instructions and pieces/parts included in the kit. I have taken photos and would like to get the info to you. I'm not sure this is the best place. I noticed you said "PM" me in a post yesterday. I'm new to message boards, what does that mean? What is the best way to get you photos with descriptions? Thanks

[Derek the Admin]

Hey,

Just sent you a PM back. Looks like you were able to send one. Email to [e-mail] and I'll have a look.

[freik]

Quick summary of issues I've hit so far (if other folks are reading this thread looking for issues). Derek the Admin is already aware. I don't know if the issues are just my package, or if they're systemic.

1. The M5-20's are actually M5-25's so they're too long to use (I cleaned out my local Home Despot of M5-20 bolts to make progress: I could have cut them shorter, but this seemed faster)
2. Only 4 M5 lock washers (Again, I cleaned out Home Despot...)
3. You need snap ring pliers to put the retaining washer on the drive shafts. You need one that has pretty small pins. At my local HD, the cheap pair's pins were too big.
4. The anti-racking bag of supplies only has enough spacers & washers for one side. (There was another bag of 10mm spacers, so I stole a couple of them)

I'm to page 18 of the assembly guide. I've been a software engineer for 20+ years. This few bugs for a first release seems mercifully low: Good job (when pre-ordering, I assumed I was signing up to be a beta tester

-Kev

[Derek the Admin]

Feb 19, 2018 7:23:12 GMT freik said:

Quick summary of issues I've hit so far (if other folks are reading this thread looking for issues). Derek the Admin is already aware. I don't know if the issues are just my package, or if they're systemic.

1. The M5-20's are actually M5-25's so they're too long to use (I cleaned out my local Home Despot of M5-20 bolts to make progress: I could have cut them shorter, but this seemed faster)
2. Only 4 M5 lock washers (Again, I cleaned out Home Despot...)
3. You need snap ring pliers to put the retaining washer on the drive shafts. You need one that has pretty small pins. At my local HD, the cheap pair's pins were too big.
4. The anti-racking bag of supplies only has enough spacers & washers for one side. (There was another bag of 10mm spacers, so I stole a couple of them)

I'm to page 18 of the assembly guide. I've been a software engineer for 20+ years. This few bugs for a first release seems mercifully low: Good job (when pre-ordering, I assumed I was signing up to be a beta tester

-Kev

We have exchanged some PMs but for the sake of everyone’s awareness here is where we sit on 1 through 4.

1) That is a packing error that isn’t affecting everyone. I think at some point one of our packers must have dumped M5x25 in a bin labeled M5x20. I’ve seen a couple others report this. Anyone who needs them and hasn’t otherwise acquired them can PM me and I’ll get you some out.

2) I think we screwed up across the board there. We failed to add the stuff in the bed to the count for that. Anyone who needs them can PM me.

3) If you need some snap ring pliers hit Lowe’s up vs HD, assuming you have one in your town. Suitable pliers can be found there at a lower cost than what HD offers. (At least here where we are). Also, you can proceed and install them later assuming the pliers you get have a right angle attachment (I think most sets do).

4) We were just dumb in this one. The 4 spacers that are 10mm long in the bag are intended for the anti racking kit. Why we didn’t just include them there and there are just two in the anti racking cable bag I can’t really provide a good explanation for. I’ll confirm this is true when I can review a parts matrix later this morning.

One issue is too many in my opinion but issues on rollout are an unfortunate fact of product deployment. I bet you’ve seen some real grenades go out as a software developer so I’m glad that experience has brought you the perspective it has. We appreciate the understanding of everyone with a Power Route and for their patience as we work through a couple little things in the instructions and hardware.

Looking forward to seeing ya rip and run through some material with it.

Derek

[freik]

Got to page 31 with no more issues today. Well, no more issues that weren't self-inflicted. A word to the wise when moving around various extrusions with T-slot nuts in them, be careful, or you might lose a few as they fly around your shop

-Kev

[freik]

Finished assembling my PowerRoute last night, got it successfully homed!

I'm in the process of building a table for it, since I assembled it sitting on my tablesaw (I don't recommend you do this: I had to attach 'skis' to the feet and slide it onto one of my other mobile carts). The gantry is heavy enough that you *really* need to attach it to a heavy table, or it will just wander all over. I'm thinking I ought to mill a better homing plate out of a chunk of aluminum. My college kiddo tells me they'll mill me some pins to make 'flipping' pieces over accurate (they're studying mechanical engineering, so they have access to every crazy piece of milling machine you can imagine).

Pictures for proof, naturally:

[kevin]

Congratulations on your build. That is one monster of a machine, can't wait to see what you make with it.

[Derek the Admin]

Looking good man!