Newbie - What you wish you did or knew before setting up?

[dcdear]

Brand new here, just ordered an M3 Bundle.
I'm wondering what you wish you did? Or knew before setting up your machine the first time?

How long did it take?
Biggest mistake?
Smartest thing you did? 

Any help greatly appreciated thanks.
PS I've started reading through the forum and looking at the videos.

Cheers and Thanks

Doug

[rowiac]

A word of advice: When you run your machine for the first time, for example using the instructions to carve out the "MillRight CNC" text, run your gcode with the router off and no cutter in it, just to make sure everything is working correctly. This will save you from potentially burying your cutter into the spoilboard or, more likely running into the clamps or mechanical limits of the machine.

And another thing:  When you get into 3D carving, do not be impatient and try to cut too fast on the finish cut with a small ballnose endmill.  The M3 uses belt drive and it can stall and lose motor steps if you get too aggressive.  It's better to go slowly and take light cuts until you figure out the limits of your machine.

[dcdear]

Thanks!

[Bruce]

Checking your G-code on a simulator before running it on the machine is helpful also.
Web based simulator: ncviewer.com/
Open source software: camotics.org/download.htm

[dcdear]

Excellent thank-you

[Derek the Admin]

Really strive to understand the relationship between the work coordinate zero and the CAM origin point. That seems to be a sticking point for some users.

[dcdear]

Now you're making me think...no one said there would be thinking!