Gerber Sabre Owner's Manual

This document may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without written permission of the copyright owner.

This document is furnished to support the Sabre Router. In consideration of the furnishing of the information contained in this document, the party to whom it is given assumes its custody and control and agrees to the following:

1 The information herein contained is given in confidence, and any part thereof shall not be copied or

reproduced without written consent of Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.

2 This document or the contents herein under no circumstances shall be used in the manufacture or

reproduction of the article shown and the delivery of this document shall not constitute any right or license to do so.

Printed in USA

GSP and GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE are registered trademarks of Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. Sabre, ART Path, TVac, OMEGA, Support First, and Gerber Gold are trademarks of Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. 3M is a registered trademark of 3M. Adobe Illustrator and Encapsulated PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. CASmate-Pro is a registered trademark of ScanVec, Inc. CorelDRAW is a registered trademark of Corel Systems Corporation. Gatorfoam is a registered trademark of International Paper. Hewlett-Packard is a registered trademark and HPGL is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company. 3-IN-ONE is a registered trademark of the WD-40 Company. Marvel is a trademark of Marvel Oil Company. Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. Signfoam is a trademark of Sign Arts Products Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft in the U.S. and other countries.

FCC Notice

Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

RS-232 shielded cables must be used with this unit to ensure compliance with the Class A FCC limits.

This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Contents

Welcome ....................................................................................................................................... 1

About this manual................................................................................................................................... 1

Conventions ............................................................................................................................................. 2

Customer support ...................................................................................................................................2

Getting to Know the Sabre .......................................................................................................4

Standard components............................................................................................................................. 4

Electrical cabinet................................................................................................................................... 6

Emergency power shutoff switches................................................................................................... 7

Control pad ........................................................................................................................................... 7

Chip removal system........................................................................................................................... 8

Operational concepts .............................................................................................................................. 8

The role of the design program.......................................................................................................... 8

The role of ART Path ...........................................................................................................................9

Axes of movement ...............................................................................................................................9

Machine orientation point................................................................................................................... 9

Job home position................................................................................................................................. 9

Z axis initialization............................................................................................................................. 10

Getting Started...........................................................................................................................11

Power up ................................................................................................................................................11

First time or after loading a firmware revision.............................................................................. 11

Normal power-up ..............................................................................................................................12

Power-up tests .................................................................................................................................... 12

Exploring the control pad and message displays ............................................................................. 13

Control pad ......................................................................................................................................... 13

Message displays................................................................................................................................ 15

System settings ......................................................................................................................................16

Returning to default configuration settings ................................................................................... 16

Choosing the language for message displays ................................................................................16

Choosing English or metric measurement units............................................................................ 17

Setting acceleration ............................................................................................................................ 18

Setting positioning rate ..................................................................................................................... 18

Using table protection ....................................................................................................................... 19

Setting start delay............................................................................................................................... 20

Selecting the job data type ................................................................................................................20

Cutting tools........................................................................................................................................... 21

Collets .................................................................................................................................................. 21

Installing a cutting tool...................................................................................................................... 22

Removing a tool..................................................................................................................................... 23

Installing and replacing a pen tool .....................................................................................................24

Using the chip removal system ........................................................................................................... 25

Removing the pressure foot assembly................................................................................................ 26

Changing the pressure foot pad....................................................................................................... 27

Understanding Surface Reference....................................................................................................... 27

Setting the surface reference............................................................................................................. 28

Verifying surface reference at the Sabre ......................................................................................... 29

Z axis initialization................................................................................................................................ 30

Establishing a table surface reference.............................................................................................. 30

Establishing material surface reference........................................................................................... 31

Adjusting the depth .............................................................................................................................. 32

Adjusting a tool's initialization depth............................................................................................. 32

Temporarily adjusting the initialization depth of a tool............................................................... 33

Mat milling............................................................................................................................................. 33

Safety guidelines ................................................................................................................................33

Milling the mat ...................................................................................................................................34

Routing ........................................................................................................................................ 37

Safety guidelines ................................................................................................................................... 37

Pre-job checklist..................................................................................................................................... 38

Warming up the spindle....................................................................................................................... 39

Holding down material........................................................................................................................ 39

Using clamps....................................................................................................................................... 40

Using the T-Vac .................................................................................................................................. 41

Using sacrificial material................................................................................................................... 41

Material hold down guidelines ........................................................................................................ 42

Setting speed and feeds........................................................................................................................ 44

Changing spindle speed.................................................................................................................... 44

Overriding the X,Y feed rate............................................................................................................. 45

Position control...................................................................................................................................... 46

Returning to table 0,0 (orientation point) ....................................................................................... 47

Routing the job....................................................................................................................................... 47

Emergency stopping.......................................................................................................................... 49

Pausing and restarting routing......................................................................................................... 49

Verifying job size and boundaries ................................................................................................... 50

Setting and changing job home position......................................................................................... 50

Displaying elapsed job time.............................................................................................................. 51

Manual routing...................................................................................................................................... 51

Controlling the spindle air on ATC equipped machines................................................................. 52

Changing motors................................................................................................................................... 53

Maintenance .............................................................................................................................. 54

Daily inspection..................................................................................................................................... 54

Daily cleaning ........................................................................................................................................ 54

Recommended cleaning supplies .................................................................................................... 54

Table surface cleaning ....................................................................................................................... 55

X way cleaning.................................................................................................................................... 55

Y way cleaning.................................................................................................................................... 55

Lead screw cleaning........................................................................................................................... 55

Electrical cabinet air filter cleaning.................................................................................................. 56

Weekly maintenance............................................................................................................................. 56

Z axis lubrication................................................................................................................................ 56

Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................57

Error Messages ..........................................................................................................................64

Options........................................................................................................................................68

High Frequency Spindle Option ...................................................................................................... 68

Mist Coolant Option .......................................................................................................................... 68

T-Vac Option....................................................................................................................................... 69

Engraver and Engraver Vacuum Options ...................................................................................... 69

Automatic Tool Changer Option .....................................................................................................69

Specifications............................................................................................................................. 70

Index ............................................................................................................................................ 71

Welcome 1

Welcome

Thank you for purchasing the Sabre™ Router. The Sabre is a router/engraver for use in dimensional sign making, woodworking, and parts fabrication. It offers high-speed routing of lettering and graphic designs, dependability, and ease of use, minimal maintenance requirements, and configuration flexibility. The Sabre can cut designs from a variety of materials − foams, plastic, wood, composites, and non-ferrous metals − as well as draw all types of text and graphics.

The Sabre is available in two table sizes: 4 foot x 4 foot (122 cm x 122 cm) and 4 foot x 8 foot (122 cm x 244 cm). A variety of options enhance operation. The standard 3¼ hp router motor may be replaced with the High Frequency Spindle Option for quiet, variable speed operation up to 24,000 rpm. (The Engraver Option provides the accuracy of an engraver with the cutting capabilities of a router in a single system.) The T-Vac Vacuum Table Option provides superior holddown for a wide variety of material size and types.

The Sabre can rout designs created by using many standard design programs — Composer in Gerber OMEGA™ or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE the program used to create the design to be routed, the Gerber ART Path™ software prepares the design for routing by the Sabre. ART Path allows you to generate tool paths of varying depths, then output the job to the Sabre. When used with design programs other than Gerber programs, the open architecture ART Path Software Option enables you to import standard file formats into ART Path for tool path generation.

WARNING: The Sabre is a computer-controlled machine tool and should be used only by trained operators. The safety guidelines in this manual must be followed at all times to avoid risk of injury.

, CorelDRAW®, and CASmate®. Regardless of

About this manual

This manual covers the basic information needed for using the Sabre. The manual is arranged as follows:

♦

Getting to Know the Sabre describes the items that make up the Sabre system and introduces concepts that will help you operate the Sabre safely and efficiently.

♦

Getting Started guides you through the process of setting up the Sabre, power up, Sabre system settings to meet your needs, installing and removing tools, and more.

♦

Routing provides detailed instructions for routing.

♦

Maintenance outlines the procedures you should perform to keep the Sabre in good running order.

2 Sabre Owner’s Guide

♦

Troubleshooting suggests ways to analyze and respond to problems.

♦

Error Messages lists messages that you may see on your Sabre screen, the possible causes and suggested remedies.

♦

Options provides an overview of options which may be purchased with the Sabre.

♦

Specifications outlines size and performance specifications.

For detailed information regarding ART Path, OMEGA, or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE, refer to your ART Path, OMEGA, or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE User's Guides or on-line Help.

Conventions

Special information in this manual is presented in notes, cautions, and warnings as follows:

Note: A note contains important information that could affect successful completion of a task.

CAUTION: A caution statement contains information which, if not observed, could result in damage to the equipment.

WARNING: A warning statement contains information which, if not observed, could result in personal injury.

This type style is used to represent what is displayed on the Sabre’s LCD display screen.

Customer support

If you have questions regarding using, maintaining, or troubleshooting the Sabre or the ATC, please contact your Gerber distributor or the Gerber Router Support Group at:





If you are a Support First™ member, use your toll-free assistance number (for more information on Support First, call 860-528-1028).

For field service telephones, the number is 800-828-5406 (US and Canada). International customers call 860-643-1515.

phone: 860-528-1028 fax: 860-290-5568

e-mail: gsprout@gspinc.com

www.gspinc.com

Gerber FastFacts™ (answers to technical and service questions) telephone number is 800-222-

7446. FastFacts are also available on the Gerber web site.

Please use a phone that is close to your system and have the following information available when you call:

Welcome 3

♦

Microsoft

♦

GSP



Windows version number



system ID number (System Identification String in Gerber System Tray or in GSP

Setup of GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE)

♦

System serial number (on security block)

♦

Sabre serial numbers (on back of beam and electrical cabinet)

If you have OMEGA or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE, please have the following information ready:

♦

OMEGA or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE program disks

♦

Windows hardware utilities disks

♦

OMEGA or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE, and Windows user manuals

4 Sabre Owner’s Guide

Getting to Know the Sabre

This section describes the components that accompany the standard Sabre router so that you will be able to identify them and understand their function in the routing operation. The standard components include:

♦

Tool kit

♦

Electrical cabinet

♦

Control pad

♦

Chip removal system

The Sabre follows a set of operational concepts that are fundamental to successful routing. They include:

♦

Axes of movement

♦

Table orientation point

♦

Job home position

♦

Z axis initialization

Understanding these concepts will make using the Sabre easier and more reliable. Please become familiar with these concepts before using the Sabre.

The following options may be purchased to accompany the Sabre:

♦

Mist Coolant Option

♦

High Frequency Spindle Option

♦

T-Vac Option

♦

Engraving Option

♦

Engraver Vacuum Option

♦

Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) Option

Please see “Options” section for descriptions of these options. Use of the T-Vac Option is described in this section of this manual. Each option comes with its own user guide.

Standard components

The Sabre is shipped assembled and is installed by an Gerber-authorized installer.

Getting to Know the Sabre 5

Tool kit contents

1 tool wrench set 3 .250" or 6 mm Gerber Gold™ tools 3 .125" or 3 mm Gerber Gold tools 1 mat milling tool 1 pen tool 1 .250" or 6 mm collet 1 .125" or 3 mm sleeve 1 initialization gage 1 pressure foot pad (small) 4 spare fuses, various sizes 6 clamp assemblies

6 Sabre Owner’s Guide

Electrical cabinet

WARNING: Do not open the electrical cabinet. Dangerous voltages exist in the interior.

The electrical cabinet distributes power to the Sabre and some of its related devices. It is designed to stand on the floor behind or to the right of the router. This location helps protect the cabinet from coolant and debris.

The main ON/OFF power switch is located on the side of the cabinet.

Power cord

Electrical cabinet

The electrical cabinet also has a switched outlet (115 VAC, 15 amp for domestic units, and 220 VAC, 20 amp for export units) to supply power to the chip removal system vacuum.

The front of the electrical cabinet contains a window for viewing eight LED status indicators. You may use these indicators to assist in troubleshooting under the direction of a Gerber service representative.

Getting to Know the Sabre 7

Emergency power shutoff switches

The Sabre is equipped with three emergency power shutoff switches, located as shown below. When you press one of these switches, you trip the main power breaker, removing all power to the system. These switches should be used only in an emergency when it is necessary to stop system operation immediately, not to pause a job.

Control pad

The control pad lets you operate the Sabre by making menu selections to:

♦

set up a job

♦

manually move the tool to a desired location

♦

start, stop, or pause a job

♦

change the speed or feed rate

The control pad rests on a bracket convenient to the work surface, but may also be hand held. It provides a message display, menu selection keys to make menu selections, move (arrow) keys to move the router motor, and several control keys. The message display shows menus and messages.

8 Sabre Owner’s Guide

Chip removal system

The chip removal system helps keep the work area clean during routing by vacuuming chips into a customer-supplied vacuum. It is equipped with a pressure foot that rests on the workpiece and slides easily over the workpiece surface during routing. The pressure foot applies downward force on the material to keep it from lifting during routing.

The chip removal system comes fully installed but requires a customer-supplied 3 hp (minimum), 16 gallon vacuum with a 2.5" (64 mm) diameter hose opening. A hose supplied with the Sabre connects to the vacuum hose. The Sabre hose contains a ground strap cable, which protects the Sabre from static discharges that can interrupt operation.

CAUTION: The ground strap cable must be properly installed in order to discharge built-up static electricity which could affect the operation of the system.

Operational concepts

The Sabre is one part of a complete design and production system. Routing a job on the Sabre is actually the culmination of a design and output process that involves a design program, the Gerber ART Path software, and the Sabre controls.

The role of the design program

You will use a design program such as the Gerber OMEGA or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE to create the sign or image you want to rout. The Sabre can also rout designs created by a wide variety of other design programs. If you do not use OMEGA or GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE, the design program you use must be able to produce one of the following formats:

♦

AI (Adobe Illustrator® format version 1.1 only)

♦

EPS (Encapsulated PostScript®, Adobe Illustrator format)

♦

DXF (Drawing Interchange File Format)

♦

PRN (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language, or HPGL™)

♦

G Codes, which are interpreted by the G Code feature (Requires the use of Hyperterminal and the assistance of a Gerber technician.)

Getting to Know the Sabre 9

The role of ART Path

The image created by the design program is essentially two-dimensional. It may be displayed on a screen, cut from vinyl, or printed on a vinyl or paper printer. Routing is three-dimensional, involving not just the outline of the design, but the depth of cut, the tool radius and geometry, and material thickness and surface characteristics. ART Path generates tool paths from design elements. The ART Path user enters depth, speed, and tool information that ART Path uses to generate the tool path. ART Path then controls output of the file to the Plot Spooler or GQ Manager queue, which communicates with the Sabre firmware to control routing the design.

This guide does not describe use of ART Path. Please refer to the

Guide

for further information.

Axes of movement

The Sabre has three axes of movement:

♦

The X-axis is from left to right.

♦

The Y-axis is from front to back.

♦

The Z (depth) axis is up and down.

ART Path and Auto-carve User's

Machine orientation point

The machine orientation point locates the X-axis at 0,0, the Y-axis at 0,0 and raises the tool to the Z axis position of 0,0. When you turn the power on, the Sabre prompts you to orient the system. The Sabre locates the machine orientation point at the 0,0 position (the front, left corner of the Sabre table) as well as the highest elevation of the tool above the table. The Sabre calculates all future moves on the table relative to this point.

Job home position

The job home position is the point on the router table where you want the job to start. It corresponds to the start position in the job data. Job home position may be set in the following ways:

♦

Allow the tool position when you press Start to be the job home position.

♦

Set a pre-position (move) from the ART Path output dialog box. The tool position after the move is the job home position.

10 Sabre Owner’s Guide

♦

Press the control pad move keys to move the tool to the desired position and press the Home function key.

Note: Use the Home key only if you have already pressed Start and wish to establish a different job home position.

The job home position must allow sufficient room for the job to fit within the active cutting area. If job home position causes the job to extend beyond the routing area, the Sabre displays an error message indicating that the job exceeds table boundaries. To continue, you will have to change the job home position, ART Path offset, or number of repeats so that it fits within table boundaries.

Z axis initialization

Z-axis movement is the up and down movement of the tool. Z-axis initialization establishes the location of the cutting tool relative to the router table (or sacrificial material) surface and the workpiece material surface. All subsequent up and down moves are made relative to the Z initialization position. If the Z-axis is not properly initialized, the tool will cut at the wrong depth and could cut into the table.

The Z-axis may be initialized for two types of routing: through-cutting and non-through cutting. When initialized for through-cutting, the Z-axis is initialized to the table (or sacrificial material) surface and the Sabre tool cuts entirely through the workpiece during cutting. When initialized for non-through cutting, the Z-axis is initialized to the material surface and the Sabre tool plunges into the material to the depth specified in ART Path relative to the surface of the material. Refer to the section “Z axis initialization” for detailed instructions.

Getting Started

Before using the Sabre to cut a job, perform these preliminary steps:

♦

Connect the chip removal system ground strap.

♦

Make sure all ground straps are securely connected to the ground stud on the rear of the electrical cabinet.

♦

Verify that the table mats have been milled to create a perfectly flat surface.

♦

Power up.

Getting Started 11

♦

Explore the control pad. Refer to the Sabre Router Menu Structure card in the back of this manual for details about the menus.

♦

Select the display language.

♦

Select English or metric measurement units.

Power up

There are two power-up sequences:

♦

the first time the Sabre is turned on or after loading a new firmware revision

♦

normal power-up

Since the Sabre is turned on and tested at the factory before shipment, you normally will never see the “first-time” power-up sequence when you start your router for the first time at your facility. However, you will see this sequence after loading a new firmware revision.

First time or after loading a firmware revision

After loading a new firmware revision, you must specify the router type (Sabre 404 or 408), the cutting motor type (router motor, high frequency spindle, or ATC spindle), and set the orientation. The sequence and displays are as follows:

To start up the first time or after a firmware revision

After the firmware is loaded, the display shows:

SELECT MACHINE Sabre 404 A: Change

12 Sabre Owner’s Guide

Press A to toggle between Sabre 404 and Sabre 408. Press ENTER when it displays your router type. The display shows:

Press A to toggle between Router, Spindle, and ATC Spindle. Press ENTER when the display shows the motor type installed on your router. The display shows:

WARNING: The Sabre will move quickly. Stand away from the table.

CAUTION: If you move the carriage into the front left corner so that it stops against the corner, an error will occur. Turn power off and on at the electrical cabinet, so that the Sabre repeats orientation.

Press A. The Sabre moves the tool to the machine orientation position and raises the tool. The display shows:

Spindle/Router Router A: Change

ORIENTATION A: Orient System

STATUS SABRE: Idle JOB: Not Ready

When this STATUS message appears, the Sabre is ready for use.

Normal power-up

Turn on the main power switch on the electrical cabinet. The switch should be pointing up.

The display shows:

ORIENTATION A: Orient System

WARNING: The Sabre will move quickly. Stand away from the table.

Press A. The Sabre moves the tool to the machine orientation position and raises the tool. The display shows:

STATUS SABRE: Idle JOB: Not Ready

Whenever this STATUS message is displayed, the Sabre is ready for use.

Power-up tests

When you turn power on, the Sabre performs diagnostic self-tests. If an error occurs during selftests, the system emits a continuous beep or a series of beeps. Press RESET on the control pad to repeat the self-test. When the self-tests are complete, the STATUS message shown above appears.

Getting Started 13

Exploring the control pad and message displays

The control pad contains a message display to tell you what the router is doing and to prompt you for information with menus. The control pad keys are used to make menu selections and control the router.

Control pad

The control pad consists of:

♦

4-line message display

♦

3 job control keys (START, PAUSE, RESET)

♦

3 menu selection keys (A, B, C)

♦

4 menu control keys

♦

12 function keys

♦

3 Z axis move keys (up and down) with a central speed control key

♦

5 X,Y axis move keys (right/left, forward/backward) with a central speed control key

Job control keys

Menu selection keys

START

PAUSE

RESET

SABRE: Idle JOB: Not Ready

EXIT

TBL

Z INIT

RPM

ATC DFLT

Use the control pad keys as follows:

♦

press the arrow keys to toggle between multiple screens of the same menu (MAIN MENU 1 and 2, for example)

♦

press the menu selection letter keys (A, B, or C) to make a selection within a menu

♦

press the short cut function keys to go directly to that menu item

STATUS

MATL Z INIT

FEED RATE

ADJ

DEPTH

HOME

Function keys

Message display

Menu control keys

ENTER

Z UP

RET

0,0

SHIFT

X,Y axis move keys

Z axis move keys

FAST

SLOW

♦

press ENTER after pressing the letter key to confirm and record the selection

♦

press EXIT to return to the previous menu without recording changes to the current menu

14 Sabre Owner’s Guide

Some menus have only one letter to make a selection. For example, you can select English or metric measurements in the Units menu:

UNITS ENGLISH A: CHANGE

Repeatedly pressing the A key toggles the choice between English and metric. When the display shows what you want, press ENTER to confirm the choice. Press EXIT to go to the previous menu. Continue to press EXIT until the Main Menu appears. Toggle between MAIN MENU 1 and MAIN MENU 2 by repeatedly pressing one of the arrow keys.

The following table provides specific information about the control pad.

Job control keys

START Starts or resumes a routing job.

PAUSE Temporarily stops router actions; the stopped job may be restarted.

Pause may not take effect immediately.

RESET Stops the job immediately if the router is running, and terminates the

job.

Menu selection keys

A Selects menu choice A.

B Selects menu choice B.

C Selects menu choice C.

Menu control keys

EXIT Returns to the previous menu without recording changes to the

current menu.

PAGE UP

PAGE DOWN

ENTER Records the menu selection made.

Function keys

TBL Z INT (table init) Allows you to initialize from the table surface for through cutting.

MATL Z INT (material init)

ADJ DEPTH Temporarily adjust the initialization depth of the current tool.

Z UP Raises the tool to its maximum height. (0,0)

RPM Sets spindle speed (High Frequency Spindle Option only).

FEED (feed rate) Overrides the X,Y feed rate set in ART Path.

HOME Returns to or changes the job home position.

RET 0,0 Moves the tool to the table orientation point (lower left).

ATC Opens the Automatic Tool Changer menu.

DFLT (default configuration)

SHIFT Press SHIFT and EXIT during manual routing to turn off the motor

Displays the previous menu.

Displays the next menu.

Allows you to initialize from the material surface for non-through cutting.

Returns to the factory default settings.

and raise the tool.

Getting Started 15

Z axis move keys

UP ARROW Raises the tool.

DOWN ARROW Lowers the tool.

FAST Press and hold while pressing the UP or DOWN keys to increase the

speed at which the tool moves.

X,Y axis move keys

UP ARROW Moves the tool toward the back of the table.

DOWN ARROW Moves the tool toward the front of the table.

LEFT ARROW Moves the tool to the left.

RIGHT ARROW Moves the tool to the right.

SLOW Press and release to slow X,Y axis movement. Press and release again

to return to normal speed.

Message displays

The 4-line message display shows menus, instructions, system and job status, and error messages. Each menu has a title (for example, MAIN MENU 1) followed by information and choices.

An upper case letter precedes a menu choice that can be modified. If the menu choice can not be modified, a lower case letter precedes it. For example, if you select Router as the Cutting Motor Type in the SETUP menu, you cannot change the spindle speed in the SPEED/FEEDS menu. Spindle speed is not available as indicated by a lower case

in the example on the left. If the feature is available, an uppercase letter as shown in the example on the right precedes the menu choice.

SPEED/FEEDS SPEED/FEEDS a: Spindle speed A: Spindle speed B: X,Y feed rate B: X,Y feed rate C: Z feed rate C: Z feed rate

Note that in both examples, X, Y, and Z feed rates (menu choices B and C) are available.

In some cases, pressing a function key displays a menu to let you know if a feature is available or unavailable. For example, if you press the RPM function key and you have a spindle selected as the Cutting Motor Type, the SPINDLE SPEED menu automatically opens so that you can change the speed as shown in the example on the left. If you selected Router as the Cutting Motor Type, you cannot change the spindle speed. In this case, the SPEED/FEEDS menu appears with the Spindle speed choice preceded by a lower case

to show you that this feature

is unavailable as shown in the example on the right.

SPINDLE SPEED SPEED/FEEDS 06000 RPM a: Spindle speed A: Increase by 100 B: X,Y feed rate B: Decrease by 100 C: Z feed rate

For a complete list of all menus and the menu structure, refer to the Sabre Router Menu Structure card in the back of this manual.

16 Sabre Owner’s Guide

System settings

Note: Gerber recommends that you leave the system settings set to the factory defaults until you have more experience in using the Sabre.

You can customize your Sabre operation. The following settings can be altered in the CONFIGURATION and SETUP menus.

♦

Language – Select the language used for the menus. (Only available with the multiple language version of Sabre firmware.)

♦

Units – Select inches or millimeter measurement units.

♦

Acceleration – Set the rate at which the Sabre accelerates so you can achieve the highest cutting precision or the greatest throughput.

♦

Positioning Rate – Set the speed at which the Sabre moves between shapes.

♦

Table Protection – Provide protection from accidentally cutting into the table surface.

♦

Start Delay – Control how quickly cutting begins after you press START.

Returning to default configuration settings

A function key has been added to the Sabre control pad that automatically returns the Sabre to the default factory settings. Press the DFLT (default configuration) key to apply the following settings to the Sabre.

Feature Setting

Spindle Speed 20000 RPM

X,Y Feed Rate Override 100%

Z Plunge Rate Override 100%

Table Protection OFF

Acceleration Normal

Surface Reference Table

Choosing the language for message displays

The multiple language version of Sabre firmware can display messages in the following languages: English, Italian, Francais, Deutsche, Espagnol, Portugues, and Nederlands. If you have a single language version of Sabre firmware this option is not available.

To select a language

Press the down arrow key until you see:

MAIN MENU 2 A: Position control B: Manual feed C: Configuration

Press C to select the Configuration menu. Press down until you see:

CONFIGURATION 2 A: Testing B: Setup C: ATC Menus

Press B to select the Setup menu. Press down until you see:

SETUP MENU 2 A: Select language B: Units C: Positioning rate

Press A to select the Select language menu shown below.

SELECT LANGUAGE English A: Change

Press A to toggle among the languages until you see the correct language.

Press ENTER to choose the language. Press EXIT repeatedly until the STATUS message appears.

Choosing English or metric measurement units

Getting Started 17

The Sabre can display dimensions in either inches or millimeters.

To select units

Press the down arrow key until you see:

MAIN MENU 2 A: Position control B: Manual feed C: Configuration

Press C to select the Configuration menu. Press down until you see:

CONFIGURATION 2 A: Testing B: Setup C: ATC Menus

Press B to select the Setup menu. Press down until you see:

SETUP MENU 2 A: Select language B: Units C: Positioning rate

Press B to select the Units menu shown below.

UNITS English A: Change

Press A to toggle between English or metric until you see the correct units measurement.

Press ENTER to choose the units. Press EXIT repeatedly until the STATUS message appears.

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