SoAD Labs and Workshops

School of Architecture and Design, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Author: Chris

installing and configuring RhinoCAM

February 2, 2025 / / Comments Off on installing and configuring RhinoCAM

This guide covers installation, licensing, and configuration of RhinoCAM for SoAD’s CNC routers.

before getting started

download and install RhinoCAM

install the latest version of RhinoCAM

license RhinoCAM

start RhinoCAM

  • Start RhinoCAM
  • Select Run CAM Demo then select the Mill module
enter license info

  • navigate to RhinoCAM Preferences, Licensing category
  • select Using Network Locked License Server. Enter:
    IP Address or Name     = WITLM01
    Server Port # = 27020
  • select Test Connection; all tested parameters should = OK; if not, please see troubleshooting below
  • restart rhino
confirm that the license is active

  • in the top menu bar, Navigate to RhinoCAM 202X > License …
  • if the license window looks similar to the screenshot, the license is active
…If the license is not active You will be prompted to enter a License/Activation code if the license is not active. Troubleshooting steps:

  • confirm that you are connected to the Wentworth network. If you are off campus, you will need to connect through the Global Protect VPN
  • if you are still having an issue, please submit a ticket with the Techspot [https://techspot.wit.edu/techspot] for further help

configure RhinoCAM

Please follow the steps below to configure RhinoCAM for SoAD’s Shopbot CNC router:

select Post-Processor

  • select the Post button in the Machining Browser
  • change the Current Post Processor to ShopBot-REV1
  • select Edit … Under the Feed Rate category in the Post-Processor Generator, change the High Value = 6; Select save
change the Posted File Extension

  • navigate to RhinoCAM Preferences, Post-Processor category
  • select Add New…, add .sbp as a new Posted File Extension
  • select .sbp from the Posted File Extension dropdown menu

disabling the RhinoCAM plugin (optional)

The RhinoCAM plugin will increase the load time for Rhino significantly. You can disable the plugin when not in-use.

disable the RhinoCAM plugin

  • enter PlugInManager into the command line to open the Rhino Plug-Ins Manager
  • Find the RhinoCAM plug-in in the list and disable it; the plug-in will no longer load when Rhino launches
  • the plug-in can be re-enabled at any time

troubleshooting Skedda – “no bookable spaces found”

February 23, 2024 / / Comments Off on troubleshooting Skedda – “no bookable spaces found”

This troubleshooting guide is aimed at students who are completing the School of Architecture and Design Labs (SoAD Labs) laser-cutting intro training sequence. If you’re facing difficulties signing up for the in-lab laser equipment training session through the SoAD Labs equipment reservation system (Skedda) and encounter the error “No bookable spaces found,” it’s likely due to how the account was initially registered. This problem usually occurs if you register an account directly on Skedda rather than using the specific link provided in the Brightspace training module.

If you encounter this issue, please follow the troubleshooting steps below.

1 – Confirm you have completed all three steps in the Brightspace module

Confirm that you have completed all three steps of the Brightspace training module. STEP 3 – training scheduling + equipment reservation will only be available after completing and uploading your design-exercise file in STEP 2.

You won’t be able to complete the in-lab equipment training without this file.
2 – return to STEP 3

Return to the STEP 3  – training scheduling + equipment reservation section of the Brightspace module. This section provides an introduction to the SoAD Labs equipment reservation system as well as specific instructions for how to properly setup your account.

Click on the join Skedda here link.

Be sure to select the Register with SSO option and register using your Wentworth credentials.
3 – re-register your account

Follow the prompts to re-register your Skedda account.
4 – reload

Reload the page if the same error appears.
5 – sign-up for an in-lab training session

You should now be able to sign-up for the in-lab training session.

If the issue persists – please contact Chris Sledziona, Director of Labs at sledzionac@wit.edu.

 

 

laser cutting – step-by-step guide

April 28, 2020 / / Comments Off on laser cutting – step-by-step guide

setting up the machine

turn equipment on

turn on the laser cutter and fume-extractor
load material

align material at top-left corner of the cutting table.

Use tape if material is slightly bowed.

See the material guide for maximum material sizing and allowable materials.
focus laser

focus the laser by adjusting the height of the cutting table using the control panel. Adjust the height of the cutting table so the tip of the focus pin just touches the top surface of the material.

 

setting up a + running a file

download AutoCAD template and import linework

Download the most current AutoCAD template file.

import and scale your linework so it fits on the material you are engraving.

Set up your cut-file on your computer before your scheduled laser time slot.
assign linework to cutting / engraving layers

assign all your linework to one of the 5 cutting / engraving layers. All linework sent to the laser MUST be on these layers or the job will fail.

  • all vectors must be on CUT, SCORE LIGHT, or SCORE DARK
  • all solid-fill hatch and solid-fill text must be on RASTER LIGHT or RASTER DARK
plot the file + select material preset

The laser cutters are setup as as a plotter. All settings for the laser cutters are applied through the plot dialog window.

Select the appropriate preset for the type and thickness material you are engraving.

  
select plot area

Select paper size and orientation.

Make a window selection aligned to the extents of the cutting area. This ensures your linework will be registered correctly on the laser cutting table.

  
run the file

Press the start / stop button on the control panel.

Press the pause button if you ever need to leave the Laser Lab for any reason [even if it’s “just for a moment”].

clean-up

clean up scrap

dispose of scrap materials in appropriate bins:

SCRAP: large plastic and wood scrap
RECYCLE: paper and cardboard
TRASH: small non-recyclable garbage

Use of the large garbage and recycle bins in the hallway for larger waste.

tips for success / troubleshooting

If your file does not cut as expected, or stops part-way through, here are some suggestions:

  • confirm that all linework within the plot area is set to:
    • Object Color: ByLayer
    • Lineweight: ByLayer
    • Linetype: ByLayer
  • use the purge command to purge the file of unused geometry and zero-length geometry [points].
  • check that all linework being plotted is on one of the pre-set cutting, scoring, or raster layers in the template file.
  • confirm that solid-fill hatch objects and vector objects are on appropriate layers:
    • solid fill hatches and text with solid fill should be assigned to RASTER LIGHT or RASTER DARK
    • vector objects should be assigned to CUT, SCORE LIGHT, SCORE DARK

Still having issues? Some helpful tips when trying to isolate an issue:

  • try plotting one layer at a time.
  • try plotting only a portion of the drawing at a time. It can be sometimes be difficult to isolate an issue in large files with lots of geometry.

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