I bought my workbee several months back, and I've been massively impressed by the support and guidance that the team at Ooznest has provided me with. But I still feel very much in over my head.

Ideal world of worlds, I'd love for someone to just talk me through the basics of having a CNC router; the day-to-day maintenance required; different terms; and perhaps a walk-through of a few different projects.

I'd happily pay for such a service; I'd otherwise welcome being put in touch with someone who could help me.

⟐ Commented November 13, 2021, 13:45 MST

⟐ Commented November 09, 2021, 1:35 MST

Rod

⟐ Commented November 09, 2021, 1:26 MST

⟐ Commented October 28, 2021, 1:01 MST

⟐ Commented May 16, 2021, 2:33 MST

Is this possible?

⟐ Answered September 08, 2020, 8:03 MST

Many thanks in advance.

Phil.

⟐ Answered January 06, 2026, 7:34 MST

very new to this and I have a Workbee Z1+1000x1000 (I believe).

When I select to 'home' in the console it does so in the rear right.

When I select go to 'work zero' in the console it also does so.

However this is only about 25% of the way toward the centre of the bed.

• once in this position I cannot move it any further toward the front, or the left with out getting an out of bounds error message.

How can I set the parameters to use the whole bed?

Or is that automatically adjusted when I load a file to cut?

Thanks in advance...

Rgds ....Pete M

⟐ Answer accepted August 07, 2025, 0:52 MST

Rough pass with 6mm square bit

Finishing pass with 2.5 mm round bit (anything smaller broke)

Is it best to do these two passes or more?

Am I using the right toolls eg should I use round end for roughing then maybe v bit for finishing?

⟐ Answered June 19, 2025, 7:01 MST

1) While carrying out a pocket toolpath halfway through the first cut the machine stopped. I was not looking at the machine or the screen as it happened but when I did all the axes were not homed. I assumed a power failure and tried to resume but this did not work and I had to restart.

2) During the 2nd attempt the Z axis did not fully retract on a move and so cut through part of the job. I was monitoring this time and managed to stop using the E-Stop.

3) On my next attempt I was monitoring and heard a crunching noise as if the machine had hit something. (It hadn't) the router was then out of position and once again cut in the wrong place. This time I also got the error 'over temperature shutdown reported by driver(s) 3'

I have checked back in the console log and I only received the temperature error once.

I have no idea where to start any assistance is appreciated.

I still have this issue, and it's very frustrating.

In reply to point 1 in Roberts's reply, it is not a power cut. I have installed a UPS, but I still get the issue of all the axes forgetting their positions mid-routine. Roberts's 2nd point I have taken all apart and checked and could not find anything, but this would not be relevant to the axes forgetting position anyway.

I have also replaced all the motor cables in case something was shorting. I have also established that the issue only occurs when the router is running and under load. I have run multiple long routines without a router bit, and the issue does not occur. Every time it fails, the router is cutting. I use a Mafell router, and it is not overloaded. I have, however, run the Mafell power cable in the cable chain, could this be relevant?

Any further suggestions are appreciated

⟐ Answered April 17, 2025, 5:45 MST

I recently bought machine. When I collect CNC everything was working fine. Now I can figure out how to connect to the machine. Can anyone can help me please.

⟐ Answered March 10, 2025, 0:10 MST

⟐ Commented March 04, 2025, 8:51 MST

I'm currently waiting for the delivery of my Workbee Z1+ 750mm x 750mm.

I also own a Workbee 1510 that I've converted to a screw drive and it has been as solid as a rock, the controller for this is the excellent Openbuilds Black Box and controlling the spindle is very easy using the tool output connections then using a solid state relay to control spindle and extraction when I start a program.

I've been looking around and am I right in thinking that I can use either one of the heated bed outputs or a spare fan output for the tool on/off, +5 volts or VIN to the SSR, I've not used a duet controller so it's going to be another learning curve and reading up it seems this controller is very good but not quite as simple to use as the blackbox.

Thanks for any help.

⟐ Answered January 30, 2025, 4:26 MST

After running the test project without issue I've been unable to start any of the actual projects I got the machine for.

It turns out that any gcode I generate (MESHCAM and Carbide Create so far) gives out a "file not found" error when started or simulated.

All can be uploaded to the workbee's SD card and be loaded into the 3d GCode viewer module, edited or renamed just fine. Which tells me the machine can find the files alright. In the viewer however, only the travels are displayed without any of the operations, unlike what happens if I load the first project.

CAMotics as been used to simulate the files outside their generator and read all of them flawlessly, so I suppose the issue must come from the workbee itself.

I have noticed that the first project will also give an object height in the job list while mine won't, so I suspect all the above points to some compatibility issue somewhere in there.

Is there any specific requirements for the workbee's gcode formatting or post processing required? The files generated by both cam software are .nc and I've already tried renaming them to .gcode like the first project file, without any effect.

I can provide the diagnostic readout or files via mail should you ask, doing so apparently flagged my question for deletion

⟐ Answer accepted November 25, 2024, 15:00 MST

I am facing lot of burns and sign when surfacing. My setup:

• Original Workbee router - generally running on speed 1 or 2
• Bit: Amana Tool – 45525 – Carbide Tipped Surfacing / Rabbeting / Flycutting CNC Router Bit – 1-1/8″ x 1/2″ – 1/4″ Shank – 1-13/16″
• Stepdown between 0.5 to 2 mm
• Using plywood
• Surfacing program generated using Fusio360

What I tried:

• Slowing the router to lowest speed (1)
• Speeding the machine traveling
• Cooling the bit with air
• Generating a toolpath in all possible directions: both direction, left to right only and opposite, top to bottom and bottom to top

The attached image is even a good result, generally signs and burns are way worse.

I always end up with marks or burns. Is anyone facing the same issue or did someone find a solution to it? What is your setup?

⟐ Commented November 09, 2024, 4:01 MST

I have not been able to reconnect since this issue. After doing some checks via yat terminal it turns out the duet could not read from the sd card. I formatted the card and placed the workbee duet server.bin firmware file in the firmware folder and ran M997 S1 to reload the original configuration to the machine as recommended in a previous poster's issue but it said the file could not be read (it is in the correct location and correct filename).

Is there a way to download the complete sd card folder structure and contents from ooznest?

Thank you for any help.

Jeff Jones

⟐ Answer accepted October 29, 2024, 8:44 MST

I’m having an issue with a surfacing job I’m trying to run on my workbee CNC

I’ve created surfacing job in cut2d pro (11.554) file attached. When I import the job into workbee dashboard and preview with the g code viewer. The review isn’t showing the full job.

Ive tried changing:

1. the raster settings

2.Plunge settings

3.bit size

4.halfing the cut project

Thanks

Nicky

⟐ Answered July 30, 2024, 5:51 MST

⟐ Answered July 20, 2024, 9:17 MST

I am using Carveco to create designs, Toolpaths appear to be working well and milling comes out as planned,

However when creating a relief it simply won’t work and just a single line on the X Axis is created going back and forth for around 10 minutes.

I am using all the latest versions so not sure if I am missing something fundamental or there is an error with Craveco creating the toolpaths or Duet not reading correctly.

When simulating through the workbee.local the Y and Z axis coordinates don’t move on screen even though they are evident within the Gcode which looks fine.

Any ideas or help would be very much appreciated.

⟐ Commented June 13, 2024, 0:53 MST

I want to cut through 7mm of softwood, pretty much at the fastest speed possible, please could you recommend a starting point with regards to feedrate (mm)?, I am cutting in straight lines, example:

-X215 (mm)

Y9

X215

Y9

repeat, repeat

Thanks

John

⟐ Answered May 30, 2024, 1:07 MST