I recently purchased the Fireball V90 CNC Machine. It took me some time to get it working so I thought I would put together a quick start tutorial. Hopefully it might help some people and they can start producing things fairly quickly.

I decided to take the Linux route, because I kept hearing a lot about it so I thought I would dive into to get some experience with it.

I would recommend purchasing the MeshCAM software from Probotix with your system when you buy it. It isn’t that expensive and it’s relatively easy to use and runs great with Wine windows emulator for Ubuntu. EMC2 is the motor controller software I use this is free and available for Ubuntu. I would recommend downloading the ISO containing a EMC2 and the RTAI extension. You can find it here:

http://www.linuxcnc.org/content/view/21/4/lang,en/

You will also need the universal usb installer to create the a bootable memory stick found here:

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Create your usb iso and install it on your computer and you have a working motor controller with a real time operating system. The disc probotix sent had an error on it and I spent close to a month trying to istall ubuntu on it. Then I had to manually install the rtai kernal! I’ve tried to repeat what I did but can never figure out how I did it.

Once you have EMC installed you will need to install Wine (to run MeshCAM). You will have to right click on the executable, go to properties and give it permission to run as an executable and also tell it to open with Wine.

You will also need a configuration for the stepper motors that come with the V90 found here:

http://www.probotix.com/cnc_downloads/

You will need to run the step conf wizard to set limits and the like. Please if one of your axis is moving in the opposite direction just invert the axis with the step conf wizard. Don’t rewire it. Step conf allows you to set your limits and pulse lengths for the motor.

If you are having trouble getting things the rite dimensions take a look at your scale in the configuration file. I had to adjust mine to 2000. Just open it with Gedit and change it.

MeshCAM also puts in a line of code for the ‘A’ axis that causes EMC to not import the file. Just open your tool path and remove the Gcode for the ‘A’ Axis it normally only occurs once in the file and when you remove it there are no problems.

I would recommend DraftSight for a free CAD program (it’s only 2D but it will occupy you for sometime). Inkscape is also ok. They can be found here:

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/

and here:

http://inkscape.org/

If you are using DraftSight save your file as type .dxf ascii R12. R12 is the format CAM processors like to see.

Export PNG for Inkscape this does not give you as much control over the depth as DraftSight does.

PCB Isolation Routing

You will need Eagle found here:

http://www.cadsoftusa.com/

It has a free version with limited capabilities. But is also very affordable if you want the commercial license.
You will also need the PCB-GCode plugin found here:

http://pcbgcode.org/index.php?5

You may need to edit where it looks for some of the files in PCB-GCode ulp. Make sure you save your .brd in the PCB-GCode folder. Then go to file Run ULP and select PCB-GCode out of the PCB-GCode folder you’ve created.

Load the file into EMC2 and route your board. I would recommend these bits:

http://www.precisebits.com/products/carbidebits/scoreengrave.asp

precisebits are very good and they have your bits to you in the blink of an eye. I’ve tried other bits with unsatisfactory results.

If you are still having problems feel free to contact me I will do the best I can to help you.

Happy Machining!