Please understand that the instructions for using
the Mk VII OTD
will be significantly different to these below.
Operating the mechanical device is fundamentally different, - and much more
obvious.
The Robert Sorby RS3000 Ornamental Turning Device was developed in conjunction with Martin Thompson-Oram from his original concepts and prototypes. It can be used with most ordinary woodturning lathes, enabling turnery to be decorated with a wide variety of patterns or borders without having to remove the workpiece from the lathe, the decoration being carved whilst the workpiece is in motion.
The kind of decorative work that can be produced using the RS3000 has previously only been possible with Ornamental lathes, which generally kept the work stationary and used complex cutting equipment to cut into the workpiece. Ornamental Turning demands accuracy. The best results are achieved with patience and attention to detail.
Using the RS3000 is simple. It is more difficult to describe what to do than to actually do it. This Instruction Manual is in two parts: Part One is designed to show as simply as possible how to set up the machine and make a first set of cuts. Part two describes more fully what facilities the machine has and what can be done with them.
The RS3000 requires a brand new skill. There has been nothing like it before. Be patient and take your time.
WARNING. The RS3000 does not cut like any other turning tool. It is very important to read the instructions in Part one of this manual, as damage to the tool, work, and possibly operator could occur. DO NOT ALTER the settings of ANY of the controls until you are requested to do so in the instructions.
1. RS3000: COMPONENTS and CONTROLS.
The RS3000 comprises:
Control Box
Sensor and Magnet
Cutter Body
Cutter Body Guide
The Controls are divided between the Control Box, Cutter Body and Cutter Body Guide.
2. PREPARATION OF TRIAL PIECE.
Before proceeding with the setting up instructions, prepare a piece of close-grained hard timber, Boxwood would be ideal. All that is required is a simple cone or cylinder about 3 inches in diameter and about 3 inches long, preferably mounted "end on" in the Lathe and turned to "run true".
Set your Lathe to run at about 500rpm. (For further information see the section on 'Lathe speed and number of cuts'.)
The Control Box needs to be positioned near the Lathe so that the Cables for the Sensor, the Cutter Body and the Mains Power cable cannot be fouled or become entangled with the work.
Position the Magnet on the headstock shaft, or on the work, with its marked surface outward, in a place which allows the Sensor to have its sensing (marked) face near to it. Fix it firmly in position with tape, and mark this position.
Position the Sensor on the Headstock body and fix it firmly in position (with tape) so that when the Headstock shaft turns the Magnet will pass within about 2mm of the sensing face of the Sensor.
Plug the Sensor into the Control Box, connect the Control Box to the power supply and turn on the Control Box.
(There should be two dashes showing in the two-digit display.)
Turn the Headstock shaft by hand and watch the display. As the Magnet passes the Sensor, the decimal point in the centre of the display should flash on and off. If this is not seen consult 'Fault Finding'.
THE CONTROL BOX IS NOW READY TO SET A PATTERN. SWITCH IT OFF AND SET UP THE CUTTER BODY GUIDE.
Fit the appropriate Guide Support Stem tightly in the toolrest holder of your lathe. Take the Guide Support and spin it onto the threaded stem until tight. Only then, tighten the Guide to the Stem with the grub screw.
(The Guide and Stem can henceforth be regarded as one component. The 'cut out' in the carrying case allows for re-packing the assembled item.)
Slide the Cutter Body Guide onto the Guide Support.
Position the Cutter Body Guide approximately 25mm. from the workpiece before sliding on the Cutter Body and securing it.
AT THIS STAGE DO NOT ALTER THE SETTING OF THE STROKE CONTROL.
(The Control on the back of the Cutter Body.)
Adjust the height of the Cutter so that it is level with the centre of the headstock shaft. (This is the optimum height for using the RS3000. You may wish to make future setting up simpler by fitting a length of metal or plastic tube around the stem of the Cutter Body Guide so that it is prevented from dropping any lower in the toolrest holder.)
Set the Depth Control using the Depth Control Wheel to ensure that the Cutter clears the workpiece by at least 4mm.
5. OPERATING THE CONTROL BOX.
The Control Box contains a Microprocessor that controls the cutter according to the information fed to it by its switches.
There are two press switches below the two-digit display. These switches are used to select the different patterns of cuts available and to turn the Cutter Body off whilst saving the selections.
The FN (left) switch is used to select a Function. These are shown on the display as:
PA:
Pattern type. (See detail under 'Pattern' in Part two.)
cu:
Cuts. The number of positions at which the cutter
will make a cut around the circumference of the work.
co:
Offset. The position that the cutter will make the cuts
relative to each other and to Top Dead Centre.
OF:
Off. This shows that the selected pattern has been
saved and the Cutter has been turned off.
The SL(right) switch is used to select a value for each function, shown as a number on the display.
If the FN button is pressed and held, it will at first indicate a single function on the display, then all the function symbols will scroll past. When the button is released, the last function indicated can be altered using the SL button.
If the SL button is then pressed, a number will show on the display. This number indicates a value for the chosen function.
If the SL button is pressed and held, all the available values for the selected function will scroll past.
If the FN button is then pressed twice it will change the display to the next function to be set.
6. SELECTING A PATTERN.
NB
To Program in the information to cut a pattern, a value needs to be given for each of the functions. If a value has not been given for all the functions, when the lathe is started an error (E1) message will be shown on the display.
To Select a Pattern:
Switch on the Power. Two dashes will show on the display.
Press the FN button once and release. The symbol 'PA' will show on the display followed by two dashes. A single press on the SL button and the number 1 will show. (If there is an Expansion Pack inserted in the Expansion Port it will be possible to change this number. If no Expansion pack is inserted, no other selection will be available.)
Press the FN button twice and release. The symbol cu. will show on the display followed by two dashes.
Press the SL button to select from 6, 8, 12, 16, 18 and 24. (For a first attempt 16 is probably best.)
These numbers indicate the number of positions around the work where the cutter will make a cut.
Double press the FN button again. The symbol co. will show on the display, followed by two dashes as the button is released.
Press the SL button to select the amount of offset required. (For a first attempt no offset or 0 on the display will be best.)
One more double press on the FN button and the symbol OF will show on the display. Press again and the display will show PA, then its value. A series of single presses and releases will show all the functions and their values in turn, allowing you to check that the selections are correct.
A PATTERN HAS NOW BEEN FULLY SELECTED.
BEFORE STARTING THE LATHE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS READ ON- OR ENSURE THAT ALL TRAILING WIRES ARE OUT OF THE WAY AND THE CUTTER IS WELL AWAY FROM THE WORKPIECE!!!
The RS3000 does not cut in the same way as any other turning tool. Ensure that all trailing wires are clear of any moving parts, that the Cutter Body is held in the Cutter Body Guide and that the cutter is well clear of the workpiece, start the lathe and watch the cutter.
After a short pause the cutter should start to move very quickly backwards and forwards. (If it doesn't refer to Fault Finding.) Study the cutter closely and you will see that it moves over a distance of about 6mm., 4mm. backwards and about 2mm forward from it's stationary position. It will appear as a blur of movement. Take a few moments to observe the blur, it will help you later when you are using the cutter
AT THIS POINT YOU ARE NEARLY READY TO START TO CUT.
PLEASE BE PATIENT AND READ ON.
Switch off the Lathe and the Cutter will stop, switch it on again and the Cutter will start.
Press FN on the Control Box and the symbol OF will appear on the display. With OF on display the Lathe can be started and stopped without the Cutter operating, but the selected pattern is maintained. Press the FN button again and the cutter will come on with the Lathe.
The Cutter of the RS3000 cuts UNSUPPORTED; i.e. the bevel on the blade does NOT rub on the work. You now will have seen that the cutter cannot remain in contact with the work at all times BECAUSE IT MOVES. This means that the cutter MUST BE BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH THE WORK WITH THE UTMOST CARE. The Cutter Body Guide has been developed to assist in doing this, but the Operator is still in control, and MUST be careful.
With the Lathe stopped and the Cutter Body in the Cutter Body Guide, set the Cutter Body to the "fully back" position, using the Depth Control Wheel.
Position the Cutter Body Guide so that the Cutter tip is about 3-4mm away from the workpiece, pointing directly at the place where you want to make a set of cuts.
Make sure that the Cutter Body Guide is locked laterally in this position and that the Cutter Body is only free to move under the control of the Depth Control Wheel.
Check that the Control Box is on, a pattern has been selected and that OF is not showing on the display.
Start the Lathe and wait for the cutter to start to move before advancing it toward the workpiece.
Watch the blur that the cutter makes and advance the cutter toward the workpiece carefully with the Depth Control Wheel.
As the cutter starts to touch the work slow down the cutter advance as the first tiny shavings are seen.
(To achieve a good finish it is important to remove the wood in thin shavings, about the thickness of soap flakes. You will not be able to sand inside them afterwards!)
As the cutter is working, watch the surface of the workpiece. You should start to see two faint lines appear, one to each side of the cutter. These are the edges of the cuts. When you can also see the beginning of a groove between these lines the cutter will have made a series of cuts that touch each other.
To stop the Lathe to see your progress, withdraw the cutter from the work and switch the lathe off.
To continue the same cuts, switch the Lathe back on and carefully advance the cutter until it starts to cut again.
When you have decided that the cuts are deep enough, leave the cutter running in the cuts without altering the cutter advance until only dust is being removed by the cutter.
NOTE.
The RS3000 is able to position the cutter so accurately, that so long as the Magnet and Sensor remain in the same position, the Lathe speed remains un- changed, the pattern selected is the same and the Cutter Body Guide is not moved, the Lathe can be turned off and on as many times as you need during the decorating of an item. It is even possible to leave a project and return to it days later if the Timber is stable enough.
This concludes Part 1 of the Instructions.
You now know the basics.
