Creating A Fence For Your CNC Wasteboard

Create A Fence For Your CNC Wasteboard. (File And How To Video Included!)

1/26/2019

When you want a consistant X and Y zero point the best way to do that on the CNC is by using a fence. I've designed a fence to fit into my custom wasteboard. Now you can get consistent clamping and zeroing with large or small pieces.

This will provide a fence for two sides of the wasteboard I designed. I use it on the front left, so that you can get a constant ZERO for X and Y. It also has an indent for the Touch Probe to fit. You can use mdf or plywood for the fence. (I prefer mdf for its lack of wood movement an ease of cutting on an endmill). The same hardware that is used to hold down my clamps are used to hold down the fence.

Here's the links to the hardware (click to purchase):
1/4 - 20 hex bolts
1/4 - 20 washers

Myers Woodshop Wasteboard Fence (right click, save as)

XXL Fence file

XL fence file

small fence file

OR
Consider buying the file from my etsy shop.
It helps support what i do so I can create more free content :)
It also includes an .SVG file for those who want to use a different program.

etsy xxl fence file

etsy xl file

etsy small fence file

Here's a video I put up on my youtube channel that walks you through the steps on how to cut and create the fence from my file. Make sure to thumbs up and subscribe when your there!

28 Comments

Charles

1/26/2019 09:39:59 pm

I just got a Shapeoko XL. Newbie to the whole CNC world.. :)
Would you have a set of files for you waste board and fences to fit the smaller machine. I would not be opposed to purchasing if priced similar to the files you have p[osted on Etsy.

Ben Myers

1/28/2019 03:57:31 pm

you can modify my file to fit the xl. change the keep the y at 31, change the x to 14. Then just remove any vectors that are outside of the rectangle. If you need more help, email me.

Ed Robinson

2/21/2019 02:59:18 pm

Thanks for all the information. I am new to this and I really like all the videos. I downloaded cam clamp file and it didn't have tool path. What did I do wrong?

Ben Myers

2/21/2019 05:44:12 pm

you need to have version 316 of carbide create and load the .c2d file.

Richard Perkins

1/28/2019 05:00:21 pm

Hey, Just wanted to leave a note to thank you for all the videos you have put out. They really helped me get my xxl up and running. I downloaded the waste board and fence you designed. Good idea! I have been thinking about cutting an access slot on the end of my spoil board and mounting a vertical support outside the shapeoko to cut traditional dovetails. I could actually mount the board on my shapeoko support table (that also doubles as an outfeed table for my cabinet saw. Thanks again, man!
Richard

Ben Myers

1/28/2019 08:37:35 pm

Richard,
That's exactly what I intend to do with mine. I'll put out a video of my experiment at some point :P Maybe you can beat me to it!

Mike Powell

1/29/2019 10:56:44 am

Not sure if I missed something in the download but there was only the design, no tool paths in the file.

Be. Myers

1/29/2019 10:34:01 pm

You need to update to the latest carbide create

Alvin Campbell

1/31/2019 04:41:40 pm

Hey Ben. Just got my XXL delivered on Tuesday. I won't be able to begin assembly until this Saturday. I built the cart already using your ideas and plan to do the spoil board, clamps, and the whole nine from your plans.

I'm a noob to all of this stuff. Thanks for the videos. I'll be watching more and more as I approach getting my machine setup.

Ben Myers

1/31/2019 07:19:35 pm

Alvin,
That's awesome. You're gonna love it! And be frustrated with it too :P It takes time but is still magical every time it cuts!

Ben link

4/25/2019 12:00:00 pm

This is awesome! I've purchased the files on etsy.

Do you think using 1/2" AppePly would work instead of MDF? I have plenty of scraps from another project and am thinking I can make use of them for this!

Thanks

Ben Myers

4/29/2019 10:39:23 pm

I'm sure you could. I like mdf because i know its flat and it will stay flat. and it's easy on the cutter.

Jake link

5/20/2019 01:43:46 am

Hey Ben! Thanks for all your work on these various templates. Do you have a fence file for regular Shapeoko 3 users? Currently the download links are just empty Javascript commands.

ben myers

5/23/2019 07:47:29 am

i didn't make one for the regular shapeoko as i don't have one to test the size. you could use either the xl or xxl and easily reconfigure it. you have to RIGHT CLICK SAVE AS to download the file.

Jake Mauer link

5/23/2019 07:52:38 pm

That makes sense. I'll modify the file and make some tests and once I make sure it works I'll post it here for anyone else who would want it. Thanks!

ben myers

5/24/2019 03:56:03 pm

nice, that would be helpful!

Brett

5/30/2019 01:06:52 pm

Do you have the link to the small fence file? I get an javascipt error clicking on it. The two larger ones work for me though.

Great work and thank you for the files. I will be sure to purchase the clamps and probe bracket once I get up and running.

Allen

6/5/2019 11:55:30 am

Hello Ben, Thank you for putting these files together. I know a lot of work went into making the videos as well as designing the components. One question for you, how square is your fence right now? I ran the squaring pass after securing the fence and I am showing that the fence itself is not square when checked against my machinist squares. Somehow it seems that my XXL is out of square and I cannot seem to figure out how it got that way. Thanks for your help.
Allen

Jon Sandler

6/6/2019 02:41:33 am

Hey Ben, thanks for your videos and work. They have helped me in my journey with my new shapeoko.

I was wondering why the left side of the fence has the short 90* angle at the end, instead of just butting the two sides together?

ben myers

6/10/2019 11:11:05 pm

they should butt together...the inside cutout is so the probe will fit.

Jon

6/15/2019 04:51:15 pm

Thanks for responding! I worded my question poorly. I was curious as to why the left side of the fence near the notch for the touch probe sticks out wider than the width of the fence.

I used your video to make my own files, and then stupidly cut your fence without making modifications to fit my waste-board, and of course it didn't fit perfectly.

I have to make a custom fence inspired by yours now, and i was just curious if there was practical reason for the question above (structure stability of the fence perhaps).

In any event, I really appreciate the content you make, keep it up! You helped inspire me to take the plunge into the world of CNC that will hopefully open doors for me in the future.

7/18/2019 04:58:12 pm

Hey Ben, When downloading the .c2d file (on a Mac), it downloads it as a text file that Carbide Create won't open. Do you have another way to do this? Thanks

8/15/2019 08:27:29 am

Hey DZ,

I am had the same issue with my mac. I had to open the weblink in chrome, right click the file and save as a .c2d file. After that, I had to click "open" at the top of carbide create to get the file to download. For some reason the "import" in carbide create won't download the .c2d file from my desktop.

Hope this helps.

Frank

9/10/2019 12:20:13 am

I have the carbide compact router with speed starting at 1 = 10000rpm 2 = 14000rpm.
With an 1/8 bit would 45ipm feed and 20ipm plunge be good when using 10000rpm?

Was trying with the stock 201 1/4" bit and it was getting stuck and the binding and getting stuck.

ben myers

9/10/2019 08:40:17 pm

id be 3ish on the carbide router

Stephen

11/25/2019 11:23:27 am

Hello Ben,

I just got my shapeoko (the small 16x16) and was wanting to put the fence on it however the download link for the smaller machine does not work and was wanting to see if you could help me out with the file.

Ryan

1/8/2020 11:03:28 am

Ben,

I recently made the new wasteboard using your file for the xxl and then used your file for the L fence, but for some reason the holes on the L fence are not matching up with the wasteboard holes. I made sure the waste board was placed in the correct position but the only two holes that line up are the holes near the touch probe carve out. Any idea what happened?

John Coxen

1/13/2020 08:21:08 pm

Ben,

I was wanting to make your wasteboard and fence for my S3 (16x16). However, the links for the fence don't work for that file. I checked your Etsy store and it's not there either. Are those files available?

Create A Fence For Your CNC Wasteboard. (File And How To Video Included!)

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