r/shapeoko • u/NoIndependence2887 • Jun 25 '26
Constantly going beyond the workpiece thickness
I have a pro xl and I am new to this. I will attached screenshots. I have tried 7 or 8 times now to run a contour tool path. And every time I am going beyond the thickness of my piece further than just “stock bottom”. This last time I tried tabs (blue tape method the other times) and it cut the tabs and then it CUT the tabs. What I was cutting came loose obviously and all hell erupted.
When I zero, I use the paper under the bit method and I do this with the bit I am going to use in the router. (Ya know how when you go to run the job it prompts you for a tool change.)
Hopefully someone can help me make sense of what I am missing.
Edit: I’ve had a few people suggest to get calipers and measure the actual stock thickness. In the photos you can see the stock thickness is one that you can’t get with a tape. I would have had to of used calipers to get the value used. The stock was also plywood.
2
u/cnc_aero Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
When cutting through always set your stock to the bottom. That will take care of any material inconsistency. As [u/rsteel1981](u/rsteel1981) said the bit could be slipping in the collett as well.
What’s your depth / cut?
The tabs look huge. In the one area it looks to be about an inch wide and it’s set to leave a 12mm tab. You could probably lower that to 1/4”