APSX SPYDER User manual
USER MANUAL
V2.1
A P S X S P Y D E R C N C M A N U A L
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This equipment manual is intended to provide information for safe operation and
maintenance. APSX reserves the right to make changes to equipment to improve
the equipment, features, and performance continually. These changes may result
in different and additional safety measures communicated to customers through
bulletins as changes occur.
This document contains information that is the exclusive property of APSX LLC.
Except for any rights expressly granted by contract, no further publication or
commercial use may be made of this document, in whole or in part, without the
prior written permission of APSX LLC.
Notwithstanding the preceding, APSX LLC grants permission to its customers to
reproduce this document for limited internal use only. APSX LLC has taken every
precaution in preparing this Manual; nevertheless, APSX LLC assumes no
responsibility for errors or omissions. We assume no liability for damages
resulting from the use of the information contained in this publication.
Copyright © 2021 APSX LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Limited Warranty
APSX LLC’s warranty obligations and liability for all products sold by APSX LLC in
the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories are limited
exclusively to the terms set forth below (this “Warranty”).
APSX LLC warrants the products against defects in materials and quality under
regular use for six (6) months from the date of delivery to the original purchaser
(the “Warranty Period”).
If a hardware defect happens, and a valid claim is received within the Warranty
Period, at our sole option and to the extent permitted by law, APSX LLC will
either: (1) Repair the hardware defect at no charge, using new or refurbished
replacement parts; (2) Exchange the product with a product that is new or
reconditioned by APSX LLC; (3) Refund the purchase price of the product.
A repaired or replacement product assumes the remaining warranty of the
original product or six (6) months from the date of replacement or repair,
whichever is longer.
When a product is exchanged, any replacement item becomes your property, and
the replaced item becomes APSX LLC property. To receive a refund, the product
for which the refund is provided must be returned to APSX LLC and becomes the
property of APSX LLC.
Exclusions from and Limitations to Warranty
This Warranty applies only to hardware products manufactured by APSX LLC. The
Warranty does not apply to any non-APSX LLC hardware products or software,
even if sold with APSX LLC hardware.
Manufacturers, suppliers, or publishers other than APSX LLC may provide their
warranties to the end-user purchaser. Software distributed by APSX LLC with or
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without the APSX LLC brand name (including but not limited to system software)
is not covered under this Limited Warranty.
APSX LLC does not warrant that the operation of the product will be
uninterrupted or error-free. APSX LLC is not responsible for personal injury or
property damage arising or resulting from failure to follow instructions relating to
the product’s use, storage, or handling.
This Warranty does not apply to (1) Damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse,
neglect, flood, fire, earthquake, or other external causes; (2) Damage caused by
operating the product outside the permitted or intended uses described by APSX
LLC; (3) Damage to a product or part caused by or resulting from a modification to
alter its functionality or capability without the written permission of APSX LLC; (4)
Cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents, and ordinary
wear and tear.
This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state. APSX LLC’s responsibility for hardware defects is
limited to the repair or replacement service or to refund, as described in this
Warranty and determined by APSX LLC in its sole discretion.
Disclaimer of Warranties; limitation of liability
Except as explicitly provided in this Warranty, we do not guarantee, represent, or
warrant that your use of our service or any APSX LLC product will be
uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free. We do not warrant that the results
obtained from the use of the service or the product will be accurate or reliable.
The products delivered to you by APSX LLC are (except to the extent otherwise
expressly stated by us in this Warranty) provided “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” for
your use, and, except as expressly outlined in this Warranty, without any
representation, warranties, or conditions of any kind, either express or implied.
APSX LLC further disclaims all implied warranties or conditions of merchantability,
merchantable quality, fitness for a particular purpose, durability, title, and non-
infringement.
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Some states restrict or do not allow limitations on warranties, which may affect
your rights. Therefore, this Limited Warranty will be adjusted to maintain
compliance with such state limitations or restrictions.
No APSX LLC reseller or employee is authorized to make any modification,
extension, or addition to this Warranty. The terms in this Warranty shall
constitute the entire agreement between you and APSX LLC concerning the
matters discussed herein. Suppose any term is held to be illegal or unenforceable
by a court of competent jurisdiction. In that case, the legality or enforceability of
the remaining terms shall not be affected or impaired and shall remain in full
force and effect.
Except as provided in this Warranty and to the extent permitted by law, APSX LLC
is not responsible for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential
damages resulting from any breach of warranty or condition or any other reason,
or under any other legal theory, including but not limited to loss of use; loss of
revenue; loss of actual or anticipated profits (including loss of profits on
contracts); loss of the use of money; loss of anticipated savings; loss of business;
loss of opportunity; loss of reputation; or any indirect or consequential loss or
damage howsoever caused, including the replacement of equipment and
property, any costs of recovering, programming, or reproducing any program or
data stored or used with APSX LLC products and any failure to maintain the
confidentiality of data stored on the product. This is true even if APSX LLC is
advised of the possibility of such damages.
Obtaining Warranty Service
Please access and review the online help resources referred to in the
documentation accompanying this hardware product before requesting warranty
service. If the product is still not functioning correctly after using these resources,
Help us so we can help you. You must provide reasonable assistance to APSX LLC
in diagnosing issues with your product and follow APSX LLC’s warranty processes.
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APSX LLC restricts service to the United States of America and the District of
Columbia, and U.S. territories. APSX LLC will pick up the product in its original
wood crate to APSX LLC’s repair service location for service for qualifying
warranty service. If the original wood crate is not kept, you will be charged for a
replacement crate to be sent to you to enable you to ship the product to APSX
LLC’s repair service location. Upon your receipt of the replacement crate, the
original product becomes the property of APSX LLC, and you agree to follow
instructions to return the original product to APSX LLC on time.
APSX LLC may require that you furnish proof of purchase details before receiving
warranty service. Please refer to the documentation for more details on this and
other matters on obtaining warranty service.
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Accessories
- 1 Inch Z-Axis Extension Blocks Kit
- Aluminum frame enclosure
- Industrial stand
Over time, more upgrades may be available that can improve your equipment. To
see what upgrades are available for your machine, please visit www.apsx.com.
Spare Parts
All spare parts for APSX-SPYDER can be ordered online at www.apsx.com.
Unauthorized Modifications
Under no circumstances should any changes or modifications be made to the
electrical circuits, mechanical structures, or safety devices to the machine without
the prior, written permission of APSX LLC.
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General Information
Phone Support Number: 1-513-716-5992 (9AM-4PM EST Weekdays)
You need to schedule a call by using the scheduling tool on our website.
For non-emergency questions, please use email support@apsx.com
Customer Feedback
If you have concerns or questions regarding this Manual, please contact us at
ww.apsx.com. You also can find an electronic copy of this Manual and other
helpful information on our website.
Join APSX SPYDER CNC owners online and be a part of the greater CNC community
at these sites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apsxcom
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apsxcom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apsxllc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoeQLNGN6K0Y6a2ccljxWuw/
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Table of Contents
Carrying the Machine to Your Facility.........................................................................................................13
Machine Installation Out of Crate...............................................................................................................15
Things You Need Before Using the SPYDER................................................................................................18
Storing the Machine....................................................................................................................................18
Maintenance...............................................................................................................................................18
During the Operation..................................................................................................................................19
Compressed Air Requirement.....................................................................................................................20
Safety Features ...........................................................................................................................................21
Technical Specs and Features .....................................................................................................................24
Material Tips ...............................................................................................................................................24
Machine Dimensions and Cutting Envelope...............................................................................................26
User Interface .............................................................................................................................................27
Powering the Machine and Homing ...........................................................................................................27
Work Offsets ...............................................................................................................................................29
Mist Control ................................................................................................................................................29
Spindle Control............................................................................................................................................30
Jogging Control ...........................................................................................................................................30
Cycle Control...............................................................................................................................................32
G-Code and MDI Controls ...........................................................................................................................34
TABS Review................................................................................................................................................35
PLOT Tab .....................................................................................................................................................35
DRO Tab ......................................................................................................................................................36
SETUP IMAGE Tab .......................................................................................................................................37
FILE Tab.......................................................................................................................................................37
EDIT Tab ......................................................................................................................................................38
TOOL Tab.....................................................................................................................................................39
OFFSETS Tab................................................................................................................................................40
STATUS Tab and Status Display...................................................................................................................40
Loading the g-code to the Spyder CNC.......................................................................................................42
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Tool touch off..............................................................................................................................................42
Run the g-code program.............................................................................................................................43
Part Setup - Workholding............................................................................................................................43
Changing Bits / Tooling ...............................................................................................................................44
Accessories..................................................................................................................................................45
Troubleshooting..........................................................................................................................................46
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About
APSX SPYDER is a precise and rigid CNC milling machine that can cut metals,
wood, and plastic. It fills the void in the market for CNC routers to cut specifically
metals, not just wood. APSX SPYDER is a complete system that includes SPYDER
CNC software, embedded PC, monitor, air-mist system, mounting hardware,
keyboard, and pendant. There is nothing else you need to start milling parts. It
uses just a standard wall outlet for the control box and monitor.
SPINDLE
Metal cutting requires specific cutting speed vs. spindle speed ratios for quality
machining. Keeping the temperature as low as possible around the cutting
environment, including the spindle, end mill, and workpiece, is critical for cutting
metals. APSX SPYDER has an air pressure-chilled spindle with a wide RPM range,
2000-20000, and high torque at low speeds. It can keep the RPM constant and
controlled using G-Code.
MIST
APSX SPYDER uses a water-air mixing system to facilitate cooling both the
workpiece and the end mill. Without cooling, machining metals becomes more
challenging as the temperature increases. At some point, aluminum will gum up
the end mill and stop cutting effectively. This can sometimes damage the end mill,
and it is challenging to remove molten plastic from it. Pressurized air mist also
helps to remove the chips before any gumming occurs.
OVERLOAD PROTECTION
If an aggressive cutting strategy is used or insufficient airflow, the spindle may be
forced above its abilities. APSX SPYDER can detect and stop motion before further
damage is imposed on the workpiece and the end mill. It will also keep XYZ
coordinates so you can continue machining without homing.
RIGIDITY
APSX SPYDER has steel shafts, hard-anodized aluminum blocks, precision lead
screws, and strong stepper motors, making it a very rigid machine. Its rigidity is
more comparable to vertical machines than CNC routers.
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Carrying the Machine to Your Facility
For the safest transportation, the SPYDER’s wood crate from the carrier’s
freight trailer to the final location of the machine must be danger-proof.
Therefore, please make sure that the width (40”), depth (32”), height (20”),
and weight (300 lbs) requirements are sufficient.
•The space for the carrier’s trailer for parking and unloading should be
sufficient
•The access inside the building, including stairs, doors must be verified
•The floor conditions and the rigidity of the bench or space where
SPYDER will be used must be sufficiently robust, rigid, and smooth
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Content of the crate:
•SPYDER CNC Machine
•The embedded computer inside the control panel - no laptop or PC is
required
•Keyboard Monitor with wall mount kit
•Control pendant
•SPYDER CNC software (installed)
•1/4" endmill and ER11 collet
•Setup jig
•Wall-mountable plastic container for the coolant liquid
If you ordered the optional 4th axis, the machine comes with the 4th axis
installed.
There is also an optional enclosure that can be used with the Spyder CNC. It
comes as a separate shipment.
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Machine Installation Out of Crate
WARNING
Before removing the machine from the crate, please read the following
instructions for safe setup:
•Open top and take the front side by removing screws
•Once received, inspect and note any shipping damages and part shortages
within seven days
•The machine is mounted to the crate. Put the other items aside before you
start unscrewing the machine mounting screws. Remove the keyboard,
monitor and mounting kit, endmill and collet, setup jig, and coolant
container.
•The control panel is bolted to the base of the machine. Spyder CNC
machine is not a light machine. Therefore, have some help for lifting it onto
a sturdy desktop or Spyder CNC stand.
•Mist, air, spindle lines, and motor wiring come preassembled and are
connected from the control board to the machine. While removing the
control board and machine from the crate, be careful not to disconnect,
stretch or damage lines
•The 1/8 ER11 collet comes on the spindle and the 1/4 ER11 collet can be
found in the crate.
•The control panel and the monitor come with mounting kits for wall
mounting. You can also buy the Spyder CNC Tower Stand to place the
monitor and the control panel.
•When mounting the control panel, 1/4"-20 screws (1/4" long) should be
used on four mounting holes so that they are not penetrating the front side
and damaging the PCB.
•Position the control board and monitor on the wall a safe distance from the
machine. The control panel must also be mounted in a location so that the
User may safely engage the Emergency-Stop switch while the machine is
running.
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•Air, mist, and coolant lines from the control panel to the machine must be
routed safely, without kinks or interference with the machine's travel area.
•Connect the monitor to the control panel with the VGA cable on the control
panel.
•The coolant container can be mounted on the wall. The tube end with the
filter should be in the container, and the other end should be connected to
the pump on the control panel. Spyder CNC consumes 1.35ml/min at
average or 6.5ml/min at max. Add 90% tap water and 10% denatured
alcohol into the container.
•For mist generation, shop air and air hose with 0.25in female quick-connect
coupler are required. We use the same air to cool the spindle down. Max
PSI for air is 80-110. The air consumption rate is 2.5 CFM.
•If you will be transporting your APSX SPYDER CNC, especially if it is shipped
as freight, place it into the original wood crate and use clamping bolts to
prevent damage to the axes in case of an impact during shipment
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Things You Need Before Using the SPYDER
•For mist generation, air compressor and air hose with ½” female quick
connect coupler (see the next page for compressor air requirements)
•A container for the water/alcohol mix (SPYDER consumes 1.35ml/min at
average or 6.5ml/min at max). Just the tap water (90%) and denatured
alcohol (10%) are acceptable. The container and the mist line with filter
come with SPYDER.
•The Spyder software is already installed on the machine. No Laptop or PC is
required.
Storing the Machine
Disconnect the main power plug from the outlet and store the milling machine
when not in use. When moving the machine, always lift by the base. Never lift by
movable components.
Store the APSX SPYDER CNC in a dry location, protect the wires from excessive UV
exposure and avoid operating the machine immediately after significant
temperature changes that could cause condensation buildup inside the machine.
If possible, store the APSX SPYDER CNC in a watertight container or a plastic bag
and use desiccant to prevent moisture buildup.
Maintenance
We suggest using the steps below when you maintain your CNC machine.
•Clean your machine: Brush first, then vacuum as much debris as possible.
•Inspect: Metal shafts should be clear of dirt and shavings. The collet should
be clean with no debris on it. The spindle should be mounted tightly and
should not move. It should spin freely when the machine is down.
•Collect: There should not be any loose tools, wrenches, material on the
base plate.
•Track: Have a log sheet for cutting tools to keep records of approximate
usage in hours. A dull end mill is not good for machining.
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Weekly: For cutting metals, clean and lubricate all steel shafts and acme screws
every 48 hrs of runtime. Apply grease lube on all shafts and acme screws. More
frequent cleaning and lubrication of the shafts and acme screws may be required
for cutting wood or other absorbent or abrasive materials.
Daily: Check mist liquid level, blow chips with an air gun.
We suggest using the items below when you clean your CNC machine.
•Shop air, Isopropyl alcohol, Wipes, Brush, Gloves, Safety glass, Vacuum
cleaner
Enclosure cleaning
If you need to clean the enclosure polycarbonate panels, you can use water, soap,
alcohol, and wipes. Do not use cleaning products with ammonia or scented
products. They may damage the polycarbonate panels.
During the Operation
Normal operation –Keep clear of the work area of the machine while the
machine operates.
Part loading and unloading –An operator ensures the machine is not in operation,
completes a task, and clears the machine's work area.
Tool loading and unloading –A machinist enter the machining area to load or
unload tools. Then, exit the area completely before automatic movement is
commanded.
Do not operate the CNC machine with damaged or dull end mills. Do not operate
the machine with the table loaded with oversize material than the suggested
milling envelope.
If using material larger than the work volume of the machine, ensure that the
movements in the program will not cause a crash.
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As with any power tool, do not use the CNC machine if you are tired, distracted,
or impaired.
Compressed Air Requirement
Max PSI: 80-110 Air Consumption Rate: 2.5 SCFM
Air connector type: Female ¼” quick-connect coupler (not included)
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