Is there any reason to have this much space open?

[u/Fun-Preparation-4253]

I'm still learning, but I've asked my boss if the skirt can be lowered and just looks at me like I'm stupid.

[u/CR123CR123CR]

Depends on how you lower the skirt and how deep your cuts are. 

IF it's fixed relative to your bit then you have to set it to match your deepest depth of cut though, which is kind of what looks like is happening

That being said, ask your boss why. They'll have way more insight into it than any random Internet denizen will.

[u/Fun-Preparation-4253 → u/CR123CR123CR]

Others have said the ShopSabre has a fixed skirt so it can't be adjusted, and it terms of asking my boss why... well, if he didn't have a reputation for treating you like you're willfully ignorant, I wouldn't be here asking internet denizens, sadly. Haha.

[u/Skyman7899 → u/Fun-Preparation-4253]

Sadly too many older machinists have this attitude. Treating the younger guys like idiots instead of teaching them. Many don’t, but far too many do.

[u/Obvious_Try1106 → u/Fun-Preparation-4253]

Why is it fixed ? Cause it's cheaper.

Could you easily modify it with a spring ? Yes and I would recommend it. Worked great on our CNC-router.

[u/hayfero → u/Fun-Preparation-4253]

My shop Sabre skirt sits high to clear the atc arms

[u/Fit-Entrepreneur8404 → u/CR123CR123CR]

Yea this looks fixed to me and the tool is either as far into the spindle as it goes or needs to be that long for the cuts it's doing. If either of those are the case that's the best it's gonna do until it gets further into the program.

[u/SnooBananas231]

Cutting foam, judging by the tool fairly deep cuts of carvings or whatever you’re making. You likely need the tool height, shop sabres don’t have adjustable height dust shoes.

It’s just gonna be messy 🤷🏼‍♂️

[u/esnolaukiem]

the skirt should be touching material.

yours probably is fixed and it's height depends on the tool lenght. if not, your boss just ashamed to tell "dunno how"... or aspiration (suction) pump is dead and it doesn't matter anyhow

[u/MetalMachinistMario]

I can only think of visibility, clearance or airflow.

[u/Nearby_Pear8552]

There are a few options for better source collection.

Run a shorter bit for the initial passes, then tool change to the longer bit when ita deeper in the material.

Sometimes, depending on the toolpaths you can direct an air nozzle to blow the chips towards the dust collector inlet.

Personally, if its making a mess, and its longer cycle times, I take 3 pieces of 4x8' cardboard and make a fence around the machine then just shovel up the chips.

[u/WoodpeckerOk3842]

On foam, I can see a few reasons from my own experience. You really want the foam to evacuate the cutting area as much as possible so having the skirt up can be an advantage.

Another reason could be is that if there is any oil on your skirt, it can rub against the foam and straight melt it. So it could be to keep contaminants out as much as possible.

Speaking strictly from my own experience here so I could be missing any number of variables. Best to check with boss man.

[u/No_Warthog_4850]

I always lowered so I don’t have to much of a mess to clean

[u/Significant-Tie-2842]

You most likely need a brush at least it will reduce the amount of dust

[u/OldOllie]

It will be closer when the cut is deeper, the only reason is because the bit is long and the skirt is at a fixed position.

[u/Vegetable_Aside_4312]

That's almost worthless... Just remove it.

[u/Pnmamouf1]

Ignorance

[u/19RockinRiley69]

No one mentioning the tool being too long, should be half that for that project!

[u/Beemerado]

your boss doesn't know either.

ask the guy who set the skirt there.

could need the clearance for some jobs. I'd think as low as possible would be the preffered choice.

[u/gronkunit]

the foot is attached to the spindle, the tool is longer than that. pretty simple (and pretty normal in my world at least)