1. Export a monochrome png file of the board at 1000 dpi.
   • The machine will mill black areas around white traces (as David Carr says, the machine eats chocolate).
2. Generate your toolpaths with the fab modules (from png to path and path to g-codes). The following values work well using a 1/64" endmill.
   • png_path in.png out.path 0.5 1.1 0.4 4
   • path_g out.path out.ngc 1 .5 510 160 20000
3. Click on Mantis9 on the Desktop. This opens up EMC, the program used to control the Mantis.
4. Open the file you created with path_g (out.ngc) with the File->Open dialog.
5. Restart the machine to make sure it is awake.
   • In EMC, click the big red X in the upper left corner.
   • Then, click the red power button immediately to the right. This restarts and powers up the Mantis.




6. Test connectivity between EMC and the Mantis.
   • Hit the arrow keys to move the spindle in the x-y plane.
   • Hit page up to move the z axis up, page down to move the z axis down.
7. Home the machine
   • Click "Home All" in the Manual Control tab on the left-hand side.




8. Attach double-sided tape to the bottom of the board
   • Line it up with a straight edge and affix to the Mantis bed.
9. Open the .ngc file created by path_g.
10. Zero the X and Y Axes
    • Move tool (using the arrows) to where you want the x and y to be zero.
    • Then click on the X radio button for axis (under the Manual Control tab), and click "Touch Off". Hit enter when the prompt appears.
    • Click on the Y radio button for axis (under the Manual Control tab), and click "Touch Off". Hit enter when the prompt appears.




11. Zero the Z Axis
    • Click on the Z radio button for axis (under the Manual Control tab)
    • Hit the rotate icon under the spindle section.
    • Hit F12 to increase the spindle speed to around 8000 RPM.
    • Select .01 inches for amount in the Axis section of Manual Control
    • Hit page down until the spindle is close to the board
    • Now, select .001 for amount in the Axis section.
    • Hit page down until you hear a small "tick". You might also see a tiny piece of copper jump off the board. This is the zero for the Z axis.
    • Finally, click "Touch Off", and enter .005 as the value. This is due to a peculiarity in the current fab modules. Hit enter.
    • Hit the page up button 5-10 times to move the tool up a small amount.




12. Click the Play button in the toolbar.




13. Celebrate the time you saved by using the Mantis instead of the Modela.

Note: You can rotate in 3D by holding the middle mouse button and dragging around.