Has anyone messed around with using the x-carve to draw the grid on the board using the available silkscreen file? I am thinking of building a jig to hold a sharpie (this one) and using the machine to draw it’s own grid. If the waste board does not move it should make a grid that is perfectly square to the machine right?
Please let me know if this is just a nutty idea that would be better off being done by hand =)
I think it is great idea.
I already had my x-carve drill the clamp holes in my board and was planning on having it engrave a grid at some point 
Great idea 
i actualy had a similar idea,using the spindle to make the pattern and then fill the pattern with collored epoxy
I like that sharpie holder! I was going to use my engraving bit to carve the grid into my wasteboard, haven’t gotten there yet, I did carve a Y0 and X0 datum though.
I agree with @rusty… A v-bit or engraving bit and then fill in with sharpie is how I would probably do it…
Should be nice and square with your machine though, plus it will be spaced to the stretch of your particular belts.
Thanks for the input, I like the idea of carve a grid then run a sharpie through it.
What program do you use to read the silkscreen file?
I used Illustrator, but you could probably use InkScape
when I did mine I used to be bit and a grease pencil to fill the lines and wiped off the extra with a damp cloth. the lines are now embedded in black about 1 mm.
hope this was helpful.
I drew a grid by sanding a short pencil down and inserting it in tbe collett. Then trammed the spindle to draw the lines. Then i used a straight edge and sharpie to strengthen them. Its worked fine so far.