DIY cnc

[Cheese]

I feel so old school reading all you guys and your cnc’s

Well you’re not alone if that makes you feel any better.

 

[cdconey]

I've experienced #1 many times... with my Domino machines, my first 3D printer (which i outgrew quickly), home automation stuff and so on. #2 is the primary reason I want to stay away from the OneFinity/Shapeoko/Altmill, while they look like great machines, I get the feeling that you outgrow them pretty fast. I think i'm going to shelve the idea until i can come up with a solid use case other than "I want to get into it", thanks for all the feedback!

If you" want to get into it ", buy a used Shapeoko 3 or 4 to learn the ins and outs. I think the expectations of this level of machine is what turns people away - expecting them to cut like a large CNC, but you are limited to 1/8" or 1/4" passes at slow speeds and they get frustrated quickly.

And the Shapeoko 3 or 4 ( not the pro ) are belt driven, so they are much more forgiving when you crash the machine. You can still do a lot with them once dialed in if you use them within their limitations.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Note that, unless I'm wrong, even with Bench Pilot, you're not getting true Z-axis manipulation while cutting with the Shaper Origin. That doesn't matter for a lot of things, like engraving, inlays, cutting out sheet goods, even most joints. My first CNC project was a staircase newell topper, which my design was a hexagon (which are the best-agons), that was pyramidal, and built of two contrasting woods. I do not think that is still today possible on a Shaper Origin.

Beautiful project nicely done! I can’t imagine how it could be done on the Shaper. Even with your CNC I expect you had a lot of Z steps to sand out they turned out great.

 

[smorgasbord]

Even with your CNC I expect you had a lot of Z steps to sand out they turned out great.

Actually not much sanding. The ebony wedges were made separately on the CNC, then glued into a roughly machined on the CNC body:


And then a finishing pass with a 1" core box bit:
a

If you look closely, you can see where the core box bit cut into the sacrificial MDF platten.

Then the CNC machined center hex plug was glued in.

 

[smorgasbord]

I feel so old school reading all you guys and your cnc’s

Things are just getting started here.

At some point, software like Fusion 360 will be at the point where you won't even have to define your own toolpaths. You just design the object you want in the software, specify the material and tolerances, load up the blank in the machine and press Go. And it seems like 3D printing is even closer to this state.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Things are just getting started here.

At some point, software like Fusion 360 will be at the point where you won't even have to define your own toolpaths. You just design the object you want in the software, specify the material and tolerances, load up the blank in the machine and press Go. And it seems like 3D printing is even closer to this state.

A lot of heated (ignorant) responses I see on social media think that's exactly what CNC is right now, tap the icon of the desired object, and off it goes pumping it out the end fully finished!

 

[WillAdams]

There are a couple of companies which are pushing AI features --- that said, when working with wood, selection, grain, grain-orientation relative to part/toolpath, finishing, all play a major role in the process, same as power or hand-tool woodworking.

For folks who are wondering what they are missing out on from CNC, you can do most of the CNC process on a computer with trial software:

• download a trial of a CAD/CAM package
• work through a tutorial or two --- I wrote up a bit on Carbide 3D's software at: https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/2d-drawing and https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/toolpaths --- let me know if anything there is unclear/confusing
• create a design
• select a stock material and appropriate tooling and assign toolpaths
• get a 3D preview, iterate until you are either pleased with the result and wish to cut it, or bored and detached from the process

Some folks prefer one way, others another --- both are valid (and some folks switch back and forth depending on mood/task).

All the above leaves out is: clamping selected stock in place, setting zero relative to it, loading the file, monitoring it while it cuts, post-processing the parts after they come off the machine (cutting tabs, &c.)

 

[Vondawg]

Actually not much sanding. The ebony wedges were made separately on the CNC, then glued into a roughly machined on the CNC body:
View attachment 379750

And then a finishing pass with a 1" core box bit:
View attachment 379749a

If you look closely, you can see where the core box bit cut into the sacrificial MDF platten.

Then the CNC machined center hex plug was glued in.

Really nice job on these @smorgasbord

 

[luvmytoolz]

@WillAdams Great website, lot of useful content there!

 

[onocoffee]

but you are limited to 1/8" or 1/4" passes at slow speeds and they get frustrated quickly.

This is what I found most surprising and irritating about the Shaper Origin. It took many, many passes and a lot more grunt to push the router through the walnut than I expected.

 

[luvmytoolz]

This is what I found most surprising and irritating about the Shaper Origin. It took many, many passes and a lot more grunt to push the router through the walnut than I expected.

Ok this is interesting to me! I thought at one point of getting a Shaper for inlay work in mainly hardwoods (which are often harder than Walnut), but having used CNC machines for years the physics of the Shaper always baffled me as everyone seems to rave about how capable, powerful and fast it is, but given the size and power I just couldn't see it.

Especially when I'm using trimmers with templates and guide rings and they can be a real struggle at times.