More X-Carve Work

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Hi Everyone

I have done some more work on the X-Carve and am really pleased to have transformed the machine after fitting the Dewalt router. If you are thinking of getting the X-Carve then I strongly recommend installing the Dewalt at the outset.

Here are my latest videos:

How to fit a Dewalt router in the x-Carve:

X-Carve Xtras:

Making a Dust Boot for the X-Carve:

I am currently working on the video of the VCarve Pro design behind the dust boot.

Peter
 
Peter,

Awesome videos.  It must be extremely handy to have such a large cutting capacity. 

One comment - when I make tool trays I've switched the orientation of the tooling to be perpendicular to the drawer slides because I've found that when they're parallel, they tend to shift in the tray a lot more.  In some cases I've had tooling (like ball mills or tapered mills) actually jump out of the tray. 

Initially:

9f90b8f16fd3240a9eb57b37c77ea128.jpg


Switched to:

13328fb0cf7028abc0fc2e11037da248.jpg


Now the taps barely move around at all and I can give the drawer much more of a "shove" in doing so.
 
That's a good tip about the orientation - many thanks. I made a far bigger mistake with my router cutters which are in a couple of drawers in my main bench. They are kept vertically in shallow holes of the right size. About twice a year I put my hand in the drawer in a hurry and without thinking and have a growing number of scars from one of two quite tall cutters.

Cheers.

Peter
 
I have now made a two part video about the Vectric VCarve Pro elements of the dust boot construction. These videos are aimed at the novice !

Part 1:


Part 2:


Peter
 
Hi Everyone

After producing the dust boot above someone suggested that I look at another design that does not fix the dust boot to the Z axis. I have now created my "Ultimate" design as I now think that it is as good as I can expect and so no more will follow.

Here is the video:


Peter
 
I am not sure if the X-Carve is of real interest to the FOG but here are some more links.

I have made a series of 3 videos that describe the VCarve Pro design work behind the Ultimate Dust Boot. Even if you are not making the UDB it may be of use as an introduction to VCarve Pro. I also mention the excellent Draftsight drawing program which is absolutely free. Here are the links:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Peter
 
Funny thing I made myself a new dust boot last week to accommodate two 4" flexible hoses instead of one.
 

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Hello Peter
Do you still use your x-carve? I unfortunately never did get round to buying one, Will be building a new workshop soon so may consider it again :)
 
jmac80 said:
Hello Peter
Do you still use your x-carve? I unfortunately never did get round to buying one, Will be building a new workshop soon so may consider it again :)

Think he actually said he's selling it... But I believe it's the older version, where the new one has some very desirable upgrades like stiffer rails, etc so unless it was an absolute bargain probably better getting a brand new one.
 
jmac80 said:
Hello Peter
Do you still use your x-carve? I unfortunately never did get round to buying one, Will be building a new workshop soon so may consider it again :)

Hi James

It is an excellent machine but I am a bit concerned about space and am selling the 1000mm X-Carve. I may buy a smaller one.

[member=60286]bobfog[/member] is right, the older machines could do with stiffening and there are dozens of videos showing people how to go about it. The newer machine design addresses this but also getting a smaller machine would help too.

Peter
 
[member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member]

I modified my xcarve to use 2 500mm Y rails. This allows me to keep the width for longer projects, but consolidate it to bench top space.

Second, i use my machine without limit switches because my machine goes crazy when I try and go thru the limit switch start up sequence. I have tried regrounding, rewiring, and new switches with zero success.
 
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