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23K views 100 replies 47 participants last post by  stefang 
#1 ·
Making a Debut at Maleny Wood Fest.

Once more Keith has come up with a winning machine… first the RouterMaster, then the SlabMaster and a few years ago, the Torque WorkCentre… many of you know I bought one and love it…...

Now the machine we have all been waiting for… the CNC Router…Making its debut at the Maleny Wood Expo last weekend…

Keith has been making industrial CNC machines for many years and is his passion…this is his first foray into the smaller more affordable machine… he has been working closely with Bruce and David to bring out this fabulous machine…

Bruce is a sign maker and has been using the Shark Pro but he say this out performs anything he has seen.

David is the Computer guy..


The dust guard and collection was removed for the demonstration…


For those who are wondering…C.S.I. in this sign stands for Can't Stand Idiots…

This is one heavy duty machine…. the set up can be expanded to a full 1200 by 2400 mm work surface… and can include a vacuum table..

All the components are very good quality and the machine itself is probably over engineered for its size…The spindle is 4HP but there is talk of a lighter CNC router for the hobbiest which will be cheaper than this one…

Price is going to be around the $9,000 to $10,000 mark… and this will include the machine, computer, a selection of cutters and software…there will also be drawers in the cabinet to keep all the tools you will need..

Speaking of software… Mach 3 and V-Carve Pro will be included…

All in all a great package… but the proof is in the routing…using Red Ironbark as the blank…


This is after roughing out… the outline of a beaver is easily seen…

The machine parks itself for tool change after each toolpath is completed..

Now after the fine cutter is fitted..


Very fine details can be seen… even the hair on the beaver's back…


Bit of a rough head but the sign is fabulous…
 
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#5 ·
Darn fine machine. Looks like it could take the paint off a skyscraper. I've been watching the CNC market to see when they become reasonable enough for a small shop….I would love to have something like this to add some accents to my projects….mayhaps when they get their smaller unit. The pricing for this unit is very good by the way…it is way better then the Laguna at roughly the same price. Laguna does not give you software or a table…etc..

By the way….my sign says "Working with Idiots can kill you - be proactive - reduce the idiot population - spay or neuter an idiot today." This sits on my desk holding my business cards and pencils….
 
#10 ·
That is a great machine, Larry. I can see you having one in your shop! You horizen will broaden immediately. The sky is the limit on creativity with a CNC router!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#11 ·
Pretty good, Larry, but I'm afraid I haven't got a spare $9-10K hanging around!....besides those CNC's take all the fun out of it, you can't call it "hand made"can you? I hope you got permission to cease shaving?
Last Fri. night at the Naval Assoc. a bloke had a DVD of the JR's 50th Anniv. Reunion…..didn't spot you anywhere?
 
#12 ·
A fabulous machine and great results Larry. Now the question is; will machines like this make handwork obsolete or even more valuable? I would guess the latter.

Is this machine suited for wood only, or will it do metal, plastics and other materials too?
 
#13 ·
It is a fabulouse machine and the production of new computerised clever technology, but for the hobbist carver, it is the excitement killer, I think.
The excitement for the hobbist will be only by PUSHING THE BUTTON and go for a cuppa. He will not be able to say " I carved it "
 
#15 ·
When I was working in the engineering field back in the 1970's, we used CNC machines to make parts for the machines I designed. I wish I had the hindsight then to have it adapted to the woodworking field. Today's machines are turning out great looking pieces.
-Don
 
#18 ·
My new CNC router...

Never thought I would actually get one… but I have put the deposit down on a small CNC router… built in Redcliffe, Queensland.. about 30 minutes drive from my workshop…
Made by Vermec.
Work surface is 1000mm by 800mm and runs a 3HP spindle…
All components are either Australian or American made… with many of the parts machined in their own workshop.


This is not my machine but I did get to play with it during testing prior to it being shipped north to a secondary school.
Mine is in the process of being build…


Here is one prepared earlier…LOL


There will be more to follow in this series… thanks for looking…
 
#19 ·
When I was a young mechanical engineer we would have to develop the drawings for the CNC engineer to make a tape to control the old CNC machines. Now this machine is hooked up to a computer with software and away you go. How is the learning curve for the software? I am so envious.

-don
 
#35 ·
One for SPalm

Hey Steve, this post is in response to your comment on my last post in this series…
Even though the new CNC router is not yet installed in my workshop, I managed to take my first foray into the dark side…

I spent the day at the factory where my CNC is being built… it is all up and running… just a few minor adjustments…


Justin will deliver on Wednesday and spend the day making sure I am happy with the machine.

So .. with a little piece of Huon Pine clamped onto the bed…


Imported the G-code into Mach3 software… the toolpath is generated in Aspire.


While it all looks complicated, once you understand the concept it is actually quite OK.


Cutting 2 pockets and then cutting the profile…


This will be the 2-part business card holder…weights will be inserted in the oval pocket and then both parts glued together… NB the weights will give the holder heft…and make it stable.


Very cool project… will be a few of these made… A great use of small pieces of timber that would otherwise make it into the offcut bin….
And not a sign in sight…YET
 
#54 ·
Dishing...

Using the new CNC to dish out some walnut…


The above pic shows the roughing out stage..[using a 6 mm end mill 3 flute spiral bit - solid carbide]... the technique is called rastering… moving the bit back and forwards…


A little closer…



Roughing out finished, starting the final finishing path…[using a 3 mm ball nose bit]


Further along with the finishing pathway…in this case the machine is running in offset mode… moving around the shape from the inside to the outside… step over is 0.3 mm each pass…


Just about finished… took about 30 minutes.


Rather smooth… and not too much sawdust.


Just a different angle of the finished job… a light sand and some oil… all finished…

Thanks for dropping by and taking a look…
 
#78 ·
And now the lathe...

A short video of the CNC lathe I used to round the columns for the trophies.
It can be found here…


The turned columns

Wood Wooden block Art Rectangle Hardwood

After being fluted on the 4th axis CNC router
Table Bottle Wood Tableware Floor
That's one neat bit of machinery, what is the spindle opposite for? Barley?

You would not get that repeatability manually.
 

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