TimS
07-06-2011, 08:47 AM
I've been poking at woodworking for many years, mostly traditional hand tools but some modern stuff as well. Having recently retired from high-tech, I have more time for my hobbies.
Early this year, I gained access to a ShopBot (48x48 table with standard controller). I took their orientation class but before I'd actually tried making anything on it, I also gained access to a 60x96 PRSAlpha ShopBot at another place. The first was at Sawdust Shop in Sunnyvale, CA while the PRSAlpha access is through TechShop.
My first planned projects were going to be small, simple things until a buddy asked if ShopBot could be used to create a project I'd recently told him I saw on TV. That project was part of Woodsmith Shop's episode 404…a set of four small stacking sawhorses made from a single sheet of 3/4" plywood. You can see their version at:
http://www.woodsmithshop.com/download/404/stackingsawhorses.pdf
I redrew it from scratch in VCarve Pro as I didn't see any practical way to try to import the various drawings from their online PDF. I slightly changed the layout of the parts that aren't the end pieces due mostly to rookie mistakes during practice cuts in pink foam. The foam sheet isn't a full 96" long so some parts fell slightly off the far end - I'd tweaked the layout to make it all fit before figuring out the foam was 3" too short and never got around to putting it back to the original format since it really wasn't critical.
At my buddy's request, I added a hand-hold cutout in the tops which makes them much easier to tote around the shop.
After the first set, I extended the length of the supports to match the tops and shelves (plus added dados for the supports). That helped get around a problem with cheap plywood not having a consistent thickness - which made the original supports have gaps at the ends during assembly. It also makes assembly easier as it helps lock the ends in place while you're getting the first clamp attached so screws can be installed.
This was a more complicated than I expected but I learned quite a bit about VCarve Pro, ShopBot, etc. The end results work really well though I'd hesitate to suggest this to any other rookie as a first project. :)
As the terms of use for Woodsmith Shop's file don't allow distributing modifications, I don't think I can post my VCarve Pro files. I can post a shot of the pieces being cut…which is enough to see the changes vs. their original design.
These were cut using a 1/4" down spiral end mill from Centurion Tools (which I learned about while lurking in the forums here). I was limited to 8K RPM for the first set (ShopBot owner's limit). The most recent set was cut at 12K RPM (owner revised their rules) and 4.5 or 5 ips, 1/4" depth per pass.
Thanks for the great info in the forums here. I've definitely learned faster than I would have on my own.
Tim S.
Early this year, I gained access to a ShopBot (48x48 table with standard controller). I took their orientation class but before I'd actually tried making anything on it, I also gained access to a 60x96 PRSAlpha ShopBot at another place. The first was at Sawdust Shop in Sunnyvale, CA while the PRSAlpha access is through TechShop.
My first planned projects were going to be small, simple things until a buddy asked if ShopBot could be used to create a project I'd recently told him I saw on TV. That project was part of Woodsmith Shop's episode 404…a set of four small stacking sawhorses made from a single sheet of 3/4" plywood. You can see their version at:
http://www.woodsmithshop.com/download/404/stackingsawhorses.pdf
I redrew it from scratch in VCarve Pro as I didn't see any practical way to try to import the various drawings from their online PDF. I slightly changed the layout of the parts that aren't the end pieces due mostly to rookie mistakes during practice cuts in pink foam. The foam sheet isn't a full 96" long so some parts fell slightly off the far end - I'd tweaked the layout to make it all fit before figuring out the foam was 3" too short and never got around to putting it back to the original format since it really wasn't critical.
At my buddy's request, I added a hand-hold cutout in the tops which makes them much easier to tote around the shop.
After the first set, I extended the length of the supports to match the tops and shelves (plus added dados for the supports). That helped get around a problem with cheap plywood not having a consistent thickness - which made the original supports have gaps at the ends during assembly. It also makes assembly easier as it helps lock the ends in place while you're getting the first clamp attached so screws can be installed.
This was a more complicated than I expected but I learned quite a bit about VCarve Pro, ShopBot, etc. The end results work really well though I'd hesitate to suggest this to any other rookie as a first project. :)
As the terms of use for Woodsmith Shop's file don't allow distributing modifications, I don't think I can post my VCarve Pro files. I can post a shot of the pieces being cut…which is enough to see the changes vs. their original design.
These were cut using a 1/4" down spiral end mill from Centurion Tools (which I learned about while lurking in the forums here). I was limited to 8K RPM for the first set (ShopBot owner's limit). The most recent set was cut at 12K RPM (owner revised their rules) and 4.5 or 5 ips, 1/4" depth per pass.
Thanks for the great info in the forums here. I've definitely learned faster than I would have on my own.
Tim S.