Baseball bats

[mmason]

170 bats and Indexer is doing fine. Brady W. you are right though I should have a lathe in place of the Indexer. I bought one but couldn't get speed slow enough for good turning. I have 3 phase in my shop and plan to put variable speed 3 phase motor in as soon as it comes in. I will then hook up indexer to it with timing pulley. But for now will get by with indexer. Oh and I love my Shop Bot it has made it possible to do so much more.

Mike M.

www.tomblue.com

[SomeSailor]

Whatcha gonna do with all the bats?

[mmason]

They are promo bats. A local company ordered a 1000 of them for there customers.

[gc3]

...that is a great photo! love the lineberry carts!!

[myxpykalix]

mass production at it's best...very cool.:D

[mmason]

Final total on bats was 1036 with three logos and finish.
Did get my new lathe with three phase variable speed motor running.
Used Indexer set up for first 300 and did the rest with new lathe on shopbot.
Will get pic of new lathe setup soon.

Mike M

[mmason]

I think you can see the lathe under there somewhere.

Mike M

[myxpykalix]

This was the main reason i was advocating for axis control for the indexer (2 or so years ago now!) but using a large ballnose bit you could carve your basic shape and smaller bits for your detail work. Now we know why we haven't seen you much here...you've been busy making bats! I like your "Little Slugger":D

[Hobodog2]

Michael

How did you engrave the logos - especially on the end of the bats.

Thanks, Pete

[mmason]

Peter,
The customer bought burn in setup for the logos.
We had two setups for his logos and then changed out one of his for ours to do the head of the bat.

Michael

[Xray]

Wow, you must be seeing bats in your sleep, good job.

[cstorer]

I am in woods 3 in school and we just got a shopbot indexer in our shop. I am trying to get some steps on how to do this and if it is even possible?

http://http://www.promo-wholesale.com/Upfiles/Prod_q/Heavy-Hitter-Full-Size-Professional-35--Baseball-Bat---Custom-Carved_20090618679.jpg

[Brady Watson]

Carl,
The easiest way would be to create a cross-section curve in PartWorks, and then toolpath it, with let's say a 1/2" end mill. Save out that SBP. Then in SB3, under tools, Indexer - Choose the option that lets you turn a profiled shape using a profile. Follow the directions, and instead of using a 1/2" square end mill, you'll use a ball end mill. That's pretty much it. Go play & report back.

-B

[mmason]

Carl,
I do my turnings pretty much the way Brady has said.
In fact I think it was Brady that gave me the idea.
I have found that I can cut out some steps along the way.
Would be glad to help if you need it.

Mike M