Big vbit for 1" PVC

[wowhuh.mike]

Don't have one of these yet in my toolbox. What do you guys recommend?

[steve_g]

http://www.magnate.net/index.cfm?event=showProductGroup&theID=117

SG

[rcnewcomb]

For larger angles the bits from Gerber work well: ->Link (http://www.gspinc.com/default.asp?contentID=253)
http://www.gspinc.com/img/products/bits/router_bits_3dbit_spin.gif

[steve_g]

Randall

I'm unfamiliar with the Gerber bit line... all I see are 1/4" shanks. That bothers me for a big large angle bits...

SG

[rcnewcomb]

I'm unfamiliar with the Gerber bit line... all I see are 1/4" shanks. That bothers me for a big large angle bits...
They are very well made bits that work great for larger sign work. Carving signfoam doesn't put that heavy a load on the bit so the 1/4" shank is fine. They are expensive. For larger angles (>120) Gerber seems to be the best option I could find.

I think your recommendation of the Magnate bits is a good one and more cost effective. I really like their roundover bits for indexer work.

[steve_g]

"Carving signfoam doesn't put that heavy a load on the bit"


I agree... I wasn't thinking of foam. I've had issues with 60° bits with 1/4" shanks when carving Oak...

SG

[Brady Watson]

I used the Gerber ones for a long time - same as you Randy, mostly in HDU. They are a good quality bit. I now use the Amana insert bits & will probably never go back to the solid type cutters with brazed on flutes again. The quality of cut is unreal - what you always dreamed of in a V-bit - the angles are dead on, no divot/deviation in the corners and if you find it getting dull, you just flip the insert and you have a new tool.

Yes, they are more money than a solid one...but don't be fooled. You can buy the insert cutter with 2 replaceable cutting edges for less than or the same price as 2 of the Gerber ones. They are FAR superior to any brand V-bit I have ever used...and I've tried my share.

Tired of V-bits not carving correctly because the angle is +/- 1 or more degrees from advertised? Get the Amana insert one - you will LOVE it!

-B

[steve_g]

Brady

You've about convinced me to try the insert bits... who's your source?

SG

[feinddj]

I have a large v bit from vortex that I like a lot. balanced well and the replacement blade is 12 bucks for a double ended one. I also use the amana inserts for a small v bit.
David

[Ajcoholic]

The Amana are much like the Dimar indexed V bits I posted about, maybe 2 months back (with little feedback, however I have used them a lot and they are excellent!).

The inserts are cheap. In the long run, these are the bits IMO to get over the brazed carbide. The initial cost may be more, long term they will be cheaper. And the cut is better!

AJC

[Brady Watson]

Brady

You've about convinced me to try the insert bits... who's your source?

SG

www.toolstoday.com (http://www.toolstoday.com) - Excellent service and good prices.

Keep in mind that there are 2 inserts available for this tool. 1 made for MDF, and another for everything else. The MDF one looks beefier.

There are probably other brands out there that are similar to this one (like the one AJ mentions) but I can't comment on them. I would avoid the HerSaf bits that were popular with a lot of guys on here in years gone past. They just are not as precise as you would want them to be. Great for slapping a bevel on something...but not V-carving to the degree of precision I like to hold.

-B

[wowhuh.mike]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions.

have any of you done much reverse v carving?( I guess this is what I would call it)

Imagine cutting a v groove then pressing clay into the void, has anybody ever had to cut the positive upside down form of the letter that that clay would represent?

I have a potential customer wanting parts to embed into a mold to be able to cast the look of a Vcarving.

I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but I am thinking right now that I will have to 3D model the surfaces in Rhino and 3Dcut the letter forms. Is there a more direct way within partworks to accomplish this?

[wowhuh.mike]

see above comment...

This is probably something artCAM does well, huh?

You can prism any closed vector right? Can you constrain max z height? and keep ridge without any flats?

If I'm right, anybody with ArtCAM want to let me know what it would cost me to have three custom font letters prism'ed?

[myxpykalix]

Sounds to me like what you want to do is make a mold.
Have you ever done any inlay work? Sounds like you want to make the inlay parts for a mold Depending on what program you use it might be fairly simple. Here is a couple links:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4621
http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/support/tips/vinlay.html

It sounds like what you might want is to make the male inlay part and put boundries around the part so as to be able to put whatever type of material in it.

[wowhuh.mike]

kinda. I want to make the male inlay piece. but it doesn't get inlayed until a material is cast around it. I should have maybe mentioned that the letter forms are around 15" tall. I want to cut a positive part that essentially could be made by cutting a typical v groove 'pocket' and casting into it. (that is one way I may consider doing this, though I doubt budget will allow for it).

I don't have any software that can prism a closed vector, mostly just looking for someone who does.

[feinddj]

You can do that in Aspire easily enough.

[wowhuh.mike]

I can't because I do not have aspire. Would you want to give me a price for doing this to 15 custom letter forms?

[wowhuh.mike]

Can you export STL out of aspire?