My first "real" job for the Shopbot.

[shilala]

I wasn't really looking, but my brother-in-law put me to work. :)
He has a bunch of tux shops and needed a pile of little signs for a line he added, and asked if I could do something like that.
These tux guys used to bulk order the signs from overseas, but they can't get them in smaller orders and pay through the nose for them.
I'm certainly not going to make a killing on them, but it'll likely be an ongoing gig that should pay for the things I like to do (which amounts to making stuff and giving it to friends and family).
It'll help me learn how to use Aspire, I already got a little work with node editing and some things I haven't used. There were a couple ideas I wanted to try but couldn't make them happen, so they'll force me to learn even more, and that's a good thing. :)

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/DB162C87-3674-490A-ADF7-5A06B1895ADB-4872-00000B9982B1CB64.jpg

[Brady Watson]

Glad to see you are up & running on something practical. Since you stated you are open to learning - the depth variations in your cuts indicate most likely that the table is not flat, or the material is up & down. I only volunteer that info so that you can get one step closer to perfect parts.

Holding parts down is about 90% of the work involved in CNC Machining...

Keep up the good work.

-B

[shilala]

Thank You, Brady. :)
The material needed planed. I thought it already was, but it wasn't. I had to make another toolpath to take some of those signs down a bit deeper, they turned out okay.
I'm doing the second run right now. That piece is .720 thick all over, I planed it and mic'd it myself. I'm catching on.
My carpet tape is doing okay, but I have to admit to thinking vacuum table a number of times along the way. I need to layout my work so I can screw things down and quit being so cheap. ;)

[Brady Watson]

Scott,
I remember just starting out with this stuff too...It has its triumphs and disappointments, but in the end, the triumphs far outweigh the disappointments. I've heard, and found, that no real learning can happen without there being at least some chaos and confusion along the way.

You may find THIS (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5365) link helpful in your pursuit. It is for what is generally referred to as a 'universal' vacuum hold down, since it uses a bleeder board. If I had a bunch of parts to do like you show in your pic, I would make a jig that just lets vacuum under the plank itself with no bleeder, or use a BradyVac II (http://www.shopbotblog.com/index.php/2007/07/the-bradyvac-ii-%E2%80%93-a-production-vacuum-fixture-on-a-shoestring-budget/) setup.

Both the BradyVac I and BradyVac II were created to maintain complete versatility when it comes to holding parts down. Since my projects may vary from small to large, solid lumber that may need to get lag bolted or screwed down or sheet goods - I don't like the idea of a universal type vacuum system that consists of a permanent vacuum grid and bleeder. You can't really use screws effectively that way. The BV1 & BV2 both use a single sheet of ultralight MDF to handle both the vac grid & bleeder. I can remove or replace it with ease when I have to use another hold down method...this works really well for me.

Vacuum covers a lot of territory, and you'll want to make some choices that match your budget and needs. I would recommend on your table a Lighthouse vacuum motor (be sure to see THIS (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=545) thread & then THIS (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11813) one) - one should be sufficient. You'll need 1 or 2 aluminum 3X1" rectangular tubes to make a manifold and a few other parts. I'd say you can hook yourself up with a pretty nice vacuum hold down system for $150-200. Take some time to do some reading & have a look at what others have done.

I'm envious of your new excitement - It really is a wonderful feeling when you start to really 'get' this CNC stuff, while producing meaningful work.

Keep having fun!

-B

[shilala]

Thank You, Brady. I'll read through the links and see what I can do. :)
The lettering turned out perfect and uniform in my second run, I was very pleased. I planned in an onion skin on my profile pass, and I'll check to make sure it's thick enough so parts don't come loose.
This all takes a certain amount of patience and care at particular points, and I'm catching on to where those points are. Now I just need to heed them instead of hurrying along!!! :)