Indexing Material along "X" axis

[brian_uline]

I have a sign to carve which is longer than my current "X" axis. Has anyone indexed material down along the "X" axis? I need to cut part of the sign then index it approx. 8" along the "X" axis to finish the one end. I can you use any ideas that anyone might have used in the past to get around this problem.

THANKS
Brian

[myxpykalix]

I have never done anything like this but depending on the design and exactly what it is you may want to try to make your cut in the sign, say between words, instead of in the middle of a letter, just because it is at the end of your 8' span. Also you need to keep in mind to allow for the kerf of your cut, whether it be a sawblade or router bit to maintian correct spacing.

[brian_uline]

Jack,
Good idea. I will split the sign in the middle not near an end that way I can control it between letters.
What kind of mechanical (dowel pins,etc.)mechnisam have you used to index the material along the "X" axis (keeping precision) but also keeping the "Y" axis aligned?
Thanks

[myxpykalix]

The only thing i've done that was "multipart" was some wainscoting I did:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/17997/18005.html?1171336954

In the picture of the five panels, there is a joint between #3 and #4 and so i cut off a equal amount off the end of 3 and beginning of 4 to equal the width of the pilaster (4") in between. That allowed me to attach it to the wall and then pin nail the pilaster over the joint.

Thats not exactly what you are asking, i realize but it might give you a hint on how to disguise your joint depending on what you are making.

One thing i have done in the past to align my X and Y is to take a vbit at my 0,0 (lower left) and make a small dimple in mdf.
Then move carriage, say 2 feet. Make another dimple. Then i took a metal square, lined the 2 dimples up clamped the square down, drew the line on both sides and made a 90 degree corner.
Remove the square, clamp down strips of mdf along the line (or screw down) on both X, and Y and you have a corner that is square to the carriage.
Not knowing exactly what you are making and its size it's hard to give too much more advice. There are other sign builders here that could jump in an maybe offer better solutions because there are lots of methods out there i'm sure.

[fleinbach]

Brian,

I did this several times when I had my old PRT 60X96 and need to cut detail accross 12' sheets of MDF.

You have to be thinking very clearly when you make the files. I used 1/4" dowel pins in a scrap area for indexing. I cut everything with a 1/4" bit so this makes it easy. I'm not sure if I can describe clearly all the steps nessacary but I will work on the details and try to post them later.

[rhfurniture]

I have a benchtop and have done quite a lot of this in the past. I bolt a piece of wood onto the worktop and cut it with the shopbot to make a fence, then nick it at one end to mark an indexing mark. I square a line half way up the blank or at an appropriate point to line up with the mark. The rest is a cad/cam issue, making one file for each section. I just make sure that the index line is either at a feature that can accommodate it or at no feature for the same reason (eg not at a letter). Works 99.9%

[fleinbach]

Brain,

Here is an example of how I did it.


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Starting at the Zero X position of your cad drawing equaly space 8" circles to represent 1/4" holes. Drill all the way through sheet at the 24" and 88" points. Next just drill through the work piece at the 32" and 96" points preparing for your second cut.

Now split your cad so that the first part is finished cutting at the 96" referance line. Then create an overlapping trim line 1/2" to the left of the second part to be cut. Trim everything to the left of this line to make the second file. When making the second file be sure the referance line is at the 88" position. You can do this in your cad software by selecting all and do a move command -8 in X direction.

Now after cutting the first file slide the sheet 8" to the left and repin with dowels. Now cut the second file.

If you need a larger picture to see details let me know and I will email it to you.

[fleinbach]

Close ups


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