Intriguing puzzles

[phil_o]

How are these things made? Obviously there has to be a CNC component in the manufacturing process and at the price they are selling for China has to be part of the answer. I'm amazed how are these puzzles manufactured?
http://www.bitsandpieces.com/jump.jsp?itemID=406&itemType=CATEGORY&path=3&Kicke rID=133&KICKER

[richards]

Since the grain lines up, I would guess that they're cut into puzzle pieces at the bandsaw - after being shaped into their final form.

[harryball]

Bandsaw, I have a 19" bandsaw that I run a 1/8" blade on. I can cut puzzle peices with what seem like impossible turns for a bandsaw. Since running the 1/8" blade I hardly ever use the scroll saw unless it's inside cuts where I need to feed the blade through.

However, the bot is great for cutting the overall shape out first.

Robert

[patricktoomey]

If I had to make them I would use a waterjet or a CNC wire saw. However, they probably come from China and would most likely be cut by low cost laborers (many of them probably 9 fingered or less) on a bandsaw like the other guys said.

[frank_hav]

There is a blade and guide assembly that I saw at a wood show last year that will do this. I forget the company, sorry. They were doing exactly these kind of pieces at their booth. It is a round wire blade that will cut in all directions. He was cutting out 3d puzzles of this size in less then 3 minutes. No 2 were the same but do they have to be.

Frank H

[harryball]

I have some of those round blades for my scroll saw. They come in handy at time, but you don't get a lot of speed out of them, at least I don't, before they break.

Robert

[patricktoomey]

I have a wire saw for cutting glass (for stained glass work) It is an abrasive wire loop about 30 inches long that runs over pulleys just like a band saw. It picks up water from a well at the bottom and uses that for cooling and carrying away the glass dust. It can cut in any direction at a very high rate of speed. It sounds like Frank is talking about a wood version of this which would be really cool. I saw a large CNC wire saw for wood once but it was unbelievably expensive. I'd like to see a smaller affordable version. Frank, was that a dedicated saw or a retrofit to a bandsaw or some other existing tool?

[frank_hav]

I believe it was a retro guide assembly. It was on a small grizzley or crafstman type bandsaw. It was a round wire cutting blade. I looked for a name in my old stuff but could not find one. All I know is that last year or 2 they were at the woodshow in Fort Washington PA. I had no use for it at the time but it was impressive.

Frank H