3d wood routing...

[Clan]

For openers I want to let you know I have no idea what I am getting into

I cannot program, don't have a shop, and have no background in machining.

I have watched people use a Mazak metal mill to "hog" out 3d parts. It made me wonder about something similar for wood.

That led me to some internet searching and here I am.

I am interested in making 3d style details for furniture without having to hand carve them. (Not only am I too lazy, I have about zero gift for carving.)

Idealy I would like to take a drawing, scan, or even a model and have the computer render it into whatever code is required for the router to make the 3d (actually more like raised or embossed) parts.

It seems like there should be something out there that would work for me but I have not seen it yet.

This would be a hobby type thing and not an actual business so I am somewhat limited to the "garage" catagory. I have available 110 and 220 volts but not the 380 and better I see on most CNC routers.

Which brings me to another question...Other than price is there an advantage to using the stepper motors instead of true servos?

Is there any particular book on the subject that you would recommend?

Thanks for your time

[castguy2003]

Easy Boy, you're getting into some deep territory.
First you will need a true 3D cad-cam system that can produce surfaced or solid models and be able to put toolpaths on the models. Something like MasterCam or Surfcam will set you back about 15K.

Then you need a machine that can do simotaneous 3D interpolation (Run a minimum of 3 axis at the same time.) To avoid gouging and bad surface finish the machine will need to be tight with good backlash compensation. Servo drives are best.

For small stuff (20 x 14 x 6) I would shop for a used Bridgeport or Tree CNC mill with an easy to use control (Anilam or Dynapath)
Your spindle speed will be too low to cut wood effectively so you will need to rig up some sort of high speed spindle.

Add in the cost of carbide tooling and tool holders another 10-20K

Then there's the learning curve.
It takes time to learn how to program and most people will tell you, learn to machine manaually before trying to jump into CNC.

Hope I haven't been too much of a wet blanket.

Mike

[balsaman]

Look in the home made wood routers section of this forum for lots of info on this subject.

You need:
CNC router
CAM software

Steppers are cheaper. As far as I know that's the only advantage over servo's.

Eric

[castguy2003]

Originally posted by castguy2003 Easy Boy, you're getting into some deep territory. First you will need a true 3D cad-cam system that can produce surfaced or solid models and be able to put toolpaths on the models. Something like MasterCam or Surfcam will set you back about 15K. Then you need a machine that can do simotaneous 3D interpolation (Run a minimum of 3 axis at the same time.) To avoid gouging and bad surface finish the machine will need to be tight with good backlash compensation. Servo drives are best. For small stuff (20 x 14 x 6) I would shop for a used Bridgeport or Tree CNC mill with an easy to use control (Anilam or Dynapath) Your spindle speed will be too low to cut wood effectively so you will need to rig up some sort of high speed spindle. Add in the cost of carbide tooling and tool holders another 10-20K Then there's the learning curve. It takes time to learn how to program and most people will tell you, learn to machine manaually before trying to jump into CNC. Hope I haven't been too much of a wet blanket. Mike

Forgot to add, scanning systems for CNC cost big $$$$$$

[keithorr]

Don't get put off by the big $$$ numbers. There is a lot of information here from people trying to do the same thing as you.

You can find used routers on Ebay, or build your own. The software can be anything from shareware to $15k.

My scanning software was inculded in a $100 CAD program.

The high voltage you mention was probably for the spindle, not the machine drivers. All of the router drivers I see here run on 120v. Spindles also run on 120v.

A bridgeport style mill is overkill for carving wood.

Keep looking around this site, be sure to look in the Photo Gallery section.

[Clan]

I checked out E-bay this morning and there seems to be a few there in the 7 to 15K range with all the drivers-software but seems to me that the software is a bit limited. Mostly 2d type stuff.
I am not too terribly concerned with the software cost. Heck I bought 11 copies of autocad 14 for $200. (installed one the rest are in a drawer:P) So if I can find out what software can be used for what I want then I will find it sooner or later.

I am looking to do something close to the sign company stuff.
like : http://www.gspinc.com/products/routers/d200.html
(I don't want to do signs just close)

I can get servos and steppers pretty cheap. (at or about OEM)
so I might end up buying a table but then I have to have someone put it together for me...

I will keep looking around and lurking here to see what I can learn

[anoel]

Look at Shopbot or V-Max routers. Those guys are putting out nice machines for the buck.

If you don't mind spending a few grand you can build a hell of a machine for about or much less than a commercial router with the same or better performance. Unfortunatley the softaware for doing 3d Carving is not as easy as opening a file and go cut a part. It takes quite a bit of effort to create a good toolpath.

ArtCam is pretty slick for adding carved features and such. (Pretty expensive though, $7,000 or so I think)

[ger21]

For cheap 3D software, check out MeshCam at http://www.robgrz.com
It's in beta right now, but it seems to work pretty good. The final price is supposed to be about $100, but the free beta has no expiration. It will create 3D gcode from just a bitmap, or from an .stl file which you can export from AutoCAD (solid models only).
A lot of guys in the homemade wood router section, like Eric said, build machines for around $1000, some more, some less.

Gerry

[HomeCNC]

I am doing fairly nice wood carvings with my home made router. I would say that the best thing I did purchase was my small desktop probe scanner. It allows me to scan 'real' artwork and create an STL file for loading into CAM software to generate machine code. This probe scanner is the Roland Pix-30. It has an envlope of 8" x 12" x ~3". I have scanned embossed greating cards and got nice models for carving in wood. You can scan small and enlarge the CAD file to what you want. If you know an art student they can get you in contact with someone who is good at clay sculpture. This is where you can do custom carvings when you scan the clay work that was done.

Keep looking and don't give up.

[keithorr]

.

[Clan]

Did a quick search on the Roland. Neat app!

Here is the link:
http://webferret.search.com/click?wf...0.html,,hotbot

[HomeCNC]

Clan,

That is the exact same place I purchased mine from. When I got mine they had a better deal on the website.... $2795.00