CNC gun stock router help

[Switcher]

Thought you might like to watch this video, it's not gunstocks, but could be.

In the video, check out what the guy is doing starting @ (frame 1:27).

He is teaching in the toolpath by hand.






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[chris l]

Thanks for the video. What a machine. I like the way they program it. I plan to have the stocks scanned by another company. I haven't thought much about that part of the project yet. I'm not even sure how you tell the machine how to carve the stock from the solid model.

This is a very fun build and I appreciate the help from you all.

Thanks Chris

[harryn]

If I were serious about making a bunch of high quality wood parts like gun stocks as a business, I would really look hard at pre-build commercial tools like that one. The software cost alone to get you from scan - code - running is non trivial (thousands).

A machine like that could take a 1 - 2 man shop and make it competitive with much larger firms. The ability to do that kind of scanning is something you will be drooling over for a very long time.

8 x 10 hp spindles with auto tool changing is just an amazingly valuable capability - if you can move that many parts along.

If you can get that thing for $ 200 K, you should seriously not waste your time on a home built for a business use.

[chris l]

I know for a fact that even some of the high volume shops dont have the budget for 200K machine. And neither do I. I have to start out with the small one and work up.

[chris l]

Here is a pic of the frame

[Switcher]

Looks Strong!

Glad to see your still working on your project, you still planning on 3 routers?


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[Switcher]

Also I only posted the video, so you could see the multiple spindles, & toolpath.

I wasn't thinking you should buy one, I doubt many folks that could afford that machine, are hanging out in a diy forum (maybe I'm wrong?).

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[chris l]

The comment was for Harry that recommended buying this type of machine.

I enjoyed the video, very cool. I liked how they programed the tool path. I will probably have the stocks scanned to get the solid model. I know it's down loaded into a CAM package but I'm not sure how the tool paths will be programed.

[JFettig]

Hey Chris, you might remember me from your thread at homegunsmith

I just made this on the CNC router at work on sunday, its just a test piece made of mdf, I'm making changes to the design and I plan on making one out of real wood soon.

Just some inspiration

I am also designing a stock making machine, If you need help with the design I'd let you borrow some of my ideas, I have a 4 axis setup for my mini mill that I plan to steal off of it to make this thing. I'm making it to be cheap, rigid and relatively accurate(it'll take some tuning but it should be feasible).


Jon

[CNCfun&games]

Enclosed are photos of a pantograph router.
A gunstock was placed in the left position and the stylus was moved over the surface and replicas were machined in the middle & the right position. The Crank on the front of the machine turned the Master and the 2 wood blanks simultaneously.(like an A axis)
The configuration is similar to what might be expected in the design of a CNC machine.
Thomson Rails on all three axis. A counterweight on a lever arm neutralized the weight of the Z axis.