My Newest Desktop machine

[microcarve]

Ain't it the truth...

But, there's really a point behind the outright near criminal abuse.....

If one is going to be broken, I'd like to be the guy that does it first...

The thing just kept on working and I did really mean to get around
to cleaning it. But it just kept going....and going....


John

[mactec54]

microcarve

It looks great,one suck with the vac will clear up the mess/chips though, the machine most likly won't break,but if you get a static build up with all the chips you could hurt your control if it zaps it

[microcarve]

Thanks!...

Yep, I was pushing my luck there for awhile. I really got concerned about
the flammable MDF dust in the air. One little spark and....BOOM!

Oddly enough, the flakes from the urethane carving are pretty much
static free. I was surprised at that.

I did get a dedicated shop vac though, and use it always.

Here's the machine I replaced the Huge MDF one with....







Made mostly from something called "stair treads". Hard to find at
Lowes....it's in some odd section of the store.....but it's 1-1/8"
thick, 11" wide, and 48" long. Very nice stuff to build a big MDF
machine with. About $6-7 each. Rigid and straight....

This one was supposed to be a "first of three" prototype.
(Usually takes me 3 times to get a design like I want it....
1...get it to work. 2...refine the design...and, 3...make it look good)

But it worked very well on the first attempt and I use it a lot.

I DO keep it a lot cleaner though...


John

[microcarve]

Speaking of the "stair treads"....

Here's one made from them....
















This is a bulldozer of an MDF machine. Ebay usually has shorter
linear rails available for good prices. Odd sizes don't seem to sell
really well, so I got some of them for cheap....brand new too...

I think there's less than $250 in this entire machine. Made as a
prototype for doing stuff like computer cases and control boxes.
The vise naturally comes off, but raises work up to the router.
I milled some 6061 flat with it for more Z axis's.

Hopefully, I'll refine this design a little later. It could be a good looking
machine that performs great once that's done. A Very strong machine.


John

[microcarve]

Small aluminum desktop machine made from common sizes of
aluminum....
















Rails at these sizes are pretty reasonable. From Automation Overstock.

Easy cuts on common strips of aluminum. Lots of bolts and tapping though,
but it's worth the time & trouble....


John

[microcarve]

The original "crazy big MDF machine".....








Like I mentioned before....it worked Great and made LOTS of stuff.
Fixed bridge design meant no possible skewing, so the parts were
very accurately and precisely cut. It made lots of other MDF machines.

It took up too much space in my router room, though.
But it sure payed it's way for a couple years....

John

[microcarve]

Test cut of a flower found on the internet.

Using microcarve software to convert image to g-code.

1" width x .75" high.

.005 stepover and .028 depth of cut.

Added border around image of .10"

It'd have been best to use a bit with .005" tip, but I used a homemade
one with about .013....otherwise detail would have been much better....

Last image is near actual size of the carving. It took about 10 minutes
at 24ipm.























This is good, but it'd be better with the right bit. The important thing
is there's zero indication of any tool marks or stepover. Even under
magnification....

Gotta order some finer bits....


John

[microcarve]

BTW....The flower image was chosen, Not because it's a beautiful
picture. But because it has extremes of contrast that would be very hard to
carve in any detail...and especially so at only 1"....

It's a "stress test" of the machine, in a way.

I'm pretty pleased with what I'm seeing...


John

[microcarve]

Marilyn Monroe.....(I hope it's obvious....

1.5" wide and 1.47" high

.007" stepover..... .033" cut depth

About 30 min at 24ipm

.10" border added to perimeter.







Looks great even with the (mediocre) home made bit....

No toolmarks or stepping pattern.

Which means basically No extra hand finishing to make a mold or
die set for a jewelry part or something.

Material is cast urethane. I'd expect similar results in machinable
waxes, etc....


John

[microcarve]

Marilyn2

Swapped over to a different home-made bit.....







.9" wide and 1.25" high

.005 stepover.

.017 cut depth.

It's hard to get the light to reflect just right on these tiny carvings,
but it looks great in real life.

They'd make some great "micro-lithophanes" if lit up with an LED.
(these ones are too thick, though)


John

[microcarve]

P.S....

If you squint your eyes and look for it, A neat photographic
effect can be seen in the last Marilyn. Just like a tiny little
lithophane.


John

[microcarve]

UltraViolet poster

(I just like that Look she has.....

.878" width

1" high

.004" stepover

.023" cut depth



































I wish I had a better camera. This is absolutely *Perfect*. Not
a flaw in it....

It was a bit of a PITA to get a few pictures --as can be seen.....


John