Long Template

[cjones]

I am working on creating a 43" template to carve into cedar planks. I have a lot left over from a closet project and figured they would make great signs.

The question I have, how can I reduce the time carving on the CW. The opening is 3.8" Wide by 36" long. With a normal carve setting, it will take 2 hours to complete. I was thinking I might be able to carve a small region around the outer edges as well as the thumb ports and then do the rest with my router. I am not very good with a router as I have never used mine.

I am uploading the .MPC in case anyone want to take a try and see if they can find a better way to complete the long carve.

Thanks for any help as I am still trying to get something started with my new machine.

Chris Jones

[myshop1044]

to reduce your time, cjones, the 6 holes on the side, I would use a drill function, .9 d, .25 deep, 1/8" bit. the side holes seem to be an oval, not sure about that one.
the rect tangle in the middle can be milled out using a 1/8" bit and then a 3/8" straingt cut bit or whatever you may have.
To do this, you have to reduce the size of the rect. by 1/8" length and width, C/C, apply an 1/8" bit .25 deep, I would repeat the reduction about 4 times to get the groove away from the edge of the original rect. size.
Then I would start reducing the rect. size by 3/8" until you have remove all of the wood in the middle.
simple as mud huh!
see attached.
Hope this helps
Perry B.

[SteveNelson46]

I am working on creating a 43" template to carve into cedar planks. I have a lot left over from a closet project and figured they would make great signs.

The question I have, how can I reduce the time carving on the CW. The opening is 3.8" Wide by 36" long. With a normal carve setting, it will take 2 hours to complete. I was thinking I might be able to carve a small region around the outer edges as well as the thumb ports and then do the rest with my router. I am not very good with a router as I have never used mine.

I am uploading the .MPC in case anyone want to take a try and see if they can find a better way to complete the long carve.

Thanks for any help as I am still trying to get something started with my new machine.

Chris Jones

I changed the carve region to a spiral pocket cut and the finger holes to a drill function. I think you will find that this cuts much faster and will leave the side walls vertical. Uses only the 1/8" cutting bit.

[myshop1044]

Steve, I feel like I'm in kindergarten , how do you set up a spiral pocket cut, do you have a utube video for this?

[SteveNelson46]

I just used Corel Draw. It has a "Contour" function that automatically copies the closed figure to the center by an arbitrary distance. Sort of like automating the offset feature in the Designer. Then I disconnected the lines on one corner and joined them with the next corner down and exported as a DXF. Bergerud does it all the time. I don't know if he has a procedure that he uses or just does it manually like I did.

[myshop1044]

ok the word is" Corel Draw", that would be a great feature for some 3.0 software upgrades. may 2d or 3d

[SteveNelson46]

ok the word is" Corel Draw", that would be a great feature for some 3.0 software upgrades. may 2d or 3d

I'm not sure what you mean. Corel Draw is a 3rd party draw program that is analogous to Adobe Illustrator.

[cjones]

The board is 6" wide but I added the extra 7 inches into the virtual board. If I removed the 3.5" on each end of the virtual board, then do you think it would measure properly. If you noticed on each end, there is a 3.5" area marked to cover the 7" rule.

I will have to go and get some supports. I think Harbor Freight has them on sale yet this month.

Thanks,

Chris Jones

[SteveNelson46]

The board is 6" wide but I added the extra 7 inches into the virtual board. If I removed the 3.5" on each end of the virtual board, then do you think it would measure properly. If you noticed on each end, there is a 3.5" area marked to cover the 7" rule.

I will have to go and get some supports. I think Harbor Freight has them on sale yet this month.

Thanks,

Chris Jones

That will probably work as long as the machine measures the actual board to be slightly larger in width and length than the virtual board in the Designer and you answer NO to stay under the rollers.

[mtylerfl]

Steve, I feel like I'm in kindergarten , how do you set up a spiral pocket cut, do you have a utube video for this?

Made these tutorials back in 2011...

Pocket Cutting Tips – Part 1 and 2 – ISSUE 35-36 2011