Some here know I own a small cabinet shop. Last week, we took delivery of the coolest tool I've ever seen. It's a CNC (computer numerically controlled) router. It's a 3 axis machine which means it will cut in all three dimensions. We use it to cut cabinet parts, but other businesses use them to make carved signs, orthotic inserts, rifle stocks, etc. If you're familliar with milling machines, this is basically a 4' X 8' CNC mill.
We ran our first job on it yesterday (a small kitchen) and it did what used to take us about 50 hours in 4. Yahoo. Needless to say, prices are going down and profit margins are going up!
It's pretty cool to watch, so I posted a video of it running a sheet on youtube.
One of the more amazing aspects is the way the material is held down to the work table. In the vid, you'll see a 15hp vacuum pump that is used to suck the work piece down to the table. The amazing thing is that the vacuum is pulled straight through a 3/4" thick piece of MDF. No holes, no nuthin. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
Once we get basic operation down, I'll be graduating to goofy hobby projects on the weekends. Ought to be fun.
03-10-2011, 15:55
Byte Stryke
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim K
Fixed it for you
03-10-2011, 16:01
cebeu
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim K
"...rifle stocks...I'll be graduating to goofy hobby projects on the weekends."
Like maybe "custom AR wood stocks?" [Tooth]
FUDD; "No...that's not an ASSAULT weapon, can't be...look at it...it has 'purdy' wood on it..."
03-10-2011, 16:04
beast556
That is very nice, looks like it will save you tons of time. When I remodel my kitchen I will have to get in touch with you.
Bryan
03-10-2011, 16:12
HBARleatherneck
yes, i havent seen any wood ar stocks lately. i want one. of course making the buttstock isnt too hard by hand. but hanguards, that might be more difficult for me, with the tools I have. so Tim, make an a2 buttstock, and a set of midlength handguards. for scientic reasons of course.
03-10-2011, 16:21
Byte Stryke
Quote:
Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck
yes, i havent seen any wood ar stocks lately. i want one. of course making the buttstock isnt too hard by hand. but hanguards, that might be more difficult for me, with the tools I have. so Tim, make an a2 buttstock, and a set of midlength handguards. for scientic reasons of course.
LOL Wood burning kit included?
03-10-2011, 16:22
2008f450
Im a metal guy but can appreciate a fine piece of equipment. Especially the amount of time they can save you. Have fun with the new piece.[Beer]
Cool,, can't have enough tools.
We got a new Plasma cutter 1 1/4 capacity.
03-10-2011, 16:58
Hoser
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim K
Once we get basic operation down, I'll be graduating to goofy hobby projects on the weekends. Ought to be fun.
You know where I live. Just say the word.
That is just too cool. Cant wait to come up and see it.
03-10-2011, 17:06
Beprepared
NICE! Need an apprentice? Measure once, cut oops....
03-10-2011, 17:22
ronaldrwl
Very nice. Do you set up the cutting pattern? Like were to start or is that done by the computer? The reason I ask is the place it started cutting and the general pattern of cutting didn't look very human.
03-10-2011, 17:32
ChunkyMonkey
nice!!!
03-10-2011, 17:35
Tim K
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoser
You know where I live. Just say the word.
That is just too cool. Cant wait to come up and see it.
Give me two weeks to get our backlog cleared and I'll come see you. Come up and get a demo anytime.
03-10-2011, 17:45
Tim K
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronaldrwl
Very nice. Do you set up the cutting pattern? Like were to start or is that done by the computer? The reason I ask is the place it started cutting and the general pattern of cutting didn't look very human.
Good observation. We do cabinet design with a dedicated CAD software package designed to do just that. For the low, low price of $15,000 it also outputs the programming for the router. Basically, I design it then push the "GO" button and send the job out to the router. It's very integrated for cabinets.
For other stuff, we have yet another software package, a more general CAD/CAM program that I can use to design single parts, signs......rifle stocks.
I don't know what everyone is getting for Christmas yet, but I know how I'm going to make it.
Here's a computer rendering generated by the software of the kitchen we just cut.
Looks like a product I once worked for called Kitchen CAD? or CAD Kit?
I might be in touch for getting a smaller kitchen done too.
03-10-2011, 21:55
Tim K
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnihcraes
Looks like a product I once worked for called Kitchen CAD? or CAD Kit?
I might be in touch for getting a smaller kitchen done too.
This one is CabinetWare, but they all put out a similar final product in terms of appearance.
We'd be honored to give you a quote if and when the time comes.
03-10-2011, 23:51
rondog
Very cool! Last time I watched a CNC machine was probably 1980, and they were awesome then. I can't imagine how much they've advanced since. Truly amazing to watch a machining center take a big chunk of raw steel or an engine block casting, work it over and a finished part comes out.
03-13-2011, 16:11
Tim K
Quote:
Originally Posted by scratchy
Nice new toy you got there. That looks like fun.
Your kitchen was the last one we cut the old way. Took us 48 hours of labor to get the parts to the same level of completion as the router. The router would have done it in 4. When I see how well this thing works, I kick myself for the ten years I've been doing it the hard way.
03-13-2011, 16:36
cstone
10 years of developing your ability as a craftsman is what tells you how useful this machine is.
Almost anyone with very little training can grill a burger, but it takes years of practice to become a chef.
[Coffee]
03-15-2011, 19:47
Uberjager
Do you have side by side comparisons of the the work done by hand vs. the work done by the CNC router?
03-16-2011, 06:01
Tim K
There are two differences. A human can work to tolerances of roughly 0.031" on a good day (1/32 ") and 0.062" on an average day (1/16"). The router works to 0.005" every day. Angular tolerances are even better.
Cut quality is also markedly better, in fact it's perfect. Even a perfectly tuned table saw with a fresh blade optimized for the material will only produce chip free cuts on the top side. Even that is hard to achieve. The router leaves perfect, chip free cuts on both sides every time as long as the tool is sharp.
I hate to admit it, but the machine is a better woodworker than I am, and I've been at it 20+ years. On the bright side, it doesn't shoot for beans.
