In search of forum member (not a business) into CNC routing with machine. Melbourne.

[barrysumpter]

I've got a yard ornament project I want to have cut with a CNC machine.

The Jig Saw is just not the quality I'm after.

Preferably cut from 18mm MDF.

7 patterns fit into 1900 x 950.
Or I can break them down into individual patterns.
1200 x 650 being the largest.

I'm hoping a forum member with a CNC machine in the Melbourne area can help me out.
The design is already in SketchUp.

I'm NOT after CNC routing businesses contacts unless they are well priced.

PM me if you prefer.

Thanks in advance.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Hi Barry ..... I would be a little concerned using MDF as a yard ornament. Even if its painted it wouldn't be too long until it starts to swell.

[barrysumpter]

My bad. I should have mentioned they will be used as templates.

And for some reason I can't edit my original post.
But can this one.

I got the original 24 x 12 from Sketchup 3D WareHouse.
And just edited to ask around for quotes from CNC businesses.
Who's prices and turnaround time is why you do it yourself.

Lost my confidence in the jig saw approach trying to cut the antler by hand.
Then shape as best I could.

Probably being too critical with the rough edges.
That won't show up once I start using a router to cut the actual pieces from the rough template.
Then painting.
Then viewing from 50 feet away, etc.

Using cheap ply that seems to just tear apart.




400298

1 each of the 2 bodies.
4 back legs
4 front legs
2 antlers
4 each of the shirt shaped joining pieces
2 of the bat shaped joining pieces

If the price would have been worth it I would have asked them to cut them all from a 2400x1200 sheet.

[ian]

Hi barry

does it have to be 18mm MDF?

would 9 or 12 mm stuff produce an acceptable template?

[barrysumpter]

Either would be ok.

If I get paranoid I can always make a 18mm master from the templates later.

[ian]

I should have mentioned they will be used as templates.

I got the original 24 x 12 from Sketchup 3D WareHouse.

Lost my confidence in the jig saw approach trying to cut the antler by hand.
Then shape as best I could.

Probably being too critical with the rough edges.
That won't show up once I start using a router to cut the actual pieces from the rough template.
Then painting.
Then viewing from 50 feet away, etc.

Using cheap ply that seems to just tear apart.

400298

If the price would have been worth it I would have asked them to cut them all from a 2400x1200 sheet.
Hi Barry

what tools do you have access to?

My approach would be to use 9 mm MDF, cut close to the line with a jig saw and finish to the line by hand using a rasp and file. But I have some very nice rasps.

[barrysumpter]

Thanks to all who have replied.
Much appreciated.

I try to stay away from MDF myself.
Ply is bad enough.

I've already used an over head projector to trace the shapes freehanded.
Not as easy as it sounds.

And have already cut the shapes in cheap (grrrrr) 12mm ply.
And shaped with a sander.

It looks horrible.
But I might be being too overly critical as mentioned above.

[ian]

I try to stay away from MDF myself.
Ply is bad enough.

I've already used an over head projector to trace the shapes freehanded.
Not as easy as it sounds.

And have already cut the shapes in cheap (grrrrr) 12mm ply.
And shaped with a sander.

It looks horrible.Barry, the look which is often related to the surface, is not as important as voids along the edge -- is it smooth enough for a bearing guided router bit, or a guide bushing to follow? If yes, then the template is good enough. If no, well you already know the answer...

BTW "cheap ply" and "suitable template" material usually don't go together.

my advice is try again using either good (= expensive) ply or MDF.


I'm not sure anyone pointed out that the cost with CNC is the set-up. Once setup, the 2nd and subsequent copies are basically the cost of material plus electricity.

[barrysumpter]

Thanks heaps for the continued replies Ian.
Much appreciated.

OK. I've had another look and have acquired an inexpensive bandsaw.
It's not as bad as I was thinking.

I've also found another place who claims to be cheapest in Melbourne for CNC.

Is 9mm thick enough to last?
My worries is that its too flimsy and will break under its own weight too easily.

[Kuffy]

9mm MDF for a template for tracing out with a pencil, or following with a bearing guided flush trim router bit is fine.

[barrysumpter]

Its weird how the mind get stuck on things.
I've been frozen on this template project ever since I made a bad investment in an inexpensive band saw.

The bandsaw is gone now and its seemed to have cleared my mind.

I'm thinking I can use my newly acquired thin for metal jigsaw blade on the plywood templates and see how it goes.

[barrysumpter]

Oh and the company who claimed to be the cheapest CNC company in Melbourne to cut my templates turned out to cost 3 times more than the nearest competitor.

Me thinks he didn't want the job.
So overpriced the job instead of just telling me.

LOL

[ian]

I'm thinking I can use my newly acquired thin for metal jigsaw blade on the plywood templates and see how it goes.
A "thin for metal" blade is unlikely to work.

In my experience, the Bosch guide to jig saw blades is pretty good -- at least when choosing a blade to cut wood or sheet goods.

[barrysumpter]

Acknowledged.
I'll let you know how I go.

[elanjacobs]

Don't know if it's too late, but there's a mob called MadeCo that do cut-to-file CNC work. Not sure about price, but they were reasonable when we had kitchen cabinets done through them

[barrysumpter]

Excellent!
Thanks heaps.
I'll check them out.

[barrysumpter]

Finally found a place who gave an affordable estimate.
I'll follow up on Monday to make sure they quoted on what I wanted.
And post here.

[barrysumpter]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161214/2418087a72b4e26488fe5da8170e07f0.jpg

Success!


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[elanjacobs]

I sure hope I'm not looking at a CNC cut part there...

[barrysumpter]

Lol. Nope. It's the jigsaw with the thin for metal blade.

Also, confirmed $110 inc. for cnc cutting my deer templates from 9mm 24x12 mdf.
I'm tempted to see the $ difference in 12mm and 18mm.


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[elanjacobs]

That's a fair price. Shouldn't be much more for 18mm, only difference is the material cost.

[ian]

Hi Barry

at this stage you are only making the templates, which you'll use with a router and bearing guided bit (or a spiral bit and template guide) to cut out the actual ornaments.

What you need to be sure about is that the bit, or template guide, will fit into the smallest radius of your template.


To me, given that you now have an adequate template, CNCing would be about making enough copies for the front yard.

[barrysumpter]

402695

Really happy with the outcome.

Spoke to these people 3 times and got sorted quickly and within my price range.
I was 2 days late for "before Christmas" cut off.
So was super stoked to get a "Job Complete" message yesterday.
Drove out this morning with super light (in comparison) holiday traffic.
For a 1 hour round trip.

Huge shop with heaps of extra hardware bits n pieces.
I picked up a couple sets of Hefele 350mm (not soft close) drawer runners for ~$10 a set.

Spoke to the forklift driver who picked my templates in one go out of about a 1000 boxes.
He said they were always super busy.

No mucking about with this crowd!


$110 incl gst for 9mm.
$126 incl gst for 18mm.

I went with 18mm as I wanted the option to use them for templates.

I was very happy they had included all 4 antlers in the price as well.

I'll have to do a bit more checking to see if all 4 antlers were cut from the same 1200 x 2400 x 18mm sheet.
Or from another 18mm piece.

I'll also have to check if they will fit together as CNC'd.
Or if I will have to adjust the tabs to slide together.

Either way, compared to all the other quotes this was excellent value.


Allboard Distributors
33 Jersey Road, Bayswater Vic 3153
Ph: 9721 5700 Fax: 9721 5799
Email : [email protected]
Home | Allboard Distributors Pty Ltd (http://www.allboard.com.au)

They have three other shops around Melbourne.
But I don't know if they all do the CNC or not.
They do offer delivery as well.

[barrysumpter]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161221/4e27dbcb3d61a00d260c27ffa0a82907.jpg

The other two antlers came from another sheet.


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161221/2c35910656bb207aea2142380bc31ce7.jpg

Pieces slid together easily.
Not too snug. Not too loose.
Just right.
Couldn't be more pleased.

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[barrysumpter]

Has anyone used Tight Bond III mixed with water 50/50 to seal MDF?
Is so, how did it go?
Did you use it to seal just the edges or the face as well?

[Lappa]

A friend uses Feast Watson Sanding Sealer to seal MDF when vacuum forming.

[barrysumpter]

Nice!
Thanks heaps!

[barrysumpter]

Anyone have any suggestions on how to apply the Feast Watson Sanding Sealer on 18mm MDF router template?

Instructions are a bit vague.
Can't seem to find a step by step on youtube.

Any positive constructive suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Lappa]

I just brush it on. Goes on very easily.

[barrysumpter]

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/mdf-sealing-priming-painting-advise-please-105362/

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/mdf-benchtop-finish-108304

[Lappa]

I have mainly used it on ply so I can get a smooth finish before painting. As I said earlier, my friend used it to seal MDF panels he was using for vacuum forming and it did the job, didn't cause any problems. However, if the advice from Wattyl is not to use it then go with their advice to err on the side of caution.

[Lappa]

More info- pages 19 to 27?

https://www.natspec.com.au/images/branded_worksections/0671p_DULUX_painting.pdf

[barrysumpter]

Man! That's hard to sort out.

My plan for MDF
1. Clean off all dust.
2. This stuff is toxic so completely covered in protective gear is a must. A fumes/gas mask NOT just a dust mask. I'm also using a fan to blow the fumes away.
3. Mix well and Apply lightly taking care not to pool nor drip nor over brush.
4. Dry for 6 hours in a well ventilated area away from any flame or potential spark.
5. Gently and lightly sand with 320+ grit paper.
6. repeat as needed.

18 hours after the first coat the fumes were horrendous.
The good lady won't let me back in the shop on Christmas day so will have to wait.

[barrysumpter]

OK My CNC cutter is opening again after the holiday bread.

I've already ordered the sleigh and santa templates from them.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to store all the templates and figures for 11 months?

Some are really large other are small.

The paint and sealers make stacking the parts touching impossible.

I was thinking of how they store painting in vertical files maybe.

Something like this:
WetCanvas - View Single Post - Build your own drying and storage rack (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1560084&postcount=21)

Or this:
A simple DIY drying rack for plein air panels and small paintings | Lines and Colors :: a blog about drawing, painting, illustration, comics, concept art and other visual arts (http://linesandcolors.com/2014/03/15/a-simple-diy-drying-rack-for-plein-air-panels-and-small-paintings/)

The issue is the paint is covers the entire template/figure.
Not just one side.

Flash! Instead of strings use nails. drill appropriate number of nail holes in templates/fingures and hang them so they don't touch anything. hmmmmmm

[grunto]

Don't happen to live on Ringood - Warrandyte Rd by any chance? Saw a couple of likely looking reindeers in a paddock out there. If they are yours, they look pretty good!!

[barrysumpter]

take a pic next time you are there.

The forklift driver mentioned they had run a test and had the reindeer in the conference room for a few days.
Someone ended up taking them out to his farm some where.
Might be the same guy.

[barrysumpter]

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f9/removal-sanding-sealer-40237-post405821#post405821

"....
(1) apply the sanding sealer on a well sanded surface,
(2) lightly sand with say 240-320 Grit when the sealer has dried,
(3) clean the surface with methylated spririt and a soft rag, and
(4) apply several coats of a final finish of the right type
- - (Sorry - I don't know what type at the moment is compatible with your sanding sealer). Sand with 240 - 320 grit between coats.
....
"

[Wynterplace]

If anyone is looking for templates like this again, I can make them from 3mm PVC sheet, the sheets are regular 2440x1220 or I can go up to 3050x1520mm.

Perfectly suited to tracing templates, and can be used with an edge trimmer too.

I'm also based in Melbourne, and while I am using a machine at work, I can look after people on price.


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[cava]

If anyone is looking for templates like this again, I can make them from 3mm PVC sheet, the sheets are regular 2440x1220 or I can go up to 3050x1520mm.

Perfectly suited to tracing templates, and can be used with an edge trimmer too.

I'm also based in Melbourne, and while I am using a machine at work, I can look after people on price.


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Sounds great for future reference.

Where are you located?

[Wynterplace]

I'm in Bonbeach, the business is in Oakleigh.

Because we typically buy print-grade PVC In high volume, we also get good rates on cheaper stuff that's perfect for templates.



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[grunto]

Finally got around to getting a picture!!
406002

[robyn2839]

think the two on the left are dead

[grunto]

Nah - just having a rest. Hard work delivering all those presents over Christmas!!

[barrysumpter]

Issues with 200+ junk mails a day kept me busy over the last week or so.
Changing to a new email address was easier than getting Bigpond to do the right thing.

Grunto,
Nope thats not the design from the Sketchup Warehouse design.
Decent enough though.

[barrysumpter]

That should be 4 antlers.
Grrrrr




My bad. I should have mentioned they will be used as templates.

And for some reason I can't edit my original post.
But can this one.

I got the original 24 x 12 from Sketchup 3D WareHouse.
And just edited to ask around for quotes from CNC businesses.
Who's prices and turnaround time is why you do it yourself.

Lost my confidence in the jig saw approach trying to cut the antler by hand.
Then shape as best I could.

Probably being too critical with the rough edges.
That won't show up once I start using a router to cut the actual pieces from the rough template.
Then painting.
Then viewing from 50 feet away, etc.

Using cheap ply that seems to just tear apart.




400298

1 each of the 2 bodies.
4 back legs
4 front legs
2 antlers
4 each of the shirt shaped joining pieces
2 of the bat shaped joining pieces

If the price would have been worth it I would have asked them to cut them all from a 2400x1200 sheet.