[CarveOne]

I kept looking for flaws (however minor) in Widgit's workmanship, but somehow my eyes just would not focus on the plaque. They kept wandering around the photo and would only focus on the pretty ladies ...

CarveOne

[widgitmaster]

Howdy Carv'e !
How was your Thanksgiving ? Filling I hope

[widgitmaster]

Here is a little plaque I've been working on, only took 1-day to glue all the 2x12's together and 3 1/2 hours to cut

Too bad I couldn't get it done for the Marine Corps Birthday on the 11th


Oh Yeah, its 48" diameter, 1 1/2" thick, 3/4" deep

[CarveOne]

Way too filling is a better description for it ... I'll have to go on a starvation diet for three days to make up for it. Beautiful weather here all of this week though.

I delivered another Paradise Box to a friend who wanted one for his fiance for Christmas. I'm working on the CAD layout for another one for another friend for the same reason. Then there is a yard sign for someone who wants it before Christmas, so I'll be too wore out to enjoy much of it myself, but I'll know that I had a part in someone else's gifts. Makes me wonder if I should join the Elf's Woodworking Association and do this year-round. Oh wait, I already do that.

CarveOne

[CarveOne]

Another nice project Widgit. Looks like you stay busy making these for good purposes. All the best to you for doing it so well.

CarveOne

[widgitmaster]

Here's another FUN project!
Made from a Yellow Pine 2x12, 18" long

Source file in VCarvePro format!

Happy Holidays to ALL!

[mactec54]

widgitmaster

Keep the chips flowing, glad you are having fun with your machine, with more cool projects

Happy Holidays to you also

[bill south]

Hey Widgit;
Happy holiday to you and yours! Love the new sign and will most likely have one posted on my garage wall to (dis)invite future troublemakers (or at least make them think)!!!
Thanks for the files.
Bill

[bill south]

Eric;
I do hate to keep asking but would it be possible to share the vcp file for the helmet, boots and rifle (fallen soldier) plaque you created and posted in 1322? That's one I'd love to have hanging in my shop.
Have a great holiday.
Bill

[widgitmaster]

Eric;
I do hate to keep asking but would it be possible to share the vcp file for the helmet, boots and rifle (fallen soldier) plaque you created and posted in 1322? That's one I'd love to have hanging in my shop.
Have a great holiday.
Bill

Here ya go Bill!
It's called a "Battle Cross"

Merry Christmas my Friend!

[widgitmaster]

For the last few days, the spindle bearings in Big Red have been growling!
Finally this morning, they started screaming, and the water temperature began to rise
Most of the noise appeared to be coming from the upper bearings!
Only lasted for 14000-Hours !

The

Another spindle is on order; a four-bearing model, so i have time to play with other projects

[onecut]

WidgitMaster

Very nice cnc router you have built.
Are you going to make the cad files available? I would love to build one like yours but make it 4'x4'x8" (? on the 8" I want to cut alum. also.)

[rodrigomartins]

For the last few days, the spindle bearings in Big Red have been growling!
Finally this morning, they started screaming, and the water temperature began to rise
Most of the noise appeared to be coming from the upper bearings!
Only lasted for 14000-Hours !

The

Another spindle is on order; a four-bearing model, so i have time to play with other projects

This spindle has 14,000 hours worked or life in total?

[widgitmaster]

Actually, the spindle ran good for 1400.0 hours, not 14000 !


Here's a preview of my latest project!

Combat Wounded Veterans Association Logo

24" diameter, 1" thick yellow pine, laminated.

[ger21]

That's pretty cool. Nice job.

[CarveOne]

That's pretty cool. Nice job.

Yes, it is. The chain details look very sharp.

[bill south]

Great Work. Some of your pieces are really amazing.

Bill

[widgitmaster]

Thanks Guys!

A replica of the Veterans Memorial in Arlington
35" x 17 1/4" x 3/4" pine
I painted the insides of the grooves with a black Sharpie pen, and the flag with red and blue, then sealed it and varnished it

[Bubba]

Widgetmaster,
You keep amazing me with the genius of your work! I am glad for you that you did NOT sell Big Red or we would not be able to appreciate the work your doing. Keep it up friend.

[widgitmaster]

Thanks Bubba

For months I've been fighting with an accurate way to get tool lengths to enter into Mach3, and here is the solution I came up with for the Chinese VFD spindles!

The inside of the spindle when looking through the ER-20 collet, looks like a standard drill point. None of the cutters were long enough to reach the bottom of the inside of the spindle, so I made tool holders for all the common cutters I use. At first I was simply measuring the length of the cutters from the flat-end of the tool holder shank to the cutting end. But the tool holders all have a slight bevel or radius on the end, so when it was inserted into the spindle, it was a little shorter than it's measurement!

So I took a piece of 2" diameter bar-stock, and drilled a 1/2" hole about 2" deep. Then I made a tool for setting z-zero, and it's shank is long enough to hit bottom in the spindle. The same setting tool hits bottom inside the 2" diameter bar. So using a little digital height gauge, I can accurately measure the distance from the top of the setting gauge to the actual cutting edge within .0005" accuracy!
Now I have programs that can use as many tools as necessary, and they all blend perfectly with the previously machined surfaces and corners!

The next problem is the tools that don't have tool holders,as they have shanks that are too short to hit bottom inside the spindle! So I made a little 1/2" diameter bar about 3/4" long. When inserted into the spindle first, the tool shank will still be within the collets clamping capacity, and the little bar fills the gap to the bottom of the spindle! As long as the little bar is used when measuring the tools length, the length remains constant!

I hope everyone with ER-20 spindles can get system like this, and NO, I'm not going to make more of them !!

Widgit