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  1. #621
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Still no major changes to my BigBamboo machine. It is going strong and doing what I need to get done. Instead a few pics and video of my latest woodworking related project:

    The question of how to pick up and move full size plywood or mdf sheets comes up occasionally and obviously there are many home made and commercial solutions around like the tilting Rockler MaterialMate cart. However, most such contraptions still require lifting the sheet onto a ledge and some are limited in terms of height adjustability. Some are just very expensive. So, I set out to design my own cart that can pick up full size 4x8 or 5x5 sheets (even 1.5" thick) from the floor by a single operator and without undue effort. I designed it to use a dual linking rod mechanism that moves the table's center of gravity from an offset position while vertical to a centered position when horizontal. Right now it can be adjusted from 32" height to 38" but my next design iteration would be a larger height range. Material is mostly 3/4" phenolic clad baltic Birch, some 2x4 studs and 1/2" construction grade plywood. Of course....all parts cut out on the BigBamboo machine

    Just to be on the safe side I submitted a patent application but I still need to find a commercial partner to get this produced and marketed.

    See images below and the video (go to YouTube for a full screen video)... .





    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  2. #622
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    640

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Very cool!!!

  3. #623
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    735

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Nice Job! Love the Vacuum clamp.

  4. #624
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1523

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Fantastic work!

    Minor suggestions:
    Horizontal locking lever usable without bending down / under the sheet.
    In built clamp storage
    Locking mechanism for wheels when tilting up sheet
    7xCNC.com - CNC info for the minilathe (7x10, 7x12, 7x14, 7x16)

  5. #625
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    2151

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Quote Originally Posted by JerryBurks View Post
    I use IronCAD. This is a 3D-design solution similar to Solidworks, SolidEdge or ProE/CREO. Unfortunately similarly expensive but I have it already for a long time.
    You do inspiring work! I am always getting great ideas from what you share on this forum.

    I recently changed to Ironcad Inovate "only one module of Ironcad suite" to replace an older version of AutoCAD with limited 3d that was to costly to maintain. I was also reluctant to change because of decades of AutoCAD experience. It was still expensive but I wish I had done this years ago. While learning the program I created a solid model assembly in less then one day that would have taken a week to do in my older version of AutoCAD. I understood my cad tools were dated but I had no idea how much . With a software plug in I can now also move cad models into cam software and in position with one click. Before this took a number of steps to get down to setting up tool paths.

  6. #626
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Thanks guys! For me the projects with practical applications are the most fun.

    Quote Originally Posted by 1Jumper10 View Post
    Nice Job! Love the Vacuum clamp.
    Honestly I have split feelings about the vacuum. It works quite well, but it adds some complexity and cost and I am not sure if that is really worthwhile. My next version or modification will actually lose the vacuum and the height adjusting spindles with the chain and use pulleys for a larger height adjustment range.

    Quote Originally Posted by pippin88 View Post
    .......Minor suggestions:
    Horizontal locking lever usable without bending down / under the sheet.
    In built clamp storage
    Locking mechanism for wheels when tilting up sheet
    Thanks Pippin, good ideas. I noticed already that the lever accessibility can be improved, either to make it longer longer or with a rope pull or maybe some kind of "tiller extension".
    Clamp storage or holder would be good, need to think about that.
    A set of locking casters would be useful but these were the ones I had. Actually while tilting it is better not locked so that the cart and sheet can be jogged into proper position. But when rolling on and off it can help, especially if the ground is not even.



    Quote Originally Posted by mountaindew View Post
    .........I recently changed to Ironcad Inovate "only one module of Ironcad suite" to replace an older version of AutoCAD with limited 3d that was to costly to maintain. I was also reluctant to change because of decades of AutoCAD experience. It was still expensive but I wish I had done this years ago..........
    I have used IronCAD (and the predecessor TriSpectives) since 1997 and I am still very happy about it. I never read a manual or watched a tutorial. It is just very easy to use and flexible. So far that was on behalf of my day job and the company paid for the annual maintenance. Now I am retired and while I was allowed to keep the license, I am wondering if I should also stay with the maintenance contract that provides the annual apdates/upgrades. At $1500/year that is rather steep.
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  7. #627
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    My latest project...I had posted that on the Vectric Aspire forum but I guess not everyone here is on there. So here it goes...

    I had a glued up maple box sitting on my shelf for years from a finger joint experiment but the 3/4" wall was way too thick for its size and not usable. Now I pulled it out to reduce the wall thickness to 3/8" on the CNC. That allowed me also to give all edges a generous bevel and make the box look less "boxy". The lid is embellished with a v-carved guilloche pattern inlay and monogram and hinged with maple barrels on a 2mm steel rod. The guilloche pattern is generated with an external program and imported into Aspire for the v-carve inlay method and cut from padauk for good contrast with the maple lid.

    Some pictures along the process in the following posts:

    Shaping the outside of the box (held in place on the disposable board with vacuum). This is my longest reach 6" ballnose bit but it barely made it:



    Shaping the inside:


    Inlay male and female are cut. It did not carve that cleanly, maybe my bit was dull or cut too fast. But it did not affect the result much:


    Inlay glued and sanded, hinge groove prepared:


    To be continued...
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  8. #628
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued pictures...

    Cutting the hinge barrels (end grain):


    Barrels threaded on hinge pin with release film, glued and clamped:


    Hinge is glued in place. After this the pins are pulled out, lid lifted off, release film removed and protruding tabs sawed off.


    All surfaces including hinge are now sanded flush, finished with unpigmented oil stain, waxed and hinge pin installed.


    To be continued...
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  9. #629
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued pictures...

    Inside:


    And finished outside. It has some minor flaws from the original glue joints but I think it looks good enough for a gift.
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  10. #630
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    640

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Sweet!

  11. #631
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    My latest project using the BigBamboo machine is a traditional bowsaw:
    For most of my curved cuts I do use a band saw but sometimes such a bowsaw can come handy.
    I got the inspiration (and some dimensions) from Willard Anderson's article in 3/2016 Popular Woodworking who recreated a 19th century Howarth bowsaw. I modified the design to be made 100% on a CNC machine and avoid the hand mortising and drilling of parts. Since the 3d-models are anyway created from scratch I tried to give them a more streamlined design. The blade length ended up 16" long and is a piece of 3/16" bandsaw blade. But the design can be scaled to accommodate the more common 12" or 24" blades as well.

    The entire saw weighs only 12 ounces (340 grams) and while looking delicate it is quite solid. But maybe could be made a little beefier.

    Complete saw, finished and assembled:
    Attachment 403848


    3D Models in Aspire. The cheecks (upright arms) and the handles are made as 2 halves to be glued together, the cheecks also doweled to prevent splitting:
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	403852


    Cutting the parts:
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	403854
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  12. #632
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Some detail pictures.
    All parts are made from a 3/4" remnant board of birdseye maple.

    Rear handle. The pins are partially threaded 3"x5/16" (75x8mm) brass bolts, head cut off and epoxied with the threaded part into the handle halves:
    Attachment 403856


    Front handle and cheek. The stretcher sits with a swiveling tenon in the cheeks:
    Attachment 403858


    The windlass toggle locks with a button into a groove of the stretcher. I used a piece of hemp twine as a bow string:
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	403860


    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	403862
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  13. #633
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Just noticed the 10-year anniversary of my CNC machine build is coming up and I have not posted for the last couple of years. The machine is still going strong and is used frequently. I did buy some THK style linear rails to replace the round supported ones at some point and closed loop servos to replace the steppers. But so far I did not get around to install. It would be a major machine tear down and I hate to take it out of duty.

    Anyway, following a few pictures of the projects that I did since last post.

    And, FWIW, most of the software that I sold until 2019 (for the machining of finger joints, mazes, guilloche patterns and (new) puzzles) is now available as freeware under the URL in my signature.

    This is a kinetic art table with CNC controlled steel ball traces in a sand bed:
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  14. #634
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued....more project pictures

    Building a mini conga drum with cnc machined and then steam-bent staves
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  15. #635
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued...more project pictures.

    Carbine shoulder stock for an air pistol and the rudder assembly for an inflatable catameran.
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  16. #636
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued...more project pictures

    An experiment for a carved multicolor epoxy inlay, kind of a solid material lithophane (not translucent but reflecting)
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  17. #637
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued...more project pictures

    A plant stand with threaded wooden connectors
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails DSC01903.JPG   DSC01904.JPG   DSC01908.JPG  
    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  18. #638
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    998

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Continued...more project pictures

    A 3d-carved puzzle
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_2458.JPG   IMG_E2466.JPG   IMG_E2468.JPG   IMG_E2469.JPG  

    Box Joint and Dovetail CAM software here: WWW.TAILMAKER.NET

  19. #639
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1523

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Beautiful work as always Jerry
    7xCNC.com - CNC info for the minilathe (7x10, 7x12, 7x14, 7x16)

  20. #640
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1523

    Re: Big Bamboo - New Machine Project Started

    Quote Originally Posted by JerryBurks View Post
    No kidding....I am getting to the point where I can actually use this machine to make some parts for itself, e.g. the limit/home switch housings and the parts that will be the dust enclosure for the x-and y- screws and rails. But first I had to build the cooling duct for the spindle with the dust brushes. The front and side brushes move up and down on drawer slides to clear the collet for bit installation and when the bit dives into the blank.

    Last picture is my elegant trash can cyclone dust machine. But works pretty good and easy to build.








    Are you still happy with the dust setup drawing past the spindle? EDIT: I see you changed it a little later, but the principle is still the same - dust hose to above spindle, then a duct around the spindle.

    Thinking of similar
    7xCNC.com - CNC info for the minilathe (7x10, 7x12, 7x14, 7x16)

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