more Shopbot stuff for my son..

[Ajcoholic]

So two years ago I made Joseph's bunk bed on the CNC, all from Baltic Birch.

He has a thing lately for "tents" - we do camp a lot in the summer. He got a small pop up tent he tries to sleep in in his room but its too big. So, I told him I'd turn his bunk into a tent that he can easily put up or take down.

I just cut 4 ribs, which are designed to sit onto the bed rail and safety rail, and 9 notched ribs that hold them together and then throw a blanket over the works..

He loves it of course and it took a whopping 20 minutes to cut out and one sheet of 6mm BB ply.

I love these easy, inexpensive projects. Im far too busy at work to make anything that would be really time consuming. But making things for the kids is so much fun!


each 48" x 48" sheet made two ribs and 5 crossers.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/ajcoholic023/image112_zpsbjpiux0y.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/ajcoholic/media/ajcoholic023/image112_zpsbjpiux0y.jpg.html)

all together..

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/ajcoholic023/image36_zpshyocjbzh.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/ajcoholic/media/ajcoholic023/image36_zpshyocjbzh.jpg.html)

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/ajcoholic023/image27_zpst96flwwl.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/ajcoholic/media/ajcoholic023/image27_zpst96flwwl.jpg.html)

[tri4sale]

You've got one lucky kid!!!

That's awesome, bet he is having a blast with it!

[scottp55]

Aren't you introducing him to to the concept of "Man Caves" a little early Andrew? :)
Reminds me a little of Bill Y's habitats.
Once again, a Lucky boy!
scott

[Ken Sully]

Very cool! Your little guy is lucky to have such an inventive dad!
Think it would work with a queen size bed?

[myxpykalix]

You're a KEWL dad...will you adopt me?lol

[srwtlc]

Awesome! Very "CREATIVE" too! ;)

[Ajcoholic]

The bunk bed rails are exactly 40" apart. The 1/4" Baltic birch is pretty strong as you know, and the width of the ribs are 2 1/2". I bet it would support my weight...

Queen size bed? Sure! Go to 1/2" (12mm) and have fun. Youd need a bigger blanket though, lol.

This kind of stuff is what is so increadibly easy with a CNC router. It would be so much work to accurately cut and sand to shape the old way with a band saw, etc.

I drew up the file in about 1/2 hour at home in the evening. And about 12 minutes per sheet. Stuff like this I cut almost full depth at 240 IPM, 13,500 rpm with a 1/4" spiral bit, climb. Then conventional cut all the way through plus 5 or 10 thous, and slowed up a bit as not to have the parts move.

Im still impressed that the vacuum can hold parts like this without moving, without tabs. It will be two years this summer since I put the universal vac on the machine. I couldnt do without it now.

Thanks for the comments guys. And Jack, I have two kids already - no room for any more, sorry! :)