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Thread: Alternatives to wood

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  1. #1
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    Default Alternatives to wood

    I've been looking through some of the projects here and it got me to wondering if anyone is using the ShopBot to make things out of materials other than wood.
    I attached one of a few I've done, hopefully others will follow with projects of their own.
    Anything other than a wood product is game for this thread.
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    Last edited by pro70z28; 04-01-2018 at 09:41 PM.

  2. #2
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    Couple More...........


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwQmyyHOoO4
    Attached Images Attached Images

  3. #3
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    Well, those are some fine looking hinges you made there. And I think we now know where your username came from.
    Tom Bachman,
    Drafting/Woodworking Instructor RETIRED!
    Lakin, Kansas

    2001 PRT4896
    https://i.imgur.com/xWEFfDk.jpg

  4. #4
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    Thanks Tom. Any other non-wood projects out there?

  5. #5
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    Here's a project I'm currently working on made from pink foam and "Foamcoat", which is a plaster-acrylic compound that's hard as plastic and machines very easily. It's the main part of a mount for a wooden propeller from a Stinson 108. It's full size which is 32"x19"x6". I modeled it using Rhino from an engineering drawing.

    IMG_20180309_174733.jpgIMG_20180312_204745.jpgIMG_20180402_153622.jpg
    Last edited by coryatjohn; 04-02-2018 at 05:21 PM.
    ShopBot Details:
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  6. #6
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    That's a nice looking project John. I hope you post more as the project progresses.

    In the old days I might have made a part like that by building a blank out of wood, shaping it with a grinder and a lot of body filler, sanding and more sanding, prime, sand prime some more and then spray with mold release and layers fiber glass over that. Then glass some supports on it to make it rigid. Then pull it off as a plug. Do more work on the plug to get it as close to the final shape as possible. Then coat the inside with gel coat and more glass. Then pull it out of the plug and presto a new part. A part that would still need fine tuning to be useable.

    Sure is a lot nicer, and way more accurate to use a ShopBot.

  7. #7
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    I spent more time in the digital phase modelling it. Less dust, less grinding but still, a lot of effort. I like that I can take a digital design and be assured that the final part is going to be very close to the model. I made the foam model slightly smaller, fleshed it out with the foamcoat and machined it down so it was a uniform 1/10th inch thick. The backing is oak and will measure about 3' x 2' and be in the same shape as the cowl with a bronze plaque at the bottom. The prop is pretty heavy so it has to be very sturdy.

    As for materials, I spend as much time with plastics and aluminum as wood.
    ShopBot Details:
    2013 PRS 96x60x12 (Centroid upgrade)
    4hp Spindle
    12" indexer
    Aspire
    Rhino
    Fusion 360
    Ferrari 360
    Prusa MK3S+
    Prusa XL multi-tool

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by pro70z28 View Post
    I've been looking through some of the projects here and it got me to wondering if anyone is using the ShopBot to make things out of materials other than wood.
    I attached one of a few I've done, hopefully others will follow with projects of their own.
    Anything other than a wood product is game for this thread.
    That's nice work. Would you share Bits, feeds and speeds?

    I shared some some power valve guides here.

    I also made a boat console out of extruded PVC to replace a rotted wooden one on my pontoon boat. Can't seem to find pics...
    "Once a person moves away from the computer and CNC some of the most important work begins." ~Joe Crumley

  9. #9
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    It's been awhile since I did that project, so I don't remember what the settings were. I would guess the cut depth would have been around .005" to .010" and speeds on the slow side, probably 1" per second give or take. I've also cut 3/16" plate steel with the ShopBot. That is an even slower process. .005" or less cut depth and probably .5 XY speed MAX, I used water soluble cutting oil to keep the bit cool. Not really practical from a labor standpoint, but this was a personal project, so doing it in house was part of the fun.
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  10. #10
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    Thanks! That's pretty damn awesome. I noticed the big meat in the youtube video and felt all inadequate lol. A billet head for my freestyle jet ski is in my future.
    "Once a person moves away from the computer and CNC some of the most important work begins." ~Joe Crumley

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