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Thread: The CNC Wheelwright

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
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    Pasadena, CA
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    986

    Default The CNC Wheelwright

    Here is another one of my wacky projects....(series of 3 picture posts)
    I want to build a functional wooden garden cart, something like a 2-wheeled wheelbarrow and I want it completely made from wood, without screws, nails and bolts. To be sure it can be done I started making a wheel over the weekend, kind of like the old wagon wheels, 24" diameter and 16 spokes. Lacking the iron hoop (and having a CNC router at hand), I made the rim segments interlock with dovetails and crooked the spokes to achieve a double dish spoke layout for better rigidity. I used simple 3/4" pine board from HD for cost reasons.

    I think it came out quite nice. Now I need to make another one and build the cart box.

    Cutting 2 of 16 rim segments (1-sided):


    Custom vacuum pod to hold the segments:


    Cutting 2 of 4 hub discs (2-sided):


    Cutting 4 of 16 spokes (2-sided):


    to be continued...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
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    Pasadena, CA
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    Default

    All parts completed:


    Starting the rim assembly:


    First side dish of spokes:
    Last edited by Burkhardt; 01-24-2017 at 07:37 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Pasadena, CA
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    Default

    Trueing up and chamfering on the lathe (sometimes it is good to have a lathe with 24" diameter capability).


    Wheel complete and finished with unpigmented stain:


    The rim is deeply grooved to install a bicycle tire:
    Last edited by Burkhardt; 01-24-2017 at 07:39 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Brunswick, GA
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    Default

    Very cool project!
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    Michael Tyler
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Palm Coast, FL
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    Default

    That's awesome!
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Garland Tx
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    Default

    Impressive!

    Just out of curiosity… how far out of round was it?
    SG

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Pasadena, CA
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    Default

    Thanks guys
    I wish I had the skill to build such a wheel with hand tools but for now I can live with the CNC method. Looking at old pictures, the wheelwrights back then had their special machinery as well.

    Quote Originally Posted by steve_g View Post
    ....Just out of curiosity… how far out of round was it?....
    The eccentricity was excellent, maybe only 0.02" which is not really surprising since the spokes fit into the pockets snugly and there is not much reason to be out of round, given the accuracy of a CNC machine.

    I had bigger trouble getting the wheel not to wobble sideways on the lathe but that was more a work holding issue than an accuracy problem of the wheel. I had the rim assembled on a 1" thick sheet of plastic so it was really flat. For the next wheel I will skip the lathe and rather flip the rim segments over on the CNC to do the chamfer with a V-bit.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
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    Absolutely brilliant concept Gert! You never cease to amaze!
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
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    Pasadena, CA
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    Default

    Found that video, amazing single purpose machinery. I really love watching the mortiser.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
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    4,419

    Default

    Beautiful job on the dishing and Joinery G.
    Did you make for 24X2.125" tires with no flat inserts, or solid tires?
    Maybe buy tires and check fit? (although you've probably already done that)
    I LIKE!
    scott
    WOW, Talk about your big iron!! I think I'd braid my ponytail and stick it under a hat in that shop though! That mortiser is a real weapon
    Last edited by scottp55; 01-25-2017 at 09:10 AM.
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

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