Design a Cane and WIN $100

[angus_hines]

OK as many of you may have read I crushed my right heel bone about a month ago. I have since had surgery and the long healing process has begun. Im not going to be able to put any weight on it for another 10 weeks and then I will be needing a cane for at least a year after that according to the doctor.

So with that in mind I decided what an interesting idea. I'll hold a contest for Shop Bot owners that have INDEXERS to design and cut me a cane that I can use during that time period and after, since I am apparently always gonna need a cane from now on due to this injury.

So here are the details :

Dimensions/Design: the overall dimensions should be 36" long X 1.25" Diameter to highest point of the design design depth should be between .128 and .25 deep. ( this insures there is a 1" solid core to the cane ) there needs to be a 1" plain tip on the bottom and top of the cane, for the rubber tip and the brass ball top to be installed on( I will provide the and finished handle )

Must be designed in Aspire / or the program of your choice BUT IT MUST BE POST HERE as a *.crv3d file type so that the judging team and I can review your entry.

The design MUST be made Publicly available to the SHOPBOT community by posting it here.
(feel free to licenses it under Creative Commons Share and Share Alike Non-Commercial )

Must be carved on a Shop Bot Indexer.

Must provide a video of the winning cane being carved that can be used by Shopbot for posting on ShopBot TV.


Must be carved from a close grain hardwood.

WINNER: WILL RECEIVE $100.00 CREDIT FROM SHOPBOT ON THEIR ACCOUNT

DEADLINE : ALL design entries should be posted here to the forum and emailed to me at 3aih (at) angushines . com NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 5th 2011. The cane will have to be Manufactured and delivered to me NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 5th 2011.

[angus_hines]

OK 304 views and no takers Hmmmmm I wonder why ??? Could it be that 85% of all indexers sold are still in their boxes ???

So I will add that:

You can make this cane as a 2 sided glue up method also with out using an indexer however all other rules still apply !!!

[br928]

Angus,

I would give it a try on my new creation but I am still on the learning curve.

One problem I see is that the total job could be made up of several cut files and combined for the finished product. Some could be V Carved and others 2 1/2 D etc. It will be hard to post one .crv3d file.

I have to admit my indexer sat on the back of my Bot for years, unused.

[steve_g]

Angus:

I make a lot of canes, but found your design restrictions too Limiting to be interesting.

1. " must be designed in Aspire"
How about PartWorks and post as .crv?


2. "must be carved on a Shopbot indexer".
How about a homemade indexer on a Shopbot? or as you suggested a 2 sided glue up.

3. " I will provide the Tip and finished handle"
I consider the tip and handle to be part of my integrated design. 99% of all cane failures are due to the handle or tip attachment failing. ( a totally made up statistic but an observation of mine.)

4." Must be carved from a close grain hardwood."
I make all my canes from Baltic Birch Ply, It is the only material I consider guaranteed to be free of hidden defects that could hurt you and my reputation!

5." MUST be made Publicly available"
OK, but grudgingly.

Why not make this wide open? You can still choose the one that meets your needs best. I look forward to designing a cane for your use and also to see what others come up with!

Steve Glassel

[myxpykalix]

Here is my entry...(kind of)..I made this one for me a while ago using my own spiraling app and on my indexer.:D

[Brady Watson]

OK 304 views and no takers Hmmmmm I wonder why ??? Could it be that 85% of all indexers sold are still in their boxes ???


OK you asked so I'll offer my perspective on this. I was a bit taken back by all the rules and regulations.

Indexer projects can be very complex and time consuming. I would venture to guess that a one-off cane that meets all the specs listed here, with any kind of thoughtful creative flair, would be an investment of at least $500 in time, materials and tooling. Those who 'index' would agree. Even if you have the perfect model, there are challenges when machining long, slender things like a cane - vibration can ruin all your work in short order...and the perfect cane may need to be machined 3 times in order to finally get a good one because the material doesn't want to cooperate (aka explodes, cracks or splits between centers). The $100 prize may or may not cover tooling costs alone.

Also, while I love Vectric and think they have done a fantastic job with Aspire, everyone who bought Rhino3D, VisualMill, ArtCAM, MillWizard, VectorCADCAM etc legitimately through ShopBot, is instantly alienated...unless they can provide the file in Aspire format.

In keeping with the spirit of ShopBot & keeping tools affordable, I wouldn't eliminate home-built indexers that are based on wood lathes or other bases. Lots of people piece together their accessories as they can afford them with new & used parts. My only limitation would be that the project was machined on a ShopBot.

Maybe a more reasonable list of parameters would be:

1) Cane must be X" long, between this min/max diameter
2) Cane must be made of one of the following hardwood species:
3) Each submission must be accompanied by a write up explaining the project and at least X number of photos showing the whole process etc.
4) Cane must be machined on a genuine ShopBot CNC.
5) Submissions due by dd/mm/yy

Just sayin'...

-B

[myxpykalix]

i would encourage some of you guys with indexers to try this, but keep in mind you will need some "thin stock support" mine is a kids plastic skate. The downward forces exerted on thin stock without support over this long span will cause your design, whether it be a spiral like mine, or a carved piece to possibly break or be distorted.

[cabindoors]

I've designed and built this cane using Aspire and my Shopbot. I suppose it won't fit the contest criteria however. It's made of solid oak and the intregal seat is baltic birch. Just thought I'd post to show what a Shopbot can do and what "thinking outside the box" can accomplish.

Good Luck,

Tom

[myxpykalix]

tom,
that is very clever. When you get tired from hobbling along just pop the chair open and take a seat!:D

How much extra weight does that add to the cane? Does it make the cane harder to use? i lke it!:)

could you replace the wooden seat with a nylon cloth type seat? hmmm...maybe not:eek:

[angus_hines]

OK Thanks Brady. I hadn't really thought it through that well. So with your thought's in mind I'll open this up to the suggestions you made below.

I'll leave the date the same.

That its must be a well documented project <whatever software/indexer you use> and as long as it's made on a ShopBot Tool, that will help others getting started with an indexer.

However, I can't change the $ amount for the prize as that isn't my call since it is a ShopBot credit.

Someone mentioned the handle and tip as a concern, So I'll change this to include the "CoMPLETE" cane.


And Thanx for the insight Brady !! Any questions feel free to ask.




OK you asked so I'll offer my perspective on this. I was a bit taken back by all the rules and regulations.

Indexer projects can be very complex and time consuming. I would venture to guess that a one-off cane that meets all the specs listed here, with any kind of thoughtful creative flair, would be an investment of at least $500 in time, materials and tooling. Those who 'index' would agree. Even if you have the perfect model, there are challenges when machining long, slender things like a cane - vibration can ruin all your work in short order...and the perfect cane may need to be machined 3 times in order to finally get a good one because the material doesn't want to cooperate (aka explodes, cracks or splits between centers). The $100 prize may or may not cover tooling costs alone.

Also, while I love Vectric and think they have done a fantastic job with Aspire, everyone who bought Rhino3D, VisualMill, ArtCAM, MillWizard, VectorCADCAM etc legitimately through ShopBot, is instantly alienated...unless they can provide the file in Aspire format.

In keeping with the spirit of ShopBot & keeping tools affordable, I wouldn't eliminate home-built indexers that are based on wood lathes or other bases. Lots of people piece together their accessories as they can afford them with new & used parts. My only limitation would be that the project was machined on a ShopBot.

Maybe a more reasonable list of parameters would be:

1) Cane must be X" long, between this min/max diameter
2) Cane must be made of one of the following hardwood species:
3) Each submission must be accompanied by a write up explaining the project and at least X number of photos showing the whole process etc.
4) Cane must be machined on a genuine ShopBot CNC.
5) Submissions due by dd/mm/yy

Just sayin'...

-B

[angus_hines]

I like this Tom especially the handle. But, I don't really need something this complex with the seat and all.:)


I've designed and built this cane using Aspire and my Shopbot. I suppose it won't fit the contest criteria however. It's made of solid oak and the intregal seat is baltic birch. Just thought I'd post to show what a Shopbot can do and what "thinking outside the box" can accomplish.

Good Luck,

Tom

[angus_hines]

Oh and as mentioned. I will also be allowing the 2 sided glue up method of making a cane in the contest also.

[Brady Watson]

Thanks Angus - Hope you heal up quickly!

-B

[steve_g]

Angus:

I am aware that my cane designs stretch the parameters you've established for the "Design-A-cane" contest, and am OK with it if they aren't considered a legitimate entry. I've decided to make my non-entry entry in the form of a "design-A-cane" project. The idea is that you see the possibilities and options and put together a design that fits your personality, even adding your own logos and artwork. I will then build a cane customized for you by you.

When I make a cane for a friend... I know quite a bit about them, and take that knowledge into consideration when designing the cane. Hobbies, likes and dislikes, man or woman, Size (weight), degree of dependence on the cane, personality, all come into play when making a personalized cane.

I have made some "ball" end canes as suggested in the contest specifications and will include one in my designs, however this design has proven to be very uncomfortable for people, like myself, who have Arthritic hands.

Because my family lawyer has asked me to stop making canes for sale (she's OK with the ones I make as gifts), I've decided to freely offer my designs to the ShopBot community.

The included vectors are a collection of many styles I've developed the last few years.

Enjoy!
Steve Glassel

P.S. I have Emailed my designs seperately to you as I was unable to attach them here due to size restrictions.

[angus_hines]

Thanks Steve, Looked over the -emails and files you sent and I really like your designs and the documentation you took the time to include with it.

as I mentioned earlier I have pretty well removed all of the constraints on this contest. except the pictures/video and build info and that it be made on a ShopBot machine.

So be sure to tune back in here tomorrow afternoon/evening to see if your the winner.:)

OK If anybody else want to jump in there's still time.

And Oh why not... with 24 hours left in the contest I'll even open it up to a home built machine running on the ShopBot Inventors Kit !!!!

[steve_g]

I'm trying something new, I hope it works.

Cane Design.pdf

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8GtiBWUjRyRZjg3MTdiZWItNTljNC00MWUxLTgxO TUtNDRmNWU5MzhlNmRk

Cane design.crv
After in opens click the "download original" button to get these files

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8GtiBWUjRyRY2Q3OWMzYzAtNjc5YS00ZTVkLTlhO WMtZjMwOTgyMDA1OWYx

Let me know if this doesn't work

Steve

[angus_hines]

Well looks like your the winner Steve. We can work out the details ect. between now and December.

And then we'll get the info/designs together to share with the community. :D

[steve_g]

Angus:
Lets get the project under way!

1. Based on the sizing chart in my PDF will a 36" cane be long enough to cut to the right size?
2. Did you see any handles/shafts that catch your imagination?

3. How would you like it decorated? V-carving, inlay, other?

4. Do you have art work, logo or something that defines you that can be incorporated?

I look forward to designing a "personalized" cane for you!

Steve

[MogulTx]

Steve,

You laminate a few layers of material togethre for yours. I liked the one you brought to Austin- that had the Beattles lyrics on it (right?).

I have a brain injured nephew who has started collecting canes ( looking for one that he likes). I'd like to design one up for him and maybe laminate some hard maple and black walnut then do a through-the-first-layer- carving like you did on that one. Any tips or tricks or suggestions before I go out and start acquiring materials? Any subtle but important points that I should be aware of?

Thanks. And thanks for my slightly OT questions.

Best Regards,

Monty

[steve_g]

Monty
It was Simon and Garfunkel's lyrics "Slow down you move to fast..."

Have you down loaded the "Cane Design" PDF above? I pretty much explain my whole process. Also the above .crv download is for everyone's enjoyment.

I hope you find something in those files you can use!

Steve

[angus_hines]

Hey Steve, Im liking the same design, But, Im looking for a different quote at the moment and will send that to you in an email later.

I'll make a better posting of the files above since you had some trouble with that somehow.:D

and I'll also, get with Kathy abut your credit shortly alos.

[angus_hines]

Just shot you an e-mail with the new quote for the cane let me know if you got it !!! Thanx

[steve_g]

Augus

Well... here it is! It'll be put in the mail tomorrow (the lacquer is still soft). Lots of photos and maybe even video to come.

Steve

[bleeth]

"There was a crooked man and he had a crooked cane"
Really nice Steve.

[angus_hines]

Awesome Steve thanks for all your hard work and documentation on this project. Looking forward to seeing the pics/video and actually using the cane. :D

[steve_g]

Three others that went out today too...

Steve

[myxpykalix]

love the design in the center one...........nice work!

[steve_g]

Jack
I'm glad you like it! As a young man I taught "crafts" as a grad assistant to elementary and special education majors. I learned to enjoy and appreciate the art of leather "tooling" and "carving". The western leather belt look is what I was after for this cane. Friends who know nothing about the leather decorating arts still like this design but for other reasons. I've been working on this design for awhile and freely share it with the ShopBot community. see link.

Steve
Please let me know if this method of posting files too large for the forum isn't working well for you!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8GtiBWUjRyRODlhMWY1NDQtY2UzZS00ZjNjLWFkZ WYtY2FkYzYxODQyN2M0

[steve_g]

Well... Design-A-Cane is coming to its end! The cane has been shipped and is in route. Here are my final thoughts and photos with regard to its design and manufacture. (See link to PDF file).

I can't decide if I have "bragging" rights as the winner of this competition or not... there weren't many competing entries... and were the others actually entries or just comments? Oh well, I am a winner because I really had fun designing, posting, interfacing with Angus, and documenting the process. However It's a good thing I'm not trying to feed my family on contest winnings!

Steve

design-a-cane 2
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8GtiBWUjRyRYWNkNmNhNjItMDQ3ZC00YTkwLTk2M jEtMDRkZGZiM2MyMmE1

[johnh]

Steve, Great job and many thanks for all the instructional details.

[steve_g]

Thank you John, and welcome to the forum!

Steve

[myxpykalix]

Steve,
Thanks for the instructional pdf....

oh yeah...NICE BLACK SOCKS! :eek::rolleyes::)

[steve_g]

Here's my first attempt at movie making... If you have 10 minuets to spare take a look and let me know what you think. I had wanted to end the video with Angus using the cane, but he is still limited to crutches.

If I ever do this again, I'll start the project with a story board, instead of just letting it happen.

I used Windows Live Movie Maker and was pleased with how Dumbed down it was. I was able to use the program intuitively and didn't need any instructions or tutorials. I shot the footage with my $100.00 Canon A1100 point and shoot camera and thought it did a better job than a palm cam I paid in excess of $1000.00 several years ago.

Enjoy

Steve


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l0aq0W5Nao&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l0aq0W5Nao&feature=youtu.be)

[gc3]

Here's my first attempt at movie making... If you have 10 minuets to spare take a look and let me know what you think. I had wanted to end the video with Angus using the cane, but he is still limited to crutches.

If I ever do this again, I'll start the project with a story board, instead of just letting it happen.

I used Windows Live Movie Maker and was pleased with how Dumbed down it was. I was able to use the program intuitively and didn't need any instructions or tutorials. I shot the footage with my $100.00 Canon A1100 point and shoot camera and thought it did a better job than a palm cam I paid in excess of $1000.00 several years ago.

Enjoy

Steve


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l0aq0W5Nao&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l0aq0W5Nao&feature=youtu.be)


like button 5 times!!!! well done

nancy....it's almost 2012..... update this forum with the "like"

[COBOB]

What a knockout video. Very high quality. Well lit. A lot of the people posting on YouTube could take lessons from you.

Well done! And I really enjoyed it.

[myxpykalix]

Steve,
"Here's my first attempt at movie making"

As someone who has worked on movies and television all i can say is......
I smell an OSCAR in your future!! Oscar Meyer that is!!:p

Actually that was very good, I would like to have seen more how you create your designs. The only other issue i had was at 3:15 in the video I had to pause and go out to my shed and get my ear muffs because you said "Lets put on our hearing protection for the rest of the video", so I couldn't hear the music......:rolleyes:

Good Job Steve:D

[MogulTx]

Excellent Steve! Thanks Angus for posting it on YouTube! Good stuff!

I especially liked the final comments! Now or Never. VG!

Monty

[angus_hines]

:D

Finally today I have put the crutches down and I am putting FULL weight on it today !!!!

So here is the action shot of me with the AWESOME new cane !!!

:D

[bleeth]

Way to go guy!!!

[angus_hines]

@Dave I'll be dancing by February, So make sure you clear the shop floor by then .... LOL !! :eek:

[angus_hines]

Steve made some corrections and change to the original video. SO I have deleted that one and here is the link to the new video.

Be sure to wait for the surprise ending

http://youtu.be/D0SL_mlcvHk

:D

[myxpykalix]

when you said a surprise ending i was bracing myself for some scary picture like from the exorcist to pop up with a loud scream:eek: like we've all seen on youtube. looks good.

Angus, i don't know if you were just modeling the cane in the picture, but you had mentioned something about the doctor telling you to hold the cane on the opposite side of the injury, which i was told the same thing but that makes no sense to me:confused:

It would seem the cane should act as your 3rd leg, or in my case it would be a 4th leg:rolleyes: I use mine to take the weight off the bad leg and when it gives out the cane is there to catch you.

Good luck in your recovery!

[steve_g]

Thanks for the kind comments guys...

Re: Jack I would like to have seen more how you create your designs

I was having issues with the length of the video... I cut lots of stuff!

"designing the cane" could be a feature length movie. I've long felt that V-carving is an underappreciated art, over shadowed by its sexier cousin 3D carving. V-carve Routing times are a fraction of 3D times, making it much more commercially viable. If the file is well designed, A V-carved decoration has lots of 3D characteristics and appeal.

A year ago or so (after last years Austin Camp) I started making notes on my thought process of design, several months ago I started writing a treatise on V-carving... This may not amount to any thing (I'm a slow writer) but my introduction is 10 pages long. I hope to have plenty to show at this years camp.



I was bracing myself for some scary picture...

HA! For some the scary part was thinking that the scary part was yet to come!


Steve

[MogulTx]

Steve/ Angus,

I was able to use Steve's design for a cane ( slightly modified) to make a cane for my brain injured nephew. He had recently broken his favorite cane- and I used the rough design to give me the ideas to make him a very sturdy hard maple and mahogany laminated cane, with an insert in the handle of red oak and a Texas Star, as well. Even put his name, and an image of TX (V-carved so it gave it almost a topographical look. Very nice) as well as his intended college's logo ( TAMU- who provides a DXF of their logo on the web, I was surprised to find out).

Anyway, I am very very grateful that you have shared the design. I changed little except to make the knob on the handle truly circular and slightly larger. Redrew the insert in the handle slighly and went with laminated wood solids vs baltic birch... My nephew was over the moon when he saw it, and it made me very happy that took ont he effor to build it for him. I wanted to thank you for your generous guidance via the forum. It is very much appreciated.

Monty

[MogulTx]

I can't seem to get the cane photo to show up in the forum. It is posted on my user file. (please feel free to go peek)

I apologize in advance for blanking his last name. I didn't figure I needed to broadcast that... I am sure you understand.

Huge Thanks to you Steve. HUGE.

Humbly,

Monty

[steve_g]

Monty:
Very nice! I'm glad that you were able to use my design as a starting place for a custom cane for your nephew.

If anyone wants to use my designs as a starting place even for selling canes, feel free to do so. I could have sold my cane twice today while at the drug store!

Steve

[genek]

nice cane... what kind of wood did you use. i make a walking stick out of maple and walnut that is glued up.

[genek]

I've designed and built this cane using Aspire and my Shopbot. I suppose it won't fit the contest criteria however. It's made of solid oak and the intregal seat is baltic birch. Just thought I'd post to show what a Shopbot can do and what "thinking outside the box" can accomplish.

Good Luck,

Tom
would love to have the drawing of that .. to make for my 87 year old father.. and how it goes together.

[bruce_taylor]

I thought the video was very informative I will venture into some of this as soon as I have a few minutes to set something up. Really like the inlays nice touch. Steve maybe you should make a couple extra to keep with you just incase somebody wants one. I feel my one leg getting a little weak, maybe I should start using a cane to sell... I mean walk with...

[steve_g]

Eugene:

Earlier in this thread I have documented my technique for making my canes and have included links to download files etc.

This one is a repeat but will save you the time of looking through the thread for the cut files.

I use Baltic Birch exclusively, but others like Monty, have laminated hardwoods to make their own versions.

Feel free to use any of my designs, or incorporate them into yours. Post your designs!

Steve

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8GtiBWUjRyRY2Q3OWMzYzAtNjc5YS00ZTVkLTlhO WMtZjMwOTgyMDA1OWYx

[MogulTx]

Steve- I will bring a couple of my prototype pieces from the cane build to the Camp later this month. Will you be coming down? I'd love to shake your hand and thank you personally for the super leg up on this project...

Thanks,

Monty

[steve_g]

Monty
I signed up to come, But... I thought I was having a bad reaction to a new Arthritis med, but I was having a series of heart attacks. Bummer! I just got home from the hospital this afternoon... Stints and all that go along with that. In two weeks they are going to decide if they need more stints or bypass surgery. I've really been looking forward to this years camp, but my attendance is up in the air right now.

Steve

[genek]

Steve where do you get the rubber shoes for your canes... I need to order in bulk we make walking sticks etc. Plus canes... My supplier has gone out of business.

[steve_g]

Eugene,

I just use the 1 1/8" furniture leg tip from Home Depot, they're always available and never mar a floor. They also have several diameters available

Steve

[myxpykalix]

that is a cheaper alternative probably but if you can't find any there i bought some form a medical supply company locally, i think i paid a buck or two?

I always go to places like Big Lots and Roses and Dolar Store to see if there is anything i can adapt for my purposes before going to the retail place for it.