Introduction: Jon from WoodMarvels.com

[WoodMarvels.com]

As per protocol, I'm introducing myself after joining the forum.

My name is Jon and I have a problem... I feel pity for the ShopBot Desktop that inhabits the garage when it isn't busy cutting something. I don't particularly come from any one "woodcrafting world", be it traditional, laser or as of a few weeks ago, the CNC world - I just locked myself up for a few years away from real life, traveling the world and releasing design after design for my website WoodMarvels.com with reckless disregard for sales or encouragement. After I emerged from my extended hibernation, I realized that I achieved something and decided to begin to tell the world about it.

I am entirely self taught, from 3D to design... pretty much everything else I do... I bash my head against the wall until the wall gives way. It's worked for me so far and I've also managed to keep most of my hair too... genetics be damned!

My world is populated by mm, not inches and although I don't enjoy math, I find myself using it more than I'd like. I learn what I need to and quickly forget what isn't useful - I burned the instructions book of how to live life and instead decided to write my own. I enjoy the creative process, haven written 6 books from science fiction to learning Chinese... including 3 of my wooden designs. I haven't had a phone for the past 5 years nor do I watch TV for good measure... which leaves me with plenty of time to... FEED MY SHOPBOT DESKTOP MORE DESIGNS!

Jon
Founder of WoodMarvels.com

[myxpykalix]

Welcome Jon,
In the past I and others have hilited your website and models here and i am sure others have bought your models. Now that you are setting them up for CNC i'll take a second look when that is done. Out of curiosity i'd be interested to know how you created your videos with the "exploded view"?

Good luck and don't hesitate to ask for help, and keep us notified when you update your designs...:D

Now back for second helpings of turkey...:eek:

[bleeth]

Jon:
You and me may travel to the beat of a different drum but the wonderful thing about being human is that it is not only OK; it is absolutley fabulous.
A good time to come onto the forum-Happy Thanksgiving (and the same to all of you and yours).

Dave

[chiloquinruss]

Drums, I didn't hear any drums! :)

Welcome to the best forum on the otherwise vast waste land known as the internet. Russ

[t_vandemark]

Welcome to the forum Jon. It looks like you've designed some interesting stuff. I look forward to trying some of them one day.

[jerry_stanek]

It's when the drums stop you have to worry.

[WoodMarvels.com]

Hi Jack, you want to read this

http://blog.woodmarvels.com/how-woodmarvels-com-animations-are-produced

for the answer to your questions. I have 20 CNC plans done and tested now but haven't completed the assembly instructions or exploded 3D animations yet but once they are done, product by product, I'll release them on the site. There is a special section under Collaborations / ShopBot CNC where you'll find CNC tested (with video) models. Only one there right now, should be @ 10x that by the end of the year depending on how rendering goes and double that in January.

Going from laser to CNC isn't as much of a jump as I thought - the "conversion" process goes pretty quickly once you know what to watch for but the biggest issue so far has been cutting time relative to daylight. I only have a 5-6 hour window to cut things while video taping... same window for assembly so it's a slow going. I want to record the entire process from start to finish - it's just fun!

Jon

[myxpykalix]

Jon,
That was interesting. I started with the DOS version of 3D Studio and then Lightwave in the Video Toaster on the Amiga (which i still have) back in the early 90's. Things have progressed over the years. We used to have to animate each frame manually (called tweening) for movement.

I like your models. Recently i have gotten interested in doing things with gears (I haven't cut anything yet still recuperating) but like the Rocket Coaster. Good luck:)

[gc3]

It's when the drums stop you have to worry.


ain't that the truth!!!

[WoodMarvels.com]

Yeah Jack, I'm very much getting into gears and elastic powered things... it's a natural progression. I'm sure the Rocket Coaster can be CNC'ed with some modifications (as I'm doing now for simpler models) and if you doubled the scale as well. The ShopBot Desktop and soon access to a large format laser cutter will really help me develop some of my more complicated ideas.

There is still tons of fun to be had using only plywood!

Jon

[myxpykalix]

have you thought of trying some of your designs cut out of .25 thick corian? I have cut lithos out of corian and still have some pieces left. I think that might be something that would be a good material to work with.

[WoodMarvels.com]

Hi Jack, I'm sticking to one wood - plywood @ 6mm for testing the models out... until I settle down somewhere. I use the Shopbot Desktop for testing and video work only, not for commercial applications.

Jon

[rickbw]

Jon,

I've left you a PM in regards to Woodmarvels.

Rick

[mjindustry]

Hi Jon, welcome to Talk Shopbot!

You have a really cool website and lots of interesting designs on there. :)

Melissa