has anyone modeled a carved saddle seat?

[Ajcoholic]

I am working on modeling (in Aspire) a fairly deep carved saddle seat for a kitchen stool design I am working on.

I am trying to take the outline of the profile, and do a sweep - and then add some height on the pommel (the central raised portion).

I am having various degrees of success (its coming along the more I work on it).

Has anyone done this? I would be interested in how you approached it.

I do a fair number of chairs and stools and this is one area I think the CNC will really save me time, as hand shaping the seats with a grinder/shaves/chisels and a shaped platen on the stroke sander is quite time consuming.

AJC

[tmerrill]

There have been a few discussions on the Vectric forum. Perhaps these may help:

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5273

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=5153&hilit=seat

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8219&start=0

I would model the recess without the pommel, then do that as a separate component and use the Add combine mode to add it to the recessed area.

Tim

[cowboy1296]

i doubt if this would help you. this one is on vectorart3d.com

[gc3]

http://www.4m3d.com/

Todd can do whatever you need.....

[Ajcoholic]

There have been a few discussions on the Vectric forum. Perhaps these may help:

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5273

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=5153&hilit=seat

http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8219&start=0

I would model the recess without the pommel, then do that as a separate component and use the Add combine mode to add it to the recessed area.

Tim

Well, I know I am doing it the same way so I guess I am on the right track. Thanks for the link.

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

i doubt if this would help you. this one is on vectorart3d.com

wrong kind of saddle :)

[Ajcoholic]

http://www.4m3d.com/

Todd can do whatever you need.....

I prefer to do my own design work if at all possible. I dont mind the idea of paying a pro to do something I know is well beyond my means but I have a pretty good idea on this one, I am approaching it the correct way. Just wanted to know if anyone else has done it, and what process they took.

Looks like the 2 rail sweep to get the main concave section, and then using some other areas built up for the central pommel is the way to go.

If I can figure out how to post a photo of the modeled part I will try and post what I have done.

AJC

[myxpykalix]

to post photo go down below to
"additional options"/attach files/ manage attachments from there you can call up photos from whatever location

[Ajcoholic]

Here is try #1.. will widen up the carved portion about 1/2" each side on #2.


http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0812.jpg

[Ajcoholic]

well I made a new file, widened up the carve to get closer to the edge of the seat.

Also, I am going to try and do the entire cut with the 1/2" core box (ball end) bit VS using a 1/2" to rough out a pocket first.

And, I will try both ways to cut the contours - the original one started in the middle and worked its way out in a circular/square pattern. I will try the raster I think it is called, where it starts at one end and goes back and forth progressing from one end to the other.

Will have to laminate up some more test blanks and I can set up the router to cut, while I start a new cabinet job tomorrow.

Will post some more samples when I get em' cut.

And, if anyone is interested, this stool is a design taken from the magazine "woodworkers journal" April 2011. It is for a really nice clean lined 24" high stool with a back.

AJC

PS I'm also willing to share files with anyone if you want them.

[COBOB]

Hi AJ, I don't know if I would ever make a stool. But I sure would enjoy looking at your file just to see how you did it. Cutting that shape seems so complex.
Thanks,
Bob

[Steve M]

I didn't know what you meant by "saddle seat".

This is a kayak seat that was modeled in Rhino.

http://www.tacpro.com/images/kayak seat.jpg

[Ajcoholic]

Well, I re-cut another seat, with a wider profile. It turned out REALLY good, fits me like a glove! :)

This one I did in Alder. I am ready to go into production now!

Here are the two side by side as well.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0828.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0829.jpg

Bob, pm me your email. Ill send you the file tomorrow if I get a chance, I left my shopbot computer at work today.

Steve, thats what I have always called a contoured chair seat - a saddle seat or saddle carve. In industry before CNC machining centers there was a shaper machine which did this style of carve. Beast of a thing.

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0830.jpg

So here are two of the chairs made with the seats I carved out the other day. I would have left them natural but my wife wanted them dark. I am using them for a show, then they will stay at my house in the kitchen.

A number of guys asked for the Aspire file, will send it to anyone who shoots me their email.

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

for some reason I am having trouble attaching the Aspire file to an email.

I also cannot upload it to this forum.

It will let me attach a shopbot cut file, i'll try that - tell me if its any good to view?

Nope its too large. I will try and email the shopbot file...

AJC

[tmerrill]

Very nice Andrew, they came out great.

Please consider posting pictures in the Aspire Gallery on the Vectric forum also.

Tim

[Ajcoholic]

And now I cant seem to attach the shopbot file to an email either.

Doh.

I am a mac user. I copied the aspire and shopbot files from my pc to my mac, and for some reason it wont let me attach the files to an email.

Someone know how to handle this? Or, a free place to upload the file that others can see it? Maybe Ill go on over to the Vectric site and see if I can upload it there...

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Well, thats no good either. The file is too big to upload.

I hate computers.... :(

[Ajcoholic]

OK, tried again and now I am able to attach the Aspire file to an outgoing email.

I sent it to those who asked. Let me know if it did not work, otherwise have fun! If you want to make the chair, you can still order the back issue of the magazine (Woodworker's Journal), the stool is on the cover. I think it is April 2011.

AJC

[michael_schwartz]

"control click", or right click and you should be able to compress the file into a zip. It still may not be below the 244.1kb limit for attaching to a forum post. If thats the case you could try using a service like dropbox to host it.

[Ajcoholic]

even zipped it says it is too large.

[B. Pile]

Andrew the chairs look great! And your shop is top notch. You seem
to have taken to shopbot like a fish to water.I am also a newbie to
shopbotting and trying very hard to keep up with my son who seemed
to pick it very fast. Although i am excited to learn.I may be late in
asking but i would love a copy of that file if possible my wife would also love
a set of those chairs. Again all your work looks great i hope we have the
opportunity to meet some day.

Best
Buster Pile

[GDGeorge]

I use Dropbox.com. It's free for 2GB of storage, and is set up so that you can easily have a public folder and then share a link. You can also sync between many computers.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with them. Just find them handy to use.

Cheers,
Jerry

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew the chairs look great! And your shop is top notch. You seem
to have taken to shopbot like a fish to water.I am also a newbie to
shopbotting and trying very hard to keep up with my son who seemed
to pick it very fast. Although i am excited to learn.I may be late in
asking but i would love a copy of that file if possible my wife would also love
a set of those chairs. Again all your work looks great i hope we have the
opportunity to meet some day.

Best
Buster Pile

Hey Buster,
Thanks for the comments! Shoot me an email at "acoholic@ntl.sympatico.ca" and I will send you the file. It appears to work now as the guys I sent it to yesterday all received it fine.

Again, if you want to build the exact stools/chairs - the plans are in this magazine:

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/Main/Store/Woodworkers_Journal_April_2011_409.aspx

You can get a copy for $5.99 , its a good read.

Again, anyone else want it, just send me an email and I'd be happy to. :)

AJC

[CNYDWW]

Can't aspire export a high res gray scale bitmap? Then anyone with the appropriate software could use it. Should be smaller as well. Then include a dxf of the outline and .zip bang boom(pun intended). Should be a lot smaller.

[MogulTx]

Thank you AJC. I got the file and will send for a copy of the mag so I can get the appropriate other data!

This looks like an AWESOME project!!

Monty

[myxpykalix]

Someone sent me the stl and I felt i had to fix a critical design flaw in your file. I hope you approve of the changes:rolleyes:

[gcox2]

Andrew....did you use a probe for this seat and get the file from andexisting one?
Gary

[Ajcoholic]

No probe - I just did it up in Aspire.

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Someone sent me the stl and I felt i had to fix a critical design flaw in your file. I hope you approve of the changes:rolleyes:

Im afraid to ask what that is...:eek:

AJC

[myxpykalix]

Im afraid to ask what that is...:eek:

AJC
Well this model is for a man....:rolleyes:

sack relief

[steve_g]

Oh... silly me. I thought it was hemorrhoid relief...

Steve

[myxpykalix]

Here was the picture that i originally was going to post as inspiration for my model:eek:

[robtown]

Jumping in late here, and I haven't read the entire thread so forgive me if I'm being reduntant here...

But this could've easily been done with a .jpg and B/W gradients.

R

[steve_g]

OK Rob...

I'm not to old to learn something new... point me in the right direction to try this method! Do I need a image of what I want to carve or can I start from scratch with my own design?

Steve

[Ajcoholic]

Jumping in late here, and I haven't read the entire thread so forgive me if I'm being reduntant here...

But this could've easily been done with a .jpg and B/W gradients.

R

I have no idea what that means... But I thought the way I did it was quite simple.

AJC

[CNYDWW]

I have limited experience with Aspire. With other affordable CNC programs that can use gradient images, i have not found a program that you can use to accurately represent the proper smooth gradient to get anything beyond a rough finish. The technique itself uses gradients to determine depth of 3d carvings. From what i do know about aspire. Your view in the 2D window shows the gradient image. You should be able to export that image and use it in another program or share it. I read before that you can export from aspire as a gradient Tiff. image. That should give you the best results. It's basically the same process as exporting an STL from the software as well.

Regards
Randy