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Post by fsperring on May 7, 2019 7:49:38 GMT -5
Looking for advice on whether a CNC router can decrease my production time and improve accuracy. I have a small home woodworking business and make accessories for high-end RVs. One of my most popular products is a shower mat made from mahogany in a crosshatch pattern. See pictures. Each shower mat is made with 14 pieces of wood with a series of half lap joints. I make these on a table saw with a dado cutter and crosscut sled. As there are two different size pieces of wood, I cut 7 of one size and then 7 of the other size. Each group of 7 boards has 7 half lap joints and takes 21 pass through the saw to complete. I can do all 14 pieces in about 45 minutes. Accuracy is key for clean looking joins without gaps larger then 1/8". Insuring this accuracy is done with a lot of markup and eyesight at the table saw. This does not always happen the way I want. My questions for this group, to which I greatly appreciate any advice, are: - Do you think a CNC machine could decrease my production time?
- While I beleive accuracy would be improved by removing the human fact, are there other challenges that would enter the picture?
- I mill all 14 pieces to their finish size before cutting the half lap joints, would it be better to cut the joints in a larger piece of stock and then rip them down to finished size?
- Wood never stops moving, heat and humidity play a big factor, how do I deal with this in the world of CNC when I need to make a lot of part the same size?
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Post by gerry on May 7, 2019 9:07:48 GMT -5
Looking for advice on whether a CNC router can decrease my production time and improve accuracy. I have a small home woodworking business and make accessories for high-end RVs. One of my most popular products is a shower mat made from mahogany in a crosshatch pattern. See pictures. Each shower mat is made with 14 pieces of wood with a series of half lap joints. I make these on a table saw with a dado cutter and crosscut sled. As there are two different size pieces of wood, I cut 7 of one size and then 7 of the other size. Each group of 7 boards has 7 half lap joints and takes 21 pass through the saw to complete. I can do all 14 pieces in about 45 minutes. Accuracy is key for clean looking joins without gaps larger then 1/8". Insuring this accuracy is done with a lot of markup and eyesight at the table saw. This does not always happen the way I want. My questions for this group, to which I greatly appreciate any advice, are: - Do you think a CNC machine could decrease my production time?
- While I beleive accuracy would be improved by removing the human fact, are there other challenges that would enter the picture?
- I mill all 14 pieces to their finish size before cutting the half lap joints, would it be better to cut the joints in a larger piece of stock and then rip them down to finished size?
- Wood never stops moving, heat and humidity play a big factor, how do I deal with this in the world of CNC when I need to make a lot of part the same size?
Do you think a CNC machine could decrease my production time? Production time might be decreased if you split your processes. I would start by using the CNC like an automated router. Use it to cut the dados in a slab of wood. They can be cut, with a 1/2" downcut spiral bit, fairly fast. They will be nice, clean, and accurate. Slice off the pieces with your table saw. You can't beat the speed and quality when using a good rip blade. Also less waste. If you pin the boards together with dowels, the dowel holes can be drilled quickly and accurately. You could do the entire process on a CNC, but things like ripping and rounding are better left to other machines. Setup can be very quick ,if you make yourself a master set of jigs. The more you use your CNC, the better you'll get to know it's good and bad points. There are times when I need to adjust a fit a couple of thou, and I'll still grab a hand plane to do it. While I believe accuracy would be improved by removing the human fact, are there other challenges that would enter the picture? Some processes are slow, unless you have a very expensive, big HORSEPOWER, CNC. An example is cutting the strips. Much faster on a table saw, but more accurate on a CNC. Some products you may rethink. Like cutting the mats out of a single piece and machining in some kind of texture and/or personalization. Custom inlays, carved initials. Even new products that are not cost effective to via hand work, but easy on a CNC. Don't get caught up on doing everything with the CNC. Pick the best tool for the job. I mill all 14 pieces to their finish size before cutting the half lap joints, would it be better to cut the joints in a larger piece of stock and then rip them down to finished size? -- Answered with the first question.... Wood never stops moving, heat and humidity play a big factor, how do I deal with this in the world of CNC when I need to make a lot of part the same size? The same a the rest of your woodworking. In fact, you're taking that into consideration, so you're a step ahead of a lot of folks. |
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Post by fsperring on May 7, 2019 9:17:04 GMT -5
Looking for advice on whether a CNC router can decrease my production time and improve accuracy. I have a small home woodworking business and make accessories for high-end RVs. One of my most popular products is a shower mat made from mahogany in a crosshatch pattern. See pictures. Each shower mat is made with 14 pieces of wood with a series of half lap joints. I make these on a table saw with a dado cutter and crosscut sled. As there are two different size pieces of wood, I cut 7 of one size and then 7 of the other size. Each group of 7 boards has 7 half lap joints and takes 21 pass through the saw to complete. I can do all 14 pieces in about 45 minutes. Accuracy is key for clean looking joins without gaps larger then 1/8". Insuring this accuracy is done with a lot of markup and eyesight at the table saw. This does not always happen the way I want. My questions for this group, to which I greatly appreciate any advice, are: - Do you think a CNC machine could decrease my production time?
- While I beleive accuracy would be improved by removing the human fact, are there other challenges that would enter the picture?
- I mill all 14 pieces to their finish size before cutting the half lap joints, would it be better to cut the joints in a larger piece of stock and then rip them down to finished size?
- Wood never stops moving, heat and humidity play a big factor, how do I deal with this in the world of CNC when I need to make a lot of part the same size?
Gerry, Very nice to e-meet you and thank you for your very thoughtful advice. I agree, right tool, right job. While I know a CNC machine will open a whole new world of products I have yet to offer, it is very helpful for me to think about how I would approach a current product. I am going to reach out to Axiom today and start the process of ordering a machine. I hope to return the advice to you one day in the near future. Onward Do you think a CNC machine could decrease my production time? Production time might be decreased if you split your processes. I would start by using the CNC like an automated router. Use it to cut the dados in a slab of wood. They can be cut, with a 1/2" downcut spiral bit, fairly fast. They will be nice, clean, and accurate. Slice off the pieces with your table saw. You can't beat the speed and quality when using a good rip blade. Also less waste. If you pin the boards together with dowels, the dowel holes can be drilled quickly and accurately. You could do the entire process on a CNC, but things like ripping and rounding are better left to other machines. Setup can be very quick ,if you make yourself a master set of jigs. The more you use your CNC, the better you'll get to know it's good and bad points. There are times when I need to adjust a fit a couple of thou, and I'll still grab a hand plane to do it. While I believe accuracy would be improved by removing the human fact, are there other challenges that would enter the picture? Some processes are slow, unless you have a very expensive, big HORSEPOWER, CNC. An example is cutting the strips. Much faster on a table saw, but more accurate on a CNC. Some products you may rethink. Like cutting the mats out of a single piece and machining in some kind of texture and/or personalization. Custom inlays, carved initials. Even new products that are not cost effective to via hand work, but easy on a CNC. Don't get caught up on doing everything with the CNC. Pick the best tool for the job. I mill all 14 pieces to their finish size before cutting the half lap joints, would it be better to cut the joints in a larger piece of stock and then rip them down to finished size? -- Answered with the first question.... Wood never stops moving, heat and humidity play a big factor, how do I deal with this in the world of CNC when I need to make a lot of part the same size? The same a the rest of your woodworking. In fact, you're taking that into consideration, so you're a step ahead of a lot of folks. |
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loren
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Post by loren on May 7, 2019 11:42:58 GMT -5
Of course.
The secret to efficient production of things like this is creating a fixture that consistently holds material in fixed positions, and use array tool paths to cut multiple parts at once while you're doing something else.
So you could use your table saw to rip 14 pieces to exact width. Mount 7 of part A, and 7 of part B in the fixture. Start a toolpath to cut all the dados and pieces to exact lengths (You could use a 1/4 inch endmill for all this, so no tool changes.)
Go away and do something else for 10 minutes, like rip the next batch of material or browse reddit.
Come back and collect finished parts.
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Post by fsperring on May 7, 2019 14:12:44 GMT -5
Of course. The secret to efficient production of things like this is creating a fixture that consistently holds material in fixed positions, and use array tool paths to cut multiple parts at once while you're doing something else. So you could use your table saw to rip 14 pieces to exact width. Mount 7 of part A, and 7 of part B in the fixture. Start a toolpath to cut all the dados and pieces to exact lengths (You could use a 1/4 inch endmill for all this, so no tool changes.) Go away and do something else for 10 minutes, like rip the next batch of material or browse reddit. Come back and collect finished parts. Thanks Loren, I totally like the idea of doing something else while this machine does its job. Right now its all me one step at a time. Talked with Craig at Axiom today and am getting close to ordering my CNC Router. I going to look at as many ways to do a tasks in search of a balance of quality and throughput. |
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loren
New Member
Posts: 68
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Post by loren on May 7, 2019 14:40:35 GMT -5
Cool.
If you're on the fence about size, get the larger. Most of the stuff I do is small, but I keep a couple fixtures for common parts I do screwed down to the spoilboard at the far Y axis - ready when I need them and not in the way for play and one-offs.
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Post by buildswithbrian on May 29, 2019 16:27:44 GMT -5
I would keep in consideration how many you are making, and how often.
as with any machine there is set-up time (and if done in small batches in-frequently) you will always
need to re-familiarize your-self with the set-up and operations procedures (even if you take notes)
if you're making a fair sized quantity, the set-up is 'dissolved' more easily into the over-all job time (cost)
If you have, or anticipate other future uses for the machine, then I would absolutely recommend you go for it.
Axiom makes a great machine.
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