Now that I have a CNC I want to make some routed picks

[MBI]

I've been reading around the site and noticed that there was talk about using a cnc machine to cut picks out. i recently purchased a cnc machine a few months ago for home projects and hobby use. so if anyone is interested i would be willing to work along and attempt to construct some picks or any other types of tools desired. I've never cut any metal on the machine before but i know it has the ability with the right bit. i own a shopbot, for any of you who are familiar with cnc machines. and if anyone has experience in autocad i think picks could be easily designed using that software. just a warning the first few times would be a learning experience for me since i dont know much about cutting metal, what type of metal are best for picks, handle finishing or much else. so if any are interested let me know!

[slozinsky]

I am just curious - which shop bot CNC model did you purchase and for how much? new or used?

Have you had any success producing anything with it yet?

I recently graduated with a B.Sc in wood manufacturing and wrote my graduate paper on CNC applications for small to medium sized window and door manufacturers. I have had quite a bit of experience with large 3 and 5 axis machines as well a little bit of experience with a small precix 3 axis router which i think is similar to what you have - i have only ever machined wood with these machines, never metal. From my experience a program called "en route" is of the most user friendly for the hobbiest who wishes to create 2d or 3d projects. You might want to look into trying that out instead of auto cad (or you could start in auto cad and them import - it just comes down to how complicated your design is and how you generate your machine codes).

I would love to hear more about how you are making out with this machine. I think it would be great to have one on the garage although it is a pretty technical little piece of equipment.

[Steve24]

I have a Shopbot PRTstandard, its pretty old, 6 years maybe, im not positive but about 4500, and 5000 after i put the money needed into it for operation. right after i bought it i connected a dust collection system so it puts off no dust, the collection system is piped into a different room. i also made a vacuum hold down table, this worked better than i could have imagined! basically i cut a grid into plywood, glued MDF to the top of that and i use a vacuum to create suction in the grid below which provides suction through the pores in the MDF. it works very well for large wood objects not so much when you get into smaller things.

the machine also came with a router, versus a spindle which is an option. as im sure you know the spindle has variable speed control which would be ideal for cutting metal. due to the large amount of time to assemble, then fine tune, create the table, and then learn the software i haven't really made a large amount of things. hopefully soon i will be able to start creating more of anything really.

i will definitely have to give that "en route" a try though, autocad is a pain but its the only thing that i have received training in. from autocad i import the files into this software called partworks, im not sure if you have heard of it, but its pretty easy to create tool paths and such.

a nice thing about ShopBot is that living in Raleigh im only 15 minutes away from their factory. actually just last weekend i was there for an open house, they were showing off all their new stuff. that's where i picked up partworks. im hoping to get into metal cutting soon since having the ability to cut metal has many obvious uses.

thanks for showing some interest!

[wolfie]

make some picks n show us =D!