By Dennis Van Hoof, from Top o’ Arts (topoarts.com).
This video shows modifications to the Shapeoko XXL CNC frame and bed to accommodate a manual rotary setup that allows for multi-sided 3D carving of objects (along a B-axis) that are too big to fit underneath the X-gantry rail.
To show proof of concept, I carved a Koi fish from a solid stack of plywood with 3-sided CNC routing.
Software used:
– Meshmixer to create the 3D Koi fish
– Vectric VCarve to generate the tool paths
– UGS Platform to send the Gcode to the CNC
Materials used:
– Everbilt 1 inch square tubes with 5/16″ holes spaced 1″ apart
– 1/4″ steel triangular plates
– 3/8″ bolts (the 5/16″ holes were widened with the drill press)
– 18 mm (3/4″) Sande plywood: 4 sheets of 600×600 mm (4’x4′)
– Surfacing bit to flatten and pocket the stock: WhiteSide #1027A
– Extra long roughing bit: Amana Tool end mill #46590
– Extra long finishing bit: Amana Tool ball nose #46490
Referenced video of female torso: “CNC carving a female torso out of plywood”
Music: Lumidelic – Wonderland
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