Cut our first batch of piecut dovetail drawers today. Jigging is complete and the programming is over with.
We use 100-125 of these drawers each month and the main reason for building the Mechmate. I haven't gotten total completed time down yet but I am guessing around 20 minutes for a completed product. We currently pay $30 each with a 4-5 week wait time. Materials is about 6 bucks so if we can hit that 20 minute timeframe George will make decent money.
I am using a 14 deg dovetail bit on a 1" spread. It works out to calling it a .404 diameter bit at 7/16" deep cut. Lots of experimenting.

THE BROWN IS MAKING GREEN

Here is a video of our initial jigging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8XF...ature=youtu.be

Well done #127.

Nice little production run !!
One nifty way to pay it off !
Congrads ;)

I thought it was Copper Tone Bronze :p but never mind green is the only colour that counts! Nicely done!

Payback will be short. It is cutting all of our parts now. An added benefit has been the ability to declutter the shop of equipment. Time for a sale.
Alan, that was for Mr Saylers benefit. It is Coppertone bronze.

Pete - Great to see a MM get busy from the start !!! Keep posting the videos !!!

I'll be expecting my first royalty check shortly.

I will get it out in the email.

Did a little video up today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgBZ...ature=youtu.be

It would be a lot nicer video if you can hold your camera / phone horizontal so the recording is widescreen and fills the youtube screen. Also I find videos that show the machine from a fixed point more interesting as you can see the machine doing its thing (and judge its performance) instead of bouncing around :)

Agreed.
I should redo it correctly.

What feeds and speeds, accel and velocity did you settle on? Its not much discussed subject here but its rather informative for others starting with Mechmate

Velocity is at 125 ipm
Acceleration is at 30
I run my 3/16 cutter at the 125 ipm but the dovetailing bit at 80 ipm.
Nice snappy corners.
I should add my gantry is 1/4" steel on the tubes.
The vacuum is holding the 5/8 material very well. Sometimes on the 1/4" it loses a little by the edges. Amazing that it will suck through the plywood. I may decide to add the 3rd motor up as well to use on the thinner stock. I built my spoilboard at 61x61 so the exposed 1inch may be leaking as well. I might be smart to seal that edge.

You lose a lot out of the edge and perimeter, Pete. Brush on a mix of 50/50 yellow glue/water. You'll be amazed.

Thanks Darren.
The edges are all sealed that way. it is the perimeter. I had the vacuum on when I did the edges so it really sucked in.

Pete, got any pics of your logos done on your laser?

Here you go Darren.
I do sets of 3. About 12 minutes.
I use Vectric 2d laser program that came with the machine.

Here is the machine.

Pete....in my quest to learn all this laser thing, I'm curious !?
Could you, when time permits, PM me the G-code to I may see & learn how I will be using mine !

Also, what machine your using that supplied this Vectric 2d laser program with your setup ?
Thks

Robert, here is the link. https://darklylabs.com/
Yes the cut2d program came with it.
I will get the g code for you.

"I will get the g code for you."
Great ;)
Maybe, if not to long or trouble, post it here....as you wish ! :D

Cool Pete.Thanks!!

George has paid for himself!!
 

It's been just under 4 months and the MM has paid for itself.
It is kept busy about 3 days a week cutting sheet goods and doing dovetailing for drawers.
I am also cutting out bodies for ukuleles. Pretty slick.

Well done.
We all love a success story.

Well done on fully utilising the machine, must feel really good doing that!

Just love the instruments, all of them ar pretty cool. I want to build my son one in preparation for a full sized guitar. I saw a cncrouterparts video on making a solid body ukulele so might use his stuff when I get around to it..

From one Pete to another. Awesome job on your machine and work that you are doing!!!

Thanks Pete. It has been a fun process.

Nice Pete.

Ukuleles on the Mechmate
 

Here is a little video of the completed ukes that I am crafting on my Mechmate.
Now I need to figure out how to do the necks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkP05Ql1Lx8

They Sir are awesome! Heres a link to the cncrouterparts video that had files for download, maybe you can get an idea for the necks off that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WCNph720XI