That's exactly what I was wondering, Ger. Thanks for the insight.
I posted the picture as an example, I'd try to model something without undercuts, for simplicities sake.
Challenges like this are fun, when there is no deadline looming.

So, I discovered 36 4" circles grouped around an 8" circle with 36 more circles grouped around a 12" circle with the 8 and 12" circles deleted looks just like the Spirograph designs I failed miserably to create as a kid.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4842271e.jpg

You must have extra time to blow...lol :)

It kinda does.

Circles of my mind.
A wheel within a wheel.

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rc...65397613,d.c2E

Ah, nascar driver. Lol :)

Here is something you might like

That's cool, Pete. Thanks for sharing.

Ok, been riding the couch a lot and not getting much done.
I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease about 6 months ago and its been hitting me pretty hard lately.
I did get out to the shop over the weekend to do a little show and tell for visiting family...
Drew this a while ago and figured I'd cut it out.
I'll get it painted and on the shop wall sometime.
Wore me out...:)

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psbphxjus4.jpg

Darren,
Sorry to hear about the Lyme. I had a friend diagnosed with Lyme a bunch of years ago and he had a hard time to get rid of it. Hope they got you on some good antibiotics!

It is really prevalent here as well. Seems like I know at least 2 people a year that get Lyme. Pretty much I gave up hunting because all I got done doing was pulling ticks off my clothes. I seem to find at least one tick every summer on the kids. I hope you get it worked out and get to feeling better. Nice work on the sign!!!

Thanks for the kind words fellas.
I'm at Jim McGrews in Columbia SC for the next 3 days for an Aspire camp.
Hopefully I'll learn a thing or two about designing 3D stuff...

Have fun

I hope you will post some updates as you go through the course and let us know what all they cover.

Absolutely!!

Whew, 3 days hanging out with a bunch of Aspire expert users is kind of mind numbing.
There were several new gadgets previewed that will be available this summer that are very cool to use, such as an automatic dog bone filleter that was demonstrated to find dozens of tabs on 52(!) sheets of a project and insert them with 1 click. IMPRESSIVE!!
Best three days I've spent hanging out with 80+ guys who have the same passion for CNC as I do.
If you have the chance, try and attend one of these.

So what are you going to teach us first? Don't keep us waiting now, get down to that cnc machine and wow us...:)

So, while I appreciate the title change, I like my old one better.
A change back to "Man I'm having fun with this machine" would be appreciated.

Here is a sample of the talent at the show and tell portion of the Aspire Camp:

I walked by this for two days before I realized it was routed bark, and not a section of a real tree...

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psbv74oxpy.jpg

Wow...at first I didn't get what you were saying...very impressive in deed.
Shows me how little I know at this point.
Mark

Sooooo, Wed. night I went to dinner with 8 or so other guys from the camp, and the subject got around to "who's machine are you running?"
When I said I have a 5x12 MM, the table got pretty quiet.
I jokingly said "as the room goes silent...."
A couple guys said they were impressed with the MM design, and one guy said he was in awe of any one who could build their own machine.
The owner of a Big Iron (150k+) looked at a couple pics on my laptop and complimented me on a clean build...I went there thinking I might be seen as a second rate machine owner, but I got a lot of respect from everyone, even though its geared toward Camaster owners, and for that I'm grateful.
What a great community CNC owners are, for the most part.

I have to agree, I like Darren's old thread title better. The new one makes it seem like something is wrong with Aspire.

That is nice to hear that they can respect the MM. Especially considering that we don't have our machines because of a stroke of the pen on a checkbook!
I was not familiar with the Camaster, so naturally went to the website. Nice looking machine, and some good stuff in the applications section. Gave me more ideas of what to make....so little time:)
Mark

I like your new title. It is an accurate representation of where you are at this moment. Nice you got some a recognition at the event.

This was a nice perk, along with a T-shirt.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...pshmddnoxj.jpg

Super sweet if you're a hat guy.:)

Wow!.
Did you carve that hat on your machine ?
Can you do T shirts to match. :D

You know he can do just about anything including t-shirts ;)

Finally got it primed and the white paint done...

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psie65flmf.jpg

Looks Nice Darren!
What is the material...I saw the earlier picture...is that MDF?
Hope you have been feeling well too.
Mark

Thanks, Mark.
It is 1/2" MDF.

Awesome...thanks! I have never done much with MDF, but the end results sure look good.
It is on my to-do list. I sure hope I live to 105 so I can get through the first half of my list :)
Mark

I use it for stuff to hang on the shop walls, usually its scrap left from radius template work I do for a millwork shop.
No such thing as scrap anymore.;)

Mark, painting the edges with 1/2 water 1/2 wood glue with a light sand will give a even coating of paint all around since MDF is like a sponge. The end result will look like formed plastic with the right paint.

Thanks Pete. Another good tip...I appreciate you sharing your experience!
And Darren, no truer words....now when I see a tiny little scrap...I am like "that could make a keyring" :D
Mark

I have had real good luck using an alkyd primer instead of the glue/water mix. It seems to not raise the ends as much. The stuff I used also sands really well.

Thanks Heath...I've got some of that on the shelf, I will give it a try!
Mark

I used some rattle can automotive sandable primer and white spray paint I had laying around.
A detailed design limits the sanding time I'll devote, but this was relatively simple, and my main objective on these types of things is zero out of pocket, using whats on the shelf, that might otherwise go to waste.

House Numbers
 

Had some scrap 1/2" PVC laying around so I drew up a quick plaque for some house numbers.
The border and numbers will be male inserts using the Aspire inlay function and the background was made using the built in texturing tool.
By pocketing the numbers and border, the texture can run right through the numbers with a crisp edge showing no tooling marks.
It also will be easier to paint everything apart since I want the border and numbers to be a different color than the background.
I'll try and cut it out tomorrow.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7749317c.jpg

where do you but 1/2 PVC?

The local Home Depot stocks it in 4x8x1/2" sheets for a hundred bucks a sheet.
The brand name is AZEK. It is available up to 1" thick, I believe.
This will be leftover from a sign I built for a restaurant that took 7 sheets, even with creative nesting.