Thanks Andrew!...and per Tom's request, here is my first sign project. I learned quite a bit about how I wouldn't do things as much as I learned about how I would. I also included a logo similar to what I started with. It was slightly different but you get the idea. It was the 5th anniversary which is represented by wood so the key and the sql letters were done in birch.

Nicely done !!

Customer must be very happy ;)
Cheers, R.

An awesome first sign.
Well done.

Super nice! Great job! :D

Thanks guys! I'm pretty happy with the outcome and so was the customer.

I thought I would give you all a quick update on my next project. I'm building a kitchen island. I have a quick mock up done in SketchUp so you can see what I'm building. The cuts are going well. I did have a little issue with the dado precision due to a fairly warped piece of plywood. A vacuum table sure would come in handy for large sheets. A few well placed screws and lots of clamps helped quite a bit. Here are some photos of my progress so far.

Very nice Herb! Post more pics when you've completed it. Thanks for sharing.:)

Vacuum maybe better!!!....I wouldn't tell, been doing all kinda cut, including sheet cutting (+60%) without seeing a "need" for it....in 8yrs !
Don't have a vacuum, never worked with one, so can't really tell, but, I'm not near tempted, again, by my need (experience), to go buy or make one !!....I manage very well without.
Good luck.....and nice working, like tom say, share the final work !!
.....;)

Robert, how do you keep things from moving? Clamps? Screws?

I like vacumn. Lay the sheet down, flip the switch and it is ready to cut. Granted, it did cost a few bucks.

Managing mostly (80% of the time) with clamps...

Through careful parts nesting....and tab location....and clamps :

Attachment 15602

Here's a few examples
Part of a Solid cherry top :

Attachment 15599

Attachment 15600


Here's a drawer front :

Attachment 15603
Attachment 15601

Simple....key words = planning, nothing new!!!
Although, must admit, the more you try & play around "trying" to make it happen, the better you become :p

Hope this "inspires" some !!...
All the best ;)

Very nice work, Robert!!

Robert , I can see where for your applications the clamping is the best situation.

I use full sheets cutting up to 25 items from a sheet so the vac is better for me. I guess it all depends on what a person is cutting.

Nice work by the way.

Thks Pete, but let's congrats each other, as you make some very nice stuff too @_# !!
There's some time I think I may have benefited of a vacuum system and I'm not saying it's no useful ( I wouldn't know really....can only assume it's benefit)...what i'm saying though, there's many ways around if one wishes to see alternatives or wait on a later date to "invest" in such a system !
On e may also make a small vacuum removable unite like some use for drag knives (like Donek and many others of this world)!!

Fun exchange-topic ....i tend to think it should me moved to another thread then taking space on Herbs....:rolleyes:

Both have their places, clamping and vacuum. Most find a method and adjust their layout around it. The best way would be to use which ever is best for the job. Clamp for this job, vacuum for that one. Please keep the pictures coming. Even small projects help someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Sorry Herb for jacking your thread.
Interesting discussion though.

It's a good discussion. I don't mind at all.

Another quick update. Here is a video that shows the drawers being cut out. At the end of the video, something triggered an e-stop condition. It's been happening on occasion so maybe I have a grounding issue somewhere.

Also, not sure why the Fusion 360 software doesn't pull my dado back into the part when I use the copy command. That's why you see the dado extend beyond the part. More learnin' to do I guess.

Here are a few photos of the progress after the drawers were assembled and installed. You can also see that I'm starting to fill holes in order to prep for painting on the cabinet. Doors and drawer fronts to make and then on to some trim detail. My plywood is looking like a puzzle. :D

If you are using Mach 3, what is your debounce, it may need to be increased.

I didn't get a chance to check out my Mach 3 settings yet. I'll try to get that information tonight.

The debounce settings are currently '0'. After a little reading on the internet, looks like trying '1000' would be a recommended first attempt. What do you think guys?

My debounce was at 0.
I changed it to 500.
I get an occasional error if I forget to throw a bucket of water on the earth spike.:)

Thanks Al! I'll give that a try first and see how it goes.

Most results are achieved by empirical means.

Empirical evidence, also known as sense experience, is a collective term for the knowledge or source of knowledge acquired by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation. The term comes from the Greek word for experience, ἐμπειρία (empeiría).

That's a $50 word.:D

I had the same problem. The Chinese VFD/Spindel has allot of noise. The debounce gives your electrics a chance to tell if the signal is 'real' or a 'phantom'.

I had set mine real high one time. Then when I 'homed' my machine, the home switch would engage, but the machine kept traveling and would crash into my hard stops.

Set it back some and all was fine.

Ive had good luck with debounce settings between 20 and 30. That requires 20+ "hits" a millisecond apart. You would have to have a freaky noise to outlast that.

I suffered through this. Here is close to the start of the posts pertaining to it. http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showt...&postcount=388

It's been a while since I updated my progress. The photo is a little dark but you get the idea. I ran the island sides, bottom, back, drawer parts and a couple other miscellaneous pieces on the CNC which included the interior shelf holes and dados. The top is reclaimed oak barn wood about 1 1/4 thick. It's difficult to see but there are corbels under each end. Thanks for looking!

Yep....you're right !!....can't see much, but we can feel your joy and satisfaction...good going !!

I'll say this tho....PITAA this forum is failing to....simply not upgrading to follow the trend in allowing MUCH bigger photo files .....
OOo well :rolleyes:

Happy New Year to the MechMate Community!!! Be safe everyone!

Just wanted to let anyone who is interested know that I started up a YouTube channel. I would like to mix in some demonstrations using Fusion 360 along with the MechMate. My goal is to make some fun stuff and show the process from start to finish. Part one of a bag toss game was just posted this evening. I plan on finishing the rest of the video over the next week or so. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjY...eI5CJ2YXP1k62g

I encourage everyone to subscribe to my channel. I'm also interested in your feeedback and whether you find the videos helpful and interesting. Thanks!

I'm also using Fusion 360 for my VMC milling so so its always nice to see someone else working in it and documenting it. So you have a sub from me.