I have a love-hate relationship with wood. On the one hand, it’s the foundation for countless beautiful pieces throughout history. On the other, the non-isotropic properties of the fiberous stuff makes it annoying to machine at times. When cutting it, fibers can lift away from your piece leaving a ragged edge. But there is a […]
Your parts are only as accurate as the machine you make them on, and the table is an important part of the Shapeoko’s accuracy. A machine-leveled worksurface is essential for getting cuts of consistent depths, especially with thin materials. This is how I designed a supplementary wasteboard for my Shapeoko that I could affix work […]
When life give you lemons, make art. That was the challenge I set for myself when I shattered a couple oak boards for my SpaceX Droneship Coaster Project. With a little improvisation, I assembled my oak slats into something loosely resembling a pallet and engraved on it a stylized skyline from the best coast. Check […]
Faced with a disintegrating Slimfold wallet, I had the option to either buy another for $20 or make my own for $2…
These are some basic clamps you can use to hold down flat materials. I usually laminate two 7/32″ plywood pieces together to make a single, stronger clamp. The longer clamp is meant to span two holes 3″ apart, so you could theoretically clamp across a bar, or other thin piece. SVG Files:
It only took 3 weeks, but I now have both a functional Desktop CNC machine and a viable workflow for 2.5-D milling. This video summarizes my journey from a simple SVG made in Inkscape to a milled test piece in cardboard that I will proudly hang in my office.