Category Archives: Woodworking

CNC, another satisfied customer

My Mom asked me to cut new house numbers for her triplex. A couple of the old numbers got broken when she had the house painted last summer. After a bit of negotiation, we agreed that it would be difficult … Continue reading

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CNC, first project!

Well, that was satisfying. I finally used the new CNC machine “in anger” and cut out a “real” project. I’d been thrashing around, trying to convince myself that I wasn’t just procrastinating, and after a couple of hours of messing … Continue reading

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CNC – first sawdust!

It’s been a long time coming. I finally decided to bite the bullet and get the CNC machine running. It’s been eating at me that I haven’t been able to get anything done on the machine. I have stopped really … Continue reading

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CNC – Super-PID

I got some time in the shop today and decided to test out the axis accuracy of the new CNC. I still have tuning to do; you definitely can’t run the router through wood at the same speed as you … Continue reading

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CNC – more small tweaks

I had just a short session working on the CNC today. I moved the router downwards in the mount so that I could reach the collet nut. This makes getting at the button more difficult, but nothing a flat screwdriver … Continue reading

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CNC – gross calibration

I needed to figure out the problem with racking in X (you can see it if you look closely at the video). Turns out that my initial suspicion was correct; the sprockets had been twisted relative to each other while … Continue reading

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CNC Build, Day 40 – ready to cut

All that was left to do before I can start cutting is mounting the router and cleaning off the table. I put the router in place, which went very smoothly. Then I got the clamp bolts drilled and installed. Easy … Continue reading

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CNC Build, Day 39 – The birth of a new machine

I now have a 4′ x 8′ CNC machine in my woodshop. After picking up hose clamps on Saturday, I got the Y axis chain installed right away. I decided to get X installed next, which was a bit involved … Continue reading

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CNC Build, Day 38 – decommissioning the 2×4

I got in just a short session tonight, but it was emotionally significant — I finally reached the point in the build of the 4×8 machine that I needed electronics, so I pulled the stepper motors (and Z axis screw) … Continue reading

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CNC Build, day 35, 36, and 37 – x axis assembly

I have had a few days out working on the CNC machine without posting, so I figure I should put in some kind of update. When we last left the build, I had attached the z table and all its … Continue reading

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