[Charlie68]

I know I can search the forum for some of this but I am trying to get a real idea from you users. I have not mastered free hand routing yet and think of CNC as “kinda” cheating (I know fighting words here) but one thing I can’t do free hand is a 3d object.

I would like your opinions on the cost and what I need. I see ads for the table, software, and then some show using a rotor motor. Others call it a spindle, I think. Then any number of accessories. CNC seems like it could be a “money pit.”

All I would like to do is create small 3d objects to then glue on boxes or plaques. I could buy figurines at places like Hobby Lobby but it would be nice to do my own designs.

Shark seems to be one of the cheaper brands for beginners to start out. The bottom end tables cost ~$2k but software is all over the place in cost.

Thanks for your help and hopefully I have not really offended any of you. I want to master freehand routing but to put a raised bird, butterfly or name on a box would be really cool.

After re-reading this, to explain what I think I can do with a CNC, is place my work piece on top of a sacrificial board on the table. I would program the CNC to cut out my figurines. I would then glue the figurines to whatever. I do not want to carve the figurine directly into the box or plaque.

Thanks again

 

[Charlie68]

Sorry I am not doing a good job of explaining this. I don't want to copy an existing item. I want to start with a picture and turn that into a carved "half piece".
I only need one side shaped and the other side flat so I can attach it to a box.

I have used my scroll saw and cut out shapes for boxes. The shape has 3 dimensions but I can't change those dimensions across the piece.

What I have done, for example, is find a side view picture of a bird on the internet, print the picture, transfer that to a piece of wood, and cut it out with my scroll saw but The bird shape will be the same thickness across the entire piece of wood.

I want to be able to have his belly or bill etc. be thinner or thicker than the rest of the shape. I want to produce what Theo has in his last picture of the eagle but not copied from another piece.

Mike, on the Vcarve software, can I import my own designs into it, or do I have buy them from Shark? AND bigger question is can I get by with just the Shark and Vcarve or do I need more accessories? (not counting bits of course)

As to my comment about the "money pit", if you ask my wife, she considers all of my wood working "a money pit" so maybe we should skip that part of the question lol.:smile:

 

[Charlie68]

Thank God my wife does not read this. Her response would be " You want to spend HOW MUCH!!! Look at what Joat said. Do what he said and get off your lazy butt and use sand paper." :lazy::smile:

As one of you have said the CNC is just one tool and I have a lot of tools I want to get yet. As CNC becomes more and more popular people will upgrade and maybe I will slide a used unit in the shop when Mama is not looking.

There are threads on the forum of people looking to make money with CNC so contracting to have the shapes made is another possibility.
Yes I know it is not the same as doing all of the project myself but I would have the satisfaction of the knowing I made the rest of the project

 

[Charlie68]

Charlie - look up some Intarsia patterns for your scroll saw. You cut out the component pieces and shape them individually before recombining as you glue them to a substrate. They are not as hard to do as you might think, and can be very effective.

Thanks I will do that.

 

[Charlie68]

The most important thing, which few people realize, is that going from your picture to a 3D object is not easy, even with a $2000 software package.
It takes a lot of skill and artistic talent to create good 3D models for carving. Not to mention a lot of time.
The vast majority of quality carvings you see are likely models that were purchased, rather than created by the user.

I think you are right. I am afraid I have spent too much time watching Youtube sales videos that make CNC look easy. I need to get out to the shop and work on what I do know how to do.


Thanks again everyone for your help.

Take care.

 

[Charlie68]

Thanks you all again for your advice.

and Oscar, that is very nice work!