New'ish Toy

kevr

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I've been playing a bit today with a new software program for my hobby CNC and am very happy with the way it's going.

This is a small 1220 x 610 machine I bought as a result of not being able to get stuff locally, it has been a mission getting things moving along I have to say.

These are for some small mini trees.

upload_2019-4-26_15-2-26.png
 

kevr

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Yes among other things, mainly woods and plastics but it can cut aluminium. I will cut the Christmas stuff out of 8mm Coro as that's the thickest I can get in New Zealand.

New mounting boards for my controllers will be out of HDPE or similar.
 

Mark_M

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Good to see that your making your own prop frames. I've been planning on doing the same at school with the laser cutter.
Being able to cut some metals will be very useful, an advantage a CNC compared to my school's laser cutter.
Also; where do you purchase 8mm Coro in NZ, Usual hardware stores or specialty?
 
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Nice one Kev, that CNC cutter sounds nice :) One of my friends had a nice big Lazer cutter and he made some stars for me, but, and this is a very big but, the Lazer power eventually got "tired" and he couldn't afford to replace it, so it is no more. The last I heard he was debating putting a rotary cutter head in place of the laser !
 

kevr

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Good to see that your making your own prop frames. I've been planning on doing the same at school with the laser cutter.
Being able to cut some metals will be very useful, an advantage a CNC compared to my school's laser cutter.
Also; where do you purchase 8mm Coro in NZ, Usual hardware stores or specialty?
For the thinner stuff Bunnings stock small 3 & 6mm stuff but PSP seem to be the only one I could find with the 8mm sheet. I haven't tried the 8mm sheet yet should be ready to cut them soon.

https://www.psp.co.nz/plastic-sheets/digital/corflute
 

kevr

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Nice one Kev, that CNC cutter sounds nice :) One of my friends had a nice big Lazer cutter and he made some stars for me, but, and this is a very big but, the Lazer power eventually got "tired" and he couldn't afford to replace it, so it is no more. The last I heard he was debating putting a rotary cutter head in place of the laser !
Mine is a locally made one from Westport (Vertigo) believe it or not not far from you. Once I get going I may be able to help the local team out with cutting props etc I'll see how things go. In the early days I cut stars out by hand so I know what a pain that can be.
 

Mark_M

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Christmas Light world
For the thinner stuff Bunnings stock small 3 & 6mm stuff but PSP seem to be the only one I could find with the 8mm sheet. I haven't tried the 8mm sheet yet should be ready to cut them soon.

https://www.psp.co.nz/plastic-sheets/digital/corflute
I'm hoping that the acrylic/plexiglass will work fine. School has plenty and my teachers like helping my projects. I don't know how well acrylic will hold up in the UV though.
 

kevr

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Got a few stars cut today on the CNC still working on sizes number of nodes etc and also drew up a snowflake which took longer than it should have but never mind.

Snowflake.jpg
 

kevr

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Well enough of the drawing I have finally cut a few bits and bobs and there is white stuff everywhere!! What a mess, this has been quite the learning experience from learning new software to how to use a CNC which I had never played with before. It certainly has given me an appreciation for all the work that goes into producing the Coro props commercially.

I'd say mine currently owe me at least a few hundred dollars a piece but we'll keep that quiet I think

.20190705_221911.jpg
 

scamper

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Nice work. I am sure you could sell some to cover a few bucks.
Have you tried commercial sign shops for coro. i know here I go to a local one and they sell it for about $50 a sheet, but if I go to one about an hour away I can get it off them for $20 a sheet. (2400 x 1200)
 

kevr

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Thanks, I bought the Coro from a wholesaler nearby but as I'm only buying small quantities it's probably a retail price $60 for a 1200x2400.

I think I've caught the bug now and am drawing flat out, paying for the lights to fill them may be a different story though. Thinking about a gutter icicle light prop with baubles, candles and bells scattered through them.
 

scamper

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Thanks, I bought the Coro from a wholesaler nearby but as I'm only buying small quantities it's probably a retail price $60 for a 1200x2400.

I think I've caught the bug now and am drawing flat out, paying for the lights to fill them may be a different story though. Thinking about a gutter icicle light prop with baubles, candles and bells scattered through them.
Ahh yes the lights. I bought a head of props from boscoyo bulk buy last year and most are still sitting in the shed, I didn't think about the number of pixels I would need. And with the aussie dollar being low and the gst added to online purchases now, i cannot justify the extra dollars at this point.
 
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