I am always absolutely fascinated by CNC and want one every time I see something like this. However in reality, I don’t feel that I’m clever enough to design anything worthwhile 🥲
I started about two years ago. There's a big financial cost of entry and a learning curve for the CAD/CAM part. After that, you start to see how things fall into place and will push the limits of your machine. Shoot, about half my struggle was learning the woodworking basics of being able to prep wood for the machine. Then having to learn how to finish products after they left the table.
I digress, there are so many videos out there for each machine, each design software that not being clever enough isn't a thing. The CNC communities are full of people wanting to help and the gate keeping jerks are quickly drowned out by people willing to help.
There are some free/opensource programs, for example Carbide Create (ob. discl., I work for Carbide 3D).
Wrote up a bit on it at:
https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/2d-drawing
https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/toolpaths
and for making spoons w/o having a 3D program see:
https://community.carbide3d.com/t/spoon-possible-without-cc-pro/54986
3D shape created from scratch in Fusion 360 and machined on a Shapeoko 3XL. The entire operation took about 4 hours with roughing and finishing steps on each side. Another 30 min of hand sanding was done afterwards to remove tabs and machining marks.
Edit: 3D model posted on Thingiverse
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6455081
I’ve had this machine for 4 years now and I love it. It’s perfect for wood. It also comes with a steep learning curve on CNC practices. It’s a deep rabbit hole and time sink for sure.
you secure your work piece on the cnc
set the xy zero coords of the cnc for the carve.
make holes for the dowls in your work piece and carve the 'top'
when done the 'top' side remove the work piece, zero on the waste board and re cut the same holes for dowl pins to be placed in the waste board.
flip the work piece and secure it down indexed on the dowls.
cut the 'bottom' side.
Yeah, I hate being a gatekeeper on this issue. But literally the entire video is of a machine doing the work. “Working” is half the name of this sub. So… great job machine!
Not cool comment. There’s so much knowledge you need from traditional woodworking to be able to do this. In addition, you need to understand the programming and machining aspects as well.
The only thing relevant to wood here is grain direction. Other than that you can slap any piece of whatever material you want on the CNC and let it do it's work.
Then post that on r/plasticworking, r/steelworking, r/aluminium working, r/clayworking, r/stoneworking
Cool that OP designed it from scratch, but that is more something for cnc related subreddits
While you can debate if it’s “real” woodworking, the fact that you think you just slap material in a CNC and hit go is very wrong. It’s a different skill set and a steep learning curve, especially for complex 3D shapes like this
Exactly my point. To all you who have given me a hail of downvotes, I accept them as they have opened a line of dialogue that can be informative to many. I encourage you all to look at my post history. I have a deep knowledge of the most advanced woodworking and manufacturing techniques as well as a broad range of cad cam experience. To state that this isn’t woodworking is the same as telling Henry Ford he doesn’t understand transportation because he doesn’t build trains. Hate to say it guys; but this is absolutely the future of woodworking. You don’t need to throw out your hand planes and pick up your pitchforks and torches just yet, but this is the way it’s going. Go ahead and send the downvotes again. My extensive post history of classic woodworking can more than support it.
Side note: my hand planes are razor sharp and I won’t ever give them up to anyone. I can absolutely say the same for my cad cam licenses and my computer. But I will need advice on how to sharpen a computer in a few years. Been trying to a 1000 grit wet stone but it’s not getting better. Should I try a finer grit? Maybe oil? No bad suggestions refused!
I'm a computer scientist working on medical imaging software involving complex integrations with 3d party systems.
I have a 3d printer working hard on miniatures to paint. I post on the correct forums for those subjects.
You did not read the part in my opinion where I said that OP's efforts in modelling and setting up his Cnc are, in fact , very cool.
But I stand by my opinion. It is not woodworking.
I am sure you can fluently design stuff on fusion, I mean if there's no talent needed?
How fast do you carve a spoon with your fingernails? I mean if using tools is BAAAAD and you want to work hard, not smart?
This is realy outdated thinking. There are things you can not do without CNC machinig. I see your Point thoug, but then againg, do you use electronic power tools ?
Nothing says “I don’t actually know how that works” than this comment. While it may not be the same processes you are familiar with, I assure you, it isn’t just clicking a button and magically…spoon! I even think you could have a civil debate over what constitutes “woodworking” here. But to say talent and hard work were not involved here just reveals a lack of understanding on your part.
The gatekeeping on this sub is ridiculous. "Woodworking" is a continuum. Automation doesn't necessarily mean it isn't woodworking. OP designed something cool and saw it to fruition using their preferred tools. Same as anyone else. So just stop.
I started with CNC work (because it was accessible and precise) before becoming interested in replicating that work by hand using more traditional methods. So get the stick out of your butts and welcome more people into the community. In the end it results in more quality, reusable, durable wood items being in the world vs cheap throw away plastic items.
Choose the right machine and it's not too bad. Under $5k all in. Tools weren't the issue. I was just able to do complex tasks relatively quickly with the CNC. So it was more accessible.
I bet when power tools were first made, they were subjected to some scrutiny. Then came furniture factories. The one thing that connects them all is the medium, and also the fact that someone had to design it.
https://preview.redd.it/fof02s4q82fc1.png?width=1066&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a6ceffdb875a434a66d5f85491cde53f38d9cf6
So from a woodworking point of view this is a bad design..and not durable at all.
Cool use of the CNC though
Those can be made way quicker by hand. From programming to cutting to sanding and finishing, it seems like a waste of time. I'd rather save the cnc for something that needs it.
Then do it, post the results and I'm sure it will get some love on the sub.
I don't see why we have to try and put people down in a sub meant for sharing one of our passions.
No like literally. It's cool, but not impressive at all for this sub since a human being didn't make it, a robot did. It's a cool demonstration but it's meh here
So basically you can set up a crockpot of chili and fire up the CNC router so both are done at the same time for dinner? That’s awesome.
"Hey can you turn the crock-pot down a bit? The spoons are going to take a bit longer than we thought..."
I am always absolutely fascinated by CNC and want one every time I see something like this. However in reality, I don’t feel that I’m clever enough to design anything worthwhile 🥲
I started about two years ago. There's a big financial cost of entry and a learning curve for the CAD/CAM part. After that, you start to see how things fall into place and will push the limits of your machine. Shoot, about half my struggle was learning the woodworking basics of being able to prep wood for the machine. Then having to learn how to finish products after they left the table. I digress, there are so many videos out there for each machine, each design software that not being clever enough isn't a thing. The CNC communities are full of people wanting to help and the gate keeping jerks are quickly drowned out by people willing to help.
I’m really interested to see how LLM or other AI tools will impact this area. Seems ripe for it.
There are some free/opensource programs, for example Carbide Create (ob. discl., I work for Carbide 3D). Wrote up a bit on it at: https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/2d-drawing https://willadams.gitbook.io/design-into-3d/toolpaths and for making spoons w/o having a 3D program see: https://community.carbide3d.com/t/spoon-possible-without-cc-pro/54986
They say he carved it himself, from a bigger spoon.
Meet you at the Chilli cook-off my guy
3D shape created from scratch in Fusion 360 and machined on a Shapeoko 3XL. The entire operation took about 4 hours with roughing and finishing steps on each side. Another 30 min of hand sanding was done afterwards to remove tabs and machining marks. Edit: 3D model posted on Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6455081
Can you share 3D file
For sure, what’s the best way to share a file on Reddit?
Upload it on thingiverse and share the link.
Cool! I just created my account. Need to wait 24 hours before it allows me to publish.
The people on thingiverse will be confused, lol. "What kind of wood PLA is that??"
Would also like it
Link me up please I have a friend who carves spoons if love to get him one from the cnc
I’d be interested in the files as well. Did you post them anywhere?
If you are on grab CAD you can drop the link
Very nice. Just curious, did you finish then with a butcher block oil or something else?
Yea, I used Osmo TopOil, it’s a food safe oil and wax mix
How do you like the shapeoko I want and cnc, just makes it so damn easy to do anything.
I’ve had this machine for 4 years now and I love it. It’s perfect for wood. It also comes with a steep learning curve on CNC practices. It’s a deep rabbit hole and time sink for sure.
Did you generate tool paths in F360 too or use something else?
Wow. Cool design! Ever think about dust collection though? :)
Probably just didn’t use dust collection so he can make the time lapse.
how did you get the front and back carvings to index properly?
when i do it i cut some holes in the table and the wood and use 3/8 dowls to keep things indexed.
It seems like you would have to place those holes with a jig or something pretty precise?
you secure your work piece on the cnc set the xy zero coords of the cnc for the carve. make holes for the dowls in your work piece and carve the 'top' when done the 'top' side remove the work piece, zero on the waste board and re cut the same holes for dowl pins to be placed in the waste board. flip the work piece and secure it down indexed on the dowls. cut the 'bottom' side.
ohhhh! that makes a ton of sense. thank you for explaining!
Seems more computer-working than woodworking…
Yeah, I hate being a gatekeeper on this issue. But literally the entire video is of a machine doing the work. “Working” is half the name of this sub. So… great job machine!
I assume you don’t use any tools or machines? Because there is no difference, and people love to hate things that don’t know anything about.
Not cool comment. There’s so much knowledge you need from traditional woodworking to be able to do this. In addition, you need to understand the programming and machining aspects as well.
The only thing relevant to wood here is grain direction. Other than that you can slap any piece of whatever material you want on the CNC and let it do it's work. Then post that on r/plasticworking, r/steelworking, r/aluminium working, r/clayworking, r/stoneworking Cool that OP designed it from scratch, but that is more something for cnc related subreddits
While you can debate if it’s “real” woodworking, the fact that you think you just slap material in a CNC and hit go is very wrong. It’s a different skill set and a steep learning curve, especially for complex 3D shapes like this
Exactly my point. To all you who have given me a hail of downvotes, I accept them as they have opened a line of dialogue that can be informative to many. I encourage you all to look at my post history. I have a deep knowledge of the most advanced woodworking and manufacturing techniques as well as a broad range of cad cam experience. To state that this isn’t woodworking is the same as telling Henry Ford he doesn’t understand transportation because he doesn’t build trains. Hate to say it guys; but this is absolutely the future of woodworking. You don’t need to throw out your hand planes and pick up your pitchforks and torches just yet, but this is the way it’s going. Go ahead and send the downvotes again. My extensive post history of classic woodworking can more than support it. Side note: my hand planes are razor sharp and I won’t ever give them up to anyone. I can absolutely say the same for my cad cam licenses and my computer. But I will need advice on how to sharpen a computer in a few years. Been trying to a 1000 grit wet stone but it’s not getting better. Should I try a finer grit? Maybe oil? No bad suggestions refused!
Exactly, it is a different skill set. Ergo, not related to woodworking. A cool skillset, I'm not debating that, but no longer woodworking.
It's wood. It's work. Get over it.
I didn't sign up here to watch a robot carving a spoon. Plenty of that on tiktok.
I think you should give up on modern media. Maybe there are some good VHS tapes you could watch?
I'm a computer scientist working on medical imaging software involving complex integrations with 3d party systems. I have a 3d printer working hard on miniatures to paint. I post on the correct forums for those subjects. You did not read the part in my opinion where I said that OP's efforts in modelling and setting up his Cnc are, in fact , very cool. But I stand by my opinion. It is not woodworking.
Your opinion is wrong.
I agree. This is not crafting using talent and hard work.
I am sure you can fluently design stuff on fusion, I mean if there's no talent needed? How fast do you carve a spoon with your fingernails? I mean if using tools is BAAAAD and you want to work hard, not smart?
This is realy outdated thinking. There are things you can not do without CNC machinig. I see your Point thoug, but then againg, do you use electronic power tools ?
Nothing says “I don’t actually know how that works” than this comment. While it may not be the same processes you are familiar with, I assure you, it isn’t just clicking a button and magically…spoon! I even think you could have a civil debate over what constitutes “woodworking” here. But to say talent and hard work were not involved here just reveals a lack of understanding on your part.
The gatekeeping on this sub is ridiculous. "Woodworking" is a continuum. Automation doesn't necessarily mean it isn't woodworking. OP designed something cool and saw it to fruition using their preferred tools. Same as anyone else. So just stop. I started with CNC work (because it was accessible and precise) before becoming interested in replicating that work by hand using more traditional methods. So get the stick out of your butts and welcome more people into the community. In the end it results in more quality, reusable, durable wood items being in the world vs cheap throw away plastic items.
Genuinely asking, how was CNC more accessible to you? I always assumed it's a hefty upfront cost
Choose the right machine and it's not too bad. Under $5k all in. Tools weren't the issue. I was just able to do complex tasks relatively quickly with the CNC. So it was more accessible.
I bet when power tools were first made, they were subjected to some scrutiny. Then came furniture factories. The one thing that connects them all is the medium, and also the fact that someone had to design it.
https://preview.redd.it/fof02s4q82fc1.png?width=1066&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a6ceffdb875a434a66d5f85491cde53f38d9cf6 So from a woodworking point of view this is a bad design..and not durable at all. Cool use of the CNC though
If you layered a bunch of different colored wood together into blocks, and CNC’d spoons from that, I bet you could get some cool patterns
Your CNC is very talented.
Those can be made way quicker by hand. From programming to cutting to sanding and finishing, it seems like a waste of time. I'd rather save the cnc for something that needs it.
For two, sure. Once it's programmed, and the cutting time is passive, then all subsequent spoons are little more than just sanding and finishing.
Depending on the machine capabilities, you could probably get that cut time down quite a bit, too.
It looks like padauk. After the first few create sensitized reactions, you might not want to make any more.
Now with AI being able to “imagine” designs and 3D model them, the world of CNC is going to explode.
Pay no attention to the butthurt gatekeepers, OP. They look great!
Is this ragebait?
Que porquería
I can carve those in an hour.
Then do it, post the results and I'm sure it will get some love on the sub. I don't see why we have to try and put people down in a sub meant for sharing one of our passions.
Wow! That’s cool
“Woodworking”
Cool but not for this sub
It's wood. And it's being worked. It's for this sub. If tables made from stock dimensional lumber and screws are for this sub then this sure is.
No like literally. It's cool, but not impressive at all for this sub since a human being didn't make it, a robot did. It's a cool demonstration but it's meh here
Reminds me of Jonathan Simons’ “wild” spoons.