Okay, I love using my SO3 to make workshop accessories but unfortunately I don’t use Carbide Create so I don’t qualify for the contest. But, I thought I would post anyway and start a new topic for workshop accessories that don’t qualify for the contest. Now its not that I have anything against Carbide Create. I have not used it enough to have any opinion. Its just that I never got around to using it. I have SO3 #206 from the second shipment way back when and Carbide Create wasn’t available then. I started with Fusion 360 and I’ve just continued to use it. I like that I can do complex 3D design in it and then use the CAM tools for either my S03 or my Rostock Max 3D printer.
As for the workshop accessories, I admit that a couple of them are stolen ideas from projects that others have posted. Hopefully if others post their I’ll have more ideas to steal from . I’ve also posted a couple of these previously so hopefully no one will mind the repeats. Some of these are simple items but they would still have been hard to do without the SO3 so I think it helps show how versatile and useful an SO3 can be.
First up is my set of SO3 helpers:
In the photo are:
- my cheapo dust shoe frame cut from hard board, previously mentioned here: http://community.carbide3d.com/t/so3-simple-3d-printed-dust-boot/2906/3
- DWP611 collet box, mentioned here: http://community.carbide3d.com/t/i-would-appreciate-fresh-eyes/5183/9
- a set of aluminum hold down clamps cut from 6061 plate
- my touch pad which I use all the time
- assorted brackets/jigs I use to consistently align stock at specific work coordinates. Cut from UHMW plastic.
- A simple parts tray to hold all the items I use regularly with my S03. Cut from some left over birch plywood.
I added a SuperPID to my setup and I’m still loving it. I posted about it here: http://community.carbide3d.com/t/superpid-build-complete/4618 but here’s a repeat picture of the case and heatsink which were done on my S03.
I built a Thien separator for my dust collector.
It’s a tophat style that sits on top of a garbage pail. It works incredibly well. You can see the bottom of the dust collector’s dust bag in the background. It has some dust lining it but its basically empty. I’ve emptied the garbage pail a many times since I added the separator and the bag is still empty. Although the outsides of the plywood pieces were done with a bandsaw the internal cuts were all done on my SO3. Also the inlet piece was made from several separate plywood pieces carved using the SO3 and then glued together. You can see that more here http://a360.co/2wq0Dc2 if you use explode model.
Here’s a shop accessory in development. I’m in the process of designing and building a CO2 laser cutter. It’s based around using OpenBuilds V-slot extrusions but with a lot of custom brackets. Here’s the basic design:
I’ve been slowly gathering the pieces for the build and working through creating the brackets and mounts I need as I get the pieces delivered. I’m cutting most of the brackets from 1/8" 6061 sheet aluminum and the thicker brackets from 1/2" 6061 plate. Its much cheaper to go to the local Metal Supermarket, grab some offcuts and then cut my own brackets versus buying them. Plus I can customize them. Some of the completed pieces below:
I plan to use a CNC PI Shield running GRBL to control the laser and I needed an extra stepper driver because I’m using five steppers and the CNC shield only provides 4 slots. Used my SO3 to create an little driver ‘duplicator’ board so that I could plug two drivers into the z-axis driver slot. Okay, maybe a stretch for workshop accessories but it does show you can do PCBs with the SO3 as well as cut wood, plastic and aluminum.
And last and probably least my crap collectors. Just some MDF with round recesses cut into it and then some left over acrylic tubing glued in. It replaced the random collection of jars I use to use.
So, post those shop accessories that don’t qualify for the contest. I can always use some more ideas to steal.