This video shows modifications to the Shapeoko XXL CNC frame and bed to accommodate a manual rotary setup that allows for multi-sided 3D carving of objects (along a B-axis) that are too big to fit underneath the X-gantry rail.
To show proof of concept, I carved a Koi fish from a solid stack of plywood with 3-sided CNC routing.
Software used:
Meshmixer to create the 3D Koi fish
Vectric VCarve to generate the tool paths
UGS Platform to send the Gcode to the CNC
Materials used:
Everbilt 1 inch square tubes with 5/16" holes spaced 1" apart
1/4" steel triangular plates
3/8" bolts (the 5/16" holes were widened with the drill press)
18 mm (3/4") Sande plywood: 4 sheets of 600x600 mm (4’x4’)
Surfacing bit to flatten and pocket the stock: WhiteSide #1027A
Extra long roughing bit: Amana Tool end mill #46590
Extra long finishing bit: Amana Tool ball nose #46490
Thanks for the kind words, Julien! Someone in the Facebook group pointed me to this forum, so I thought I’d join and share my projects, as others might be interested in getting the most out of their wonderful CNC machines, too.
More projects to follow; I’ll take it slow, as I don’t want to overload this forum with all my projects on the first day of joining.
Most of the software to design the projects and generate the GCodes are explained in the videos, and I also list them below the videos in the description. But it usually comes down to: Zephyr (for photogrammetry), Meshmixer (for modifications of and additions to the 3D models), VCarve (for tool path generation), and UGS Platform (for sending the GCode to the CNC).