We basically use our Shapeoko Pro-5 for CNC’ing wood aircraft parts for new builds and vintage restoring. We use Birch and Mahogany aircraft grade plywood and Stika Spruce, Pine, Basswood, Mahogany to name a few.
We also CNC 6061-t6, 2024-T3 & 7075 aluminum. We would love to CNC out 4130 Chrome/Moly steel but I think that would be pushing the machine to far.
Attached are some pictures of wood parts we have made, that is my son.
… Enjoy, KAP
BTW, they are for full size aircraft and not models.
Great use of a cnc for precise manufacturing. The S5 Pro-4x4’s main purpose for me was to use the tiling function to create stringers/bulkheads for a microskiff catamaran build.
Thanks for sharing your work.
Thanks Redlander for the Kudos. I am interested in how you are doing " tiling function to create stringers/bulkheads ".
Would please explain.
Cheers, KAP
“Tiling” is a CC/CM function of the software. It allows the design to be larger than you cnc bed, the software then splits the design file into separate “tiles” that overlap your toolpaths enough to make them seem a continuous cut.
For example, to cut a 4’x8’ sheet of material I will have to use the tiling operation and use at least 2 separate tiles to cut my design which is larger than the 4’x4’ bed on my S5 Pro.
Design your file to the dimension you need, for example 6’ long by 2’ wide pattern piece. When tiling is used you can set the number of tile for the length of the design. If I use two tiles one would cut 4” in length and the second tile would cut the remaining 2’. The 4’ tile is cut first, then the sheet good is moved forward (towards the back of the machine) and the second tile (2nd toolpath, one for each tile) is then cut.
You can search the forum and C3D has several videos from K. Barnett that illustrates this function.
This microskiff project is slated to start the second half of next year and I plan on starting a thread to document it.
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