Hell all Good evening,
I have some 4x4 posts that Id like to pocket some letters on, The post is 4" x 4". I am curious if this is possible using a spindle? or is it too thick to use on the cnc machine…
v/r
I was going to carve house numbers in a new mailbox post using my standard size S3 last week. Then I realized the 4 x 4 wouldn’t fix under my Z axis. 
remove a slat and find a way to make it fit, there are also gantry extension mods people have made and other options available.
All good suggestions but in this case, for a one time gig, it wasn’t worth the time. The wife found some pretty ones at Home Depot and snagged them.
thanks, ill have to think of something else …
v/r
Different models have different clearance. Just put a 4x4 (3.5" x3.5") under your Z and see. On SO3 there is a lot of room on the front of your machine to cut material. Not sure about SO4 and SO4 Pro. The SO5 has a method of gantry shift to give you more room off the front of the machine. You will never know unless you try.
Your machine and spoil board thickness may be different enough to allow that 4 x 4 to fit. Only one way to find out…
The Pro 5 with 65mm VFD has a max clearance of 4.25" or so, under the Z Axis Moungting plate with the MDF slates in place.
I move the spindle up until the Sweepy starts to fall off the cylinder. I use Cadence extended upcut bit which allows for a 2" cut ( shoulder is cut to 2" ).
Hi, Thanks for your post.
the pic here is a table leg I am working on for custom tables I build… legs are 3in x 3in x 24 tall.
I have the clearance as the the spindle moves , However in doing a pocket cut as seen in the attached, I am curious if my 1/4" upcut endmill will allow this action to happen being the leg work surface is 3 inches from the spoil board… or will I break a bit.
v/r
I don’t think the bit will break for a pocket cut around the ARMY letters just because its 3” above the spoil board as shown above?
You should be fine cutting at whatever height you can fit, so long as you stay within the bits performance capabilities.
The real question to me is how you are going to hold the stock. CA glue and tape are ok, but you are creating a leverage action that maybe pull the glue/tape way.
I used an aluminum bar on both sides and butted clamps to it. The bar is 1 1/4 x 1/4 bar on both sides. This is ok, but I had to add the clamps to keep the top of the bars against the stock.
I probably should have use 1 1/2 wide bar.
I did not use glue/tape.
2 Likes
This topic was automatically closed after 30 days. New replies are no longer allowed.