Blender 2.81 should be out in days. It has a HUGE feature involving the sculpting tools I’ve been waiting for. It’ll help me tremendously.
Just curious what you’re planning on designing as it’ll help determine what tools I’d recommend?
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Thanks Luc… I’ll check that out!
Hi Gary…thanks for the heads up on Blender! My main focus is on organic shapes machined out of bamboo plywood glued up into blocks…it allows me to machine the pieces by breaking them into layers and then gluing the layers together and finishing off the joints by hand…like tiling a long piece through the XY workspace only doing it vertically. One of my community college classes was using Fusion 360 to model a life size soaring gull…it was t e d i o u s drawing all the cross sections from top/front/side elevations and then lofting them together…the calculations for this process were a chore for the work station I was using…a gazillion points in space to define the shape. Do you think the 3XXL would be robust enough to handle this type of machining? The 3" Z is minimal but, since I work in layers, I can see that it would serve my purposes…
Here’s something you might want to play around with to streamline your workflow: Slicer for Fusion 360
https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=8699194120463301363
You can start with a 3D model and slice it in different ways. The app will generate the slice shapes for you.
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Paul, another thing to be aware of, milling a piece 3” in Z is a challenge unless the part tapers from wide on the bottom to narrow at the top. A few reasons for this, you’ll need end mills at least 4 inches long with 3 inches of flute, long endmills will deflect causing finish issues and also rub if the flute length is less then the cut depth.
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Please also see the thread:
For CAM from most 3D apps one exports an STL and imports that into a 3D CAM app such as MeshCAM.
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Very cool…thanks Roger!
Griff…thanks for the input! I hear you…all my pieces will take that into account in the design phase and, with the ability to layer my machining and choosing appropriate feed rates, I think I should be OK…I expect to do some hand finishing after machining…after 7 decades on the planet working with my hands, I’m just looking to get the pieces close and save some wear and tear on the old joints!
Thx Will…I’ve heard good things about ZBrush and I appreciate the CAM info…communicating with the group comes at a really good time as I try to wrap my head around this next challenge…thx everyone!
Question about scanning and/or digitizing probes…I have some master models in MDF that I have been using to produce sample pieces using a Duplicarver. I have seen digitizing probes available for creating the G code off of physical models…would this be possible with the 3XXL? Have also seen some Lidar scanners available…???
Paul:
One thing you have to realize and it certainly was not clear to me at the beginning is that the Shapeoko with the standard mount will only have some 3in of Z travel under the gantry. The HDZ bring this up to 6in but if you have a model that is say 8in (Z), you would not be able to digitize on the Shapeoko and creating it would mean making two sides and gluing it together. There is a bit more room in front of the frame but it is restricted to a couple of in Y and would require special a holding jig. A 4th axis would further reduce the height available.
Thx Luc…yes, the 3" Z is a definite constraint that I have decided is not necessarily a deal breaker, as I will be using glued up bamboo and baltic birch plywood, so I can “slice” my sculpts into units and then glue up the finished piece and finish the joints by hand. What is your experience with the machine’s robustness ie how does it handle a material like hardwood?
I have an XL, I have done some 3D in hardwood with good success but I mostly do 2.5D work so far. If you stay within the limits of the machine, it provides very good results and if you are @Vince.Fab or @RichCournoyer, you get great results. I’m still wearing little boys pants compared to those guys 
Luc…you mentioned the HDZ…first I’ve heard of that. Looks like a great potential addition but working with laminates, not something I would think I need to start with…
Hey Will…looking thru the topics, I noticed mention of “metal belts” on newer machines…could you explain what that means? I was assuming the drive mechanism uses fiber reinforced rubber belts…
Correct, the default core material for the GT2 belts used is fiberglass.
There has since been some experimentation with belts which use alternative core materials:
Steel:
Kevlar:
(you can search for more)
Carbide 3D has begun to switch to steel core belts for machines— I got a set for the SO3 I keep at my mother-in-laws for when I need to do tech support while visiting but haven’t installed them yet (something for the next visit).
I didn’t ask for a set for my XL since the belts on it are still in good shape, and I paid rather a lot for them from SDP/SI — they are actually Gates-branded, I believe made in the U.S. (and I’m trying to keep my XL stock/entry-level, while the SO3 is getting all the cool upgrades, starting with an aluminum table, and eventually heavy duty eccentrics and HDZ) — while I can understand the appeal of the alternate materials, I want to get my money’s worth out of these belts before I replace them.
“Carbide 3D has begun to switch to steel core belts for machines”…got it…if I purchase a machine during the Black Friday sale, will it be equipped with steel core belts? BTW…I hope your wife knows how awesome you are…furnishing your MIL’s crib with an SO3 so you can do family time AND support the Shapeoko community…LOL…good on you!!!
Check in at support@carbide3d.com — not sure how complete the changeover is — the only reason I mention it is because folks have begun mentioning getting steel belts on the unofficial Facebook group.
Hey Gary…so, 2.81 was released yesterday, according to the blender website. I think it would be a great fit for my projects…my current dilemma is buying a new computer to deal with Blender and MeshCam, etc. Could you give me some guidance? I have been spending days researching recommendations about CAD/CAM desktops/laptops/workstations…makes my Old Dog head hurt! As I mentioned before, my projects are total organic…no straight lines/planes…I realize that mathematically, this is not the simplest equation for software to define. What computer do you use for working with your projects?
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I do use Blender mostly for 3d stuff. I just run in on my Mac and it does not stress it. I’d not buy an extra PC just for it. Here is the one I’ve just resumed working on now that cold weather is keeping me out of the shop. Aspirations for Art on my Shapeoko
I’ve no experience with Meshcam
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