I started out doing wood stuff. Then found color core, then acrylic, the LED faux neon integration into acrylic. Each of these required specific knowledge. So far it’s been a wild ride.
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I started with resin printing, realized it did not have the tolerances I wanted then switched to CNC.
First was injection mold making, then wax mold and model making, on to general prototyping in metals. Eventually we dove towards aesthetic designs and got into challenge coins, gemstone settings, precious metal plating, inlay, and eventually bespoke jewelry. Finally, I’ve started cutting wood 
(mostly for jewelry boxes)
There’s always something new in the works and I’m sure I’ve forgotten more than a handful of steps along the path but it gives a good idea of how one thing can lead to another. I’ve got plenty of book marked posts to go back to and try something new when I find the time. Lots of inspiration on this forum 
Edit: I’m taking a traditional neon glass class shortly, I’ll have to make one of your style signs so I have a side by side to compare (in process and materials) 
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Sweet recurve!! What brand?
I did a job for Jerome at Bwana Bows. I modeled the riser, and set up the toolpaths for his Shapeoko. I didn’t charge him, but he sent me a $1200 long bow
I purchased my HDM to cut prototype aluminum parts for industrial blowers, basically a really big turbo-charger.
Although that takes precedent, the machine probably gets used 90-95% for wood, plastic decorative parts, and a few utilitarian replacement parts.
I started working with wood in 1977 (age 13), as a pattern/model maker. I was a journeyman model maker when I graduated high school. In 1987, I started using CAD/CAM & CNC to make patterns, models, molds. In 1990 I was hired by EDS, supporting Unigraphics CAM software, and now I work for Siemens who owns NX (formerly Unigraphics), developing postprocessors and simulators for customer’s machines.
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Bear Archery Custom Kodiak Takedown — got it back when they had just discontinued the Takedown Supreme by buying and immediately trading to a guy, a Phoenix Excalibur crossbow (still feel a bit bad about that — if his son ever tracks me down, I’ll gladly trade back his grandfather’s bow and have directed my kids to keep that in mind if it should come up after I’m gone).
Since then I’ve bought two more, serial #33 of the LE takedown in A and B handles:
and if memory serves, can mix-and-match parts to get from ~30# at a 64" A.M.O. length to ~58# at 56" — while they came in nice leather cases, I really need to find the time to make at least one more wooden case.
I also need to get at least one alu./magnesium riser, or maybe try my hand at making one and maybe pick up a few more limb sets…
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I was professional CNC person for 15 years, making 1000s of different parts for a very large electronics company and left the profession over 30 years back!!
Now, I want to get back to it as a hobby. I volunteer at a temple which does use a lot of wooden artifacts. I hope to have a 4X4 (in fact 33"X33") to make those artifacts for the temple as a service. A lot has happened since I left this profession. I need to dust off my pants a bit and start. :
Now I am looking for one in an assembled condition and should be available locally here at Rochester NY. I do not enough have skills to assemble it myself.
Love the possibilities with this kind of machine.
how much of that did you make on a cnc?
thats incredible
From 10 feet away, you can’t tell the diff on the faux neon. I’m having a ball with it.
Steve
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What’s the process for that?
If you mean the bow riser, I cut several test pieces on my HDM
If you mean the blower, I also did several prototypes from billet on the HDM. The parts pictured are castings, and I cut the finished surfaces on the HDM. We adjust output volume & pressure by changing the fin height on the impeller, so with a taller fin I have to machine more off the bell in the cover to maintain a 0.005" gap.
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