I tried, but just couldn't let it go. The diameter and model height is close to the same as Michael Tyler's version but my YoYo is drawn in Aspire using the modeling tools. The dome is made with the Create Shape from Vectors tool. The Star is a rounded border with a wicker weave fill pattern I've used on other projects.
First I made a poor excuse for a machining fixture and made a YoYo that has an off center axle dowel. But the YoYo works ok if the halves are rotated until they mostly match up. It has a round Celtic knot design. It will be on display at the Aspire camp next.
Then I designed a better fixture with a poor clamping system that had some problems while doing the roughing cuts. It produced this YoYo today. One of the handmade Cotter pins (bent from MIG wire) vibrated out of the 1/16" holes in the alignment dowels, allowing the material to get a little too loose. I managed to hold it down with a stick until the next tool change.
Then I devised what should be the final clamping solution. I already have a piece of figured purple heart CNC cut to size with an x/y center locator dot between 1/4" dowel holes that will allow doing a stress test of the clamps during the roughing and profiling operations. It it holds up ok I'll try cocobolo for a denser wood test. This fixture and YoYo will also be on display.
The material blanks will be partially cut with a table saw and miter saw to 4" x 8" then the center mark and the dowel holes cut by the CNC machine. I can do a bunch of them in advance. The backside axle holes and center mark are done first, then flip the material blank top to bottom and cut the front side. The cut time is about 30 minutes for the front and back side of one YoYo. The Z0 is set to the center, top of the material.
The fixture file and details will be posted here and on my website by late next week.
