Mandolin Top and Back
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Mandolin Top and Back
Last weekend I used the new 3D toolpaths in VCarve Pro 8 to cut an arched A5 style mandolin top and back. I don't own Aspire so they were drawn in Rhino and then the .3dm file was imported into VCarve and toolpathed. It took a few minutes to figure out how to set things up but after that things went very smoothly. I've used VCarve for years for my 2D and 2.5D toolpaths and it is a pleasure to be able to use it for 3D work also.
.5" bit at 15% step over and 40 ipm. On the inner surfaces it took about 35 minutes to cut both roughing and finish toolpaths. The outsides took a little longer, between 50 and 60 minutes, because there was more material to remove.
.5" bit at 15% step over and 40 ipm. On the inner surfaces it took about 35 minutes to cut both roughing and finish toolpaths. The outsides took a little longer, between 50 and 60 minutes, because there was more material to remove.
- Rcnewcomb
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
Very nice!
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
- zeeway
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
Looks good. A 7% stepover would eliminate a lot of sanding...
Angie
Angie
- fretsman68
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- mtylerfl
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
Thinking the same thing... a 15% stepover is too much - unless one enjoys sanding more than I do.zeeway wrote:Looks good. A 7% stepover would eliminate a lot of sanding...
Angie
We all live and learn, and that's why the forum is so great. A compilation of experience and handy know-how to help us work better and more efficiently.
I can't quite tell from the pics if an End Mill was used or a Ball Nose (ok to use an End Mill for roughing....should be using a Ball Nose for the Finish Pass).
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
The 15% step over was intentional. It's a compromise between total cutting time and finish quality. The plates are cut over thickness so that they can get their final tuning with hand tools. There's no point in having the cutting take twice as long to get a smoother surface when you'll be hitting it with a hand plane. I agree that if I was after the smoothest surface possible that a 15% step over is way too much.
A flat mill was used for roughing and a ball mill for finishing
A flat mill was used for roughing and a ball mill for finishing
- mikeacg
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
Looks great! I'm glad I waited to chime in as I was wondering how your were going to adjust the tone. Good to know for future projects!
Thanks for sharing!
Mike
Thanks for sharing!
Mike
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
That sure makes sense alright. I should have known that the final finish/thickness/tuning would be have to be worked out by hand on a fine instrument like that. Thank you for the additional info!cumberlander wrote:The 15% step over was intentional. It's a compromise between total cutting time and finish quality. The plates are cut over thickness so that they can get their final tuning with hand tools. There's no point in having the cutting take twice as long to get a smoother surface when you'll be hitting it with a hand plane. I agree that if I was after the smoothest surface possible that a 15% step over is way too much.
A flat mill was used for roughing and a ball mill for finishing
Michael Tyler
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- Rcnewcomb
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
.5" bit at 15% step over
Since you are using a 1/2" bit for the finish pass you could probably eliminate the roughing pass and save even more time.A flat mill was used for roughing and a ball mill for finishing
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
I am an old man and have Vcarve Desktop. Do you sell the files that would let me make this on my equipment?
- TReischl
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
This post is several years old. You will be lucky if you see a response.doublednpr wrote:I am an old man and have Vcarve Desktop. Do you sell the files that would let me make this on my equipment?
"If you see a good fight, get in it." Dr. Vernon Johns
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Re: Mandolin Top and Back
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop