Mandolin Top and Back

[cumberlander]

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.

[Rcnewcomb]

Very nice!

[zeeway]

Looks good. A 7% stepover would eliminate a lot of sanding...

Angie

[fretsman68]

Excellent work!

[mtylerfl]

Looks good. A 7% stepover would eliminate a lot of sanding...

Angie

Thinking the same thing... a 15% stepover is too much - unless one enjoys sanding more than I do.
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).

[cumberlander]

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

[mikeacg]

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

[mtylerfl]

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

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!

[Rcnewcomb]

.5" bit at 15% step over

A flat mill was used for roughing and a ball mill for finishing

Since you are using a 1/2" bit for the finish pass you could probably eliminate the roughing pass and save even more time.

[doublednpr]

I am an old man and have Vcarve Desktop. Do you sell the files that would let me make this on my equipment?

[TReischl]

I am an old man and have Vcarve Desktop. Do you sell the files that would let me make this on my equipment?

This post is several years old. You will be lucky if you see a response.

[Rcnewcomb]

You might look at this site, but I've never used them: FabItRabbit.com F5 style Mandolin