compucarve???

jimmyduded · #1 01-07-2008, 01:16 PM

has anyone tried it? I think it could be a valuable tool, bridges, replicating pieces with its probe, tailpieces, the options are endless...if its a good piece of machinery. if not then its a fancy paperweight. im asking opinions or any other reccomendations of cnc machines under 2000

robobass · #2 01-07-2008, 02:12 PM

You aren't likely to get many thumbs up at this forum. I am not anti-tech myself (I have owned CNC machines in the past) but this thing looks like a toy. I would be very, very, very, surprised if it could do anything useful for a luthier.
Robobass

jimmyduded · #3 01-07-2008, 02:30 PM

yeah thats my concerns, if it worked well it really would be useful however

toman · #4 01-07-2008, 04:37 PM

Maybe a toy, but it looks like a fun and possibly somewhat useful toy... I'd like to hear from someone who's had a chance to play with one.

jimmyduded · #5 01-07-2008, 04:46 PM

ive seen it in action and it seems to work but id like to know its durability and such

toman · #6 01-07-2008, 04:53 PM

So from what you've seen, would it really work to replicate things like bridges, tailpieces, hatpeg knobs, neck profiles, etc.? If so, it might come in handy not just for the odd repair job, but for say, cutting a bunch of bridges for new factory basses one was setting up, or a unique tailpiece style one came up with. If it could replicate bow frogs that would be great...

Bob Branstetter · #7 01-07-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

So from what you've seen, would it really work to replicate things like bridges, tailpieces, hatpeg knobs, neck profiles, etc.? If so, it might come in handy not just for the odd repair job, but for say, cutting a bunch of bridges for new factory basses one was setting up, or a unique tailpiece style one came up with. If it could replicate bow frogs that would be great...

A few years ago I looked into getting a larger CNC machine to possibly replace my Northstar Pantograph Carver. I came to the conclusion that CNC machines are generally not suitable for the one off type of repairs that luthiers generally do. The programming would take far longer than the time I can do the job wih a pantograph carver. If I wanted to make 20 or more tailpieces, that might be a different story, but not for just one. There are several low cost pantograph carvers available that can do the jobs Toman listed at about 10-20% of the cost of the Sear's CNC carver. (BTW-The hatpeg knobs require a lathe).

I looked at the 93 user reviews on the Sears site and this machine did not get great marks in either reliability or durability ratings. It's not something I would want.

toman · #8 01-07-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

(BTW-The hatpeg knobs require a lathe).
.

I know; I've turned a few. Getting one to match the other three is, well, not fun. Eventually I just made a whole new set.

**Bob Gollihur** · #9 01-07-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyduded

has anyone tried it? I think it could be a valuable tool, bridges, replicating pieces with its probe, tailpieces, the options are endless...if its a good piece of machinery. if not then its a fancy paperweight. im asking opinions or any other reccomendations of cnc machines under 2000

I did some net searches a few months ago, curious about it and wondered if it might get my 84yo father off his butt and back into the woodshop. There were a lot of bad to so-so reviews out there at that time, and indications that it was made for Sears by a company that was also retailing it themselves. I passed on it for those reasons.

I'd suggest googling the tool to see if the dependability has improved, for an update from where it was six months ago.

robobass · #10 01-08-2008, 01:25 AM

A better way to go than owning your own cheap, hobby, mini-machine, is to get some software, learn to use it, and bring your drawings and material to a shop that owns a pro machine. That 1700 bucks will buy tons of time in such a shop, and the result will be much better. With internet and UPS, the shop doesn't even need to be in your state. Let someone else worry about noise, dust, and maintenence, and prices can be surprisingly low.

Robobass

Eric Swanson · #11 01-08-2008, 05:59 AM

+1 to Robobass.

I work for an architectural millwork shop that subs out all of our CNC work to an outfit with a $150K machine.

We draw up what we want and email it to them. Two days later we have parts (with no overhead costs).

I work in a shop that does primarily one-off work. We find that many curved, complex components are less expensively made by others with CNC routers than we can do ourselves, in-house. Even for one-of-a-kind components.

Machining charges range from $200 - $500 for programming/machine time, depending on complexity and number of components. Short money compared to doing it by hand, buying a machine, and/or learning it all.

The work coming off a heavy industrial machine is just so much sweeter than the stuff made on lighter rigs.

We are using AutoCAD because its the standard in our industry. Not a great fit for your 3d purposes, though. Our CNC vendor converts our ACAD dwgs. to AlphaCAM programs. Lots of programs out there that would be better for 3d drawings. Ask your machinist or patternmaking/modelmaking friends. (Maybe Solidworks (?).)

You don't need to worry about the CNC programming, frankly, the machine shop will do that. All you need is a drawing, even a crude one.

Frankly, if you have dimensions and a pencil sketch, a good CNC programmer can draw it up for you...so all you need to have is a clear vision of what you want.

Johnny Atomic · #12 01-08-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

I looked at the 93 user reviews on the Sears site and this machine did not get great marks in either reliability or durability ratings. It's not something I would want.

I really wanted one when I saw it advertised on TV about a year ago. But saw a bunch of negative reviews online. Mainly about the way it holds and transports the material, not about the actual cutting.

I've heard about a "real" cnc that's 4x4 that you can get for about $7k. you could carve a bass front or back w/ a 4x4 work area.

Johnny

jimmyduded · #13 01-08-2008, 02:43 PM

my dad can run a cnc machine, he showed me yesterday afternoon all the math involved(how fun) and i think if I can create templates on a computer it should be easy to get someone to cut a whole bunch, but for single parts the compucarve looks pretty good, or buy a digital probe tool and make 3d models to send to other companies, which is rather time consuming, I wish they made a heavy duty version of the compucarve

toman · #14 01-08-2008, 03:27 PM

Interesting stuff to read about, but I think I'll stick to my knives and gouges, maybe the bandsaw, at least for now. In the time I spend reading I can make a lot of wood shavings!

robobass · #15 01-09-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyduded

a digital probe tool and make 3d models

That is one feature that could be very cool. I've never used one, but if it really worked well, the machine could be worthwhile even if the actual cutting sucked! Although I don't know what a luthier would do with the technology...
Robobass

RCWilliams · #16 01-09-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

Interesting stuff to read about, but I think I'll stick to my knives and gouges, maybe the bandsaw, at least for now. In the time I spend reading I can make a lot of wood shavings!

ultimatly the question is do you get paid for the shavings, or for what's left after your done. what if it made shavings while you read?

Darren Molnar · #17 01-09-2008, 08:59 AM

Even better, what if it could make shavings AND read TO me! I'll probably hold out for one that makes me sandwiches, also.

jimmyduded · #18 01-09-2008, 02:25 PM

haha, well to answer about the 3d probe, you can buy ones for alot cheaper than the machine costs if you know alot about computers and 3d graphics(one of my many hobbies) anyway, the machines one works by going back and forth over the object 100s of times, a professional 3d probe you only touch your corners with the stylus and also places where the depth changes, giving you a sort of 3d connect the dots, the computer can connect them for you but it is usually wrong, i prefer to do it myself

toman · #19 01-09-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCWilliams

ultimatly the question is do you get paid for the shavings, or for what's left after your done. what if it made shavings while you read?

I don't get paid for any of it, at least not yet!

Eric Swanson · #20 01-10-2008, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCWilliams

ultimatly the question is do you get paid for the shavings, or for what's left after your done. what if it made shavings while you read?

With a CNC router you get both. Reminds me of an operator I knew who kept hidden bookmarks in his router computer so he could view questionable content involving under-dressed women while standing by the machine.

The reading sounds more productive, but the idea is the same...