3D Engraving

Ok, so it's really 2 1/2 D but anyway, one of the coolest tools in the shop is my little baby CNC so lets talk about it!

It's got a 7 1/2" table and is driven by a computer upstairs that I control with the tablet shown (remote desktop) - yes, I did drill a hole in the floor to make this happen but it was in the closet, don't tell my wife.

I use a program called CamBam to generate a gcode file and then load that into Mach 3 which is what actually controls the engraver.  In the videos below I'm using a model purchased from VectorArt3d called Mountains and Forest, pulled it into CamBam, set the depths, size, bit size, etc.  If I were doing text or a logo I'd go through the same process.  The actual engraving for a 3D model is a lot more involved than straight text or shapes (which is why its expensive).

For the first pass I use a 2mm bit in 'waterfall mode' this means it calculates how much material it can take off by following the contours (as opposed to scanning back and forth).  In the video above it has finished the waterfall and is starting on the second pass (1mm bit, very little overlap).

Here we're starting the third pass with a .5mm bit horizontally this time.

and here we're getting towards the end.  I then go over it with a polishing wheel on a dremel to take out any remaining scan lines and refinish to match the rest of the case.

Cheers!

New Web Site!

Check out our new look!  http://www.brokenlimb.com

Built by yours truly using wordpress, this site has a device independent responsive design, built in inventory management, affiliate program, shipping calculations, order notifications and social media links plus the standard eCommerce shopping cart stuff.  The goal was a user friendly store with a clean look and all the bells and whistles that go into a modern website, it was a lot of work but I'm very happy with the results and hope you will be as well.  Enjoy!  

Stocking up for Christmas

New Option

Yes - so, it's been a while since I've done any blogging, no worries all is well, just cranking out dart cases with nothing major to report. Until today! I had a customer request that I liked so much I had to share it.

As I'm sure you know one of the more popular customizations I do is a magnetic dart board emblem on the front of the case, this allows you to further customize your case by getting a 1 inch golf ball marker of you favorite team, or logo or whatever and using it instead of the included dart board emblem. It can also be used for a coin flip (that's how my local league determines who has first crack at the cork to start the game). You can get golf ball markers anywhere and they're almost always magnetic because many golfers use magnets to secure them to their hat, here's an example

Now then, the magnet that holds the emblem is very strong so to make it easy to remove I add a small indentation to the side so you can get a finger nail under the edge and pop it off.  Recently I had a request to use a hole from the back instead so you could push the emblem out with a dart tip instead of making an indentation on the front.  Enough gabbing, lets take a look!

 

Personally, I like the quick access of the indentation (left pic) for a coin flip, because you don't have to open the case to remove the emblem, which I do quite often in the course of a league night.  The 'poke hole' (on the right) however is a cleaner look and if you don't use it for a coin flip that much, or don't mind the extra step of opening the case, this might be for you.  I don't have it as an option on the order page yet but if you'd prefer this style just shoot me an email with your order, the cost is the same either way.

Shoot'em straight!