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Notes from Forney's Woodshop ... Periodic thoughts about woodworking, furniture, cabinets and the use of CNC routers ... John Forney is a woodworker in Marion, Ohio who has been in the business for over 30 years. John shares tips, tricks, jigs, fixtures, techniques and random thoughts about CNC and the woodworking business. [Visit John]

 

Furniture/Woodworking

 

 

Burch Company Wood Studio

Burch Company Wood Studio

 

R & K Woodworking

Village Cabinet

 

Childwood Products

R & K Woodworking

 

Country Toys


    John Fouillard

 

CNCs in Woodworking

In addition to high-volume furniture and millwork companies, novice and master craftsmen alike are embracing CNC technology in their workshops.  Once a taboo subject in the fine woodworking establishment, the sheer number of possibilities and advantages that CNC routing brings to the table is hard to ignore.  Craftsmen are quickly realizing that the CNC process doesn’t jeopardize their piece’s authenticity, it only adds to quality and uniqueness of the finished product.

For instance, precise-fitting assemblies that are difficult to produce using conventional tools can be created on the CNC . Dados, rabbets, arches, inlays and even 3D relief carvings can be cut quickly and efficiently using CNC technology.  Designs that are too time consuming or impossible to create using traditional woodworking tools are now possible.  For example, knock-down furniture assemblies are very time consuming to design and get perfect without a whole pile of jigs and templates.  Instead of physical templates, the CNC uses digital versions that you create in software.  You have the ability to ‘try out’ your design and assemblies on your computer before you cut into your material.  You can quickly modify your design on the computer to adjust fit, or take existing designs and transform them into new products.  With the proper hardware and software, you can take your existing 2D & 3D furniture parts and convert them to a digital format that the CNC understands.  This digital version of your parts can be transformed to produce any number of sizes and shapes of your original design.  One furniture assembly now becomes an entire line of furniture!

CNC Advantages in Woodworking Markets

The CNC process also allows you to quickly and easily tailor your products to a given sector in the marketplace using a ‘value-added’ strategy.  Let’s say you create a generic end table as part of your furniture line that you typically sell at one price point.  You can add a 3D relief appliqué to the same table with little effort and then sell the table at a significant premium.  The appliqué can be any design that you choose depending on your target customer.  The CNC could just as easily add a v-carved design or border to an otherwise plain panel as well, increasing your profits with very little effort on your behalf.  With a small amount of creativity, you can considerably expand your product offerings and increase your customer base.

Arts, Crafts and CNC

Crafts people of many types are also taking advantage of the CNC capabilities.  They use CNC to turn out a higher quality product, to offer more products to their customers and to create unique products that competitors may not be able to produce by hand.  The time savings resulting from adding a CNC router also provides a distinct advantage, even if CNC is only used for initial shaping of materials or for providing unusual decorative features.  This means more time to think of the next season’s product line and less time invested in physical labor.
 


[If you have and interest in 3D cutting or carving, please view this introduction to 3D and CNC.]


A Few of the Woodworkers Using ShopBot CNCs
 

R & K Woodworking, Randall Ouellette, Vergennes, VT
http://www.vtwoodnet.org/member_pages/r&kwoodworking.html, Custom Production Woodworking

ChildWood Products, Dick McGuire, Verdigris, OK
www.childwoodproducts.com, Heirloom Children's Furniture

Beacon Custom Woodwork, David Buchsbaum, Atlanta, GA
www.beaconcustomwoodwork.com,
Custom Cabinets

Country Casual, Ed Goldstein, Gaithersburg, MD
www.countrycasual.com, Teak Garden Furniture

John Fouillard, Regina, Saskatchewan, CANADA
http://web.mac.com/jfouillard/iWeb/Woodworking/Welcome.html  Clocks and More

Burch Company Wood Studio, Warner Burch, Durham, NC
www.burchcompanywoodstudio.com, Custom Furniture and Interiors

Country Toys, The Dixons, Olalla, WA
www.countrytoys.net, Quality-Built Wooden Toys

 

Please contact us if you would like to be added to this page

A Recommended Woodworking CNC

Hardware:   It's hard to specify a CNC tool that will be right for all woodworkers because the nature of the work can vary so much. So here we specify what we consider is a basic woodworking CNC based on our PRSalpha 96 (4x8 sheet size). Besides a high performance PRSalpha, this CNC system includes a 3hp spindle. If you will need to hold down sheet goods or other work suitable for a universal vacuum, consider adding a 16.9hp vacuum pump as an efficient hold-down solution. These components are all production oriented and will provide fast efficient cutting. Depending on how heavy your cutting will be, you may want to consider a 5hp spindle for increased cutting power. If you need to reduce the cost of your initial woodworking CNC; consider a router instead of a spindle, and consider a PRSstandard system rather than the higher performance, PRSalpha.

Software The ShopBot PartWorks Suite(CAD/CAM) design software that is included with every new ShopBot is an excellent way to get started with CNC. This software will handle many types of CNC design of interest to woodworkers.  For production work where material-efficient layout or nesting of parts is required consider the ArtCAM Insignia software that includes extensive design editing and advanced nesting features. There is a cabinetmaking module that can be added to Insignia for integration with cabinet design software such as KCDW. If your interests are in 3D work, you can take the approach of copying existing parts with a digitizing probe in order to create your cutting files, or you can use 3D design software to create new objects. There are many choices in 3D design software, but ShopBotters have had considerable success with ArtCAM Pro, which is the leading system for turning 2D design ideas into 3D shapes, parts, and patterns. ArtCAM Pro includes Insignia in addition to its remarkable 3D shaping and sculpting features.

ShopBot Woodworking Tool:                     

     PRSalpha 96x60ShopBot
         - Includes steel and extruded aluminum table (96x60)
         - Includes ShopBot Control System Software & ShopBot PartWorks Design Software
         - Includes Z-zero Plate & XY Proximity Switches
     4hp Spindle (priced as 230v, 3phase, HSD)
     Starter Bit Kit (8 useful cutters to get you started; for spindle or router)    


ShopBot Woodworking CNC = $18,485


Change to PRSalpha 120 (10' X 5') Price =$20,985
Upgrade to a 5hp Spindle (priced as 230v, 3phase, Colombo) ; add $1,300
Add 16.9hp Vacuum Hold-down system (priced as 230v, 3phase, regen blower); add $6,595
Add ArtCam Insignia Software; add $3,000
Add ArtCAM Pro Software for 3D machining/carving (includes Insignia); add $7,500

[If you're on a real budget, read 'Reducing Costs of your CNC system']
 

[Click here for a detailed, printable, PDF version of ShopBot's current price list]

ShopBot Resources for Woodworkers

     Talk ShopBot Forum
     ShopBot CNC Resource Links

Web Resources for Woodworkers

     WoodWeb
     ISWonline

Business Resources for Woodworkers

     WoodShop News:  http://www.woodshopnews.com
     Furniture Design & Manufacturing Magazine:  http://www.fdmonline.com/
     The Woodworker’s Gazette:  http://www.woodworking.org/WC/gazette.html
 

Please contact us if you would like to be added to this page