Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Modern jig for cabriole legs

The modern way of making jigs is named CNC.

The lower part of the "Bonnet-Top High Chest" stands on four cabriole legs. The thinnest part of the legs is about 0.5mm so a little testing has to be done. 

This is the screen from the computer that controls my small cnc-miller. 





The drawing of the leg is first scanned into a CAD program and the contour is traced. Then the CAD-drawing is transformed into codes understood by the CNC-miller by another program.



Here the first side is milled out. The large parts at the ends is later used for holding the leg sqare when cutting the other side.


To ensure excact reference this pocket is milled in a piece of MDF.


After the first cut the leg is rotated 90 degrees and placed into the pocket.


And secured with holddown clamps. (the mdf is mounted on the millingtable with double faced carpet tape.)


Then second side is milled out.


And the leg is ready for next step.






CNC is fun and a great help but you still have to understand how a piece of furniture is made.

Have fun
Niels

2 comments:

  1. Nice to see a miniature related blog showing the use of CNC in a home workshop situation. I noticed Elga was a follower and dropped in to see what you were up to. I am sure I will benefit greatly from what you are showing here.

    What CNC milling machine are you using? I have a Taig CNC mill, a Sherline CNC mill with a Sherline rotary on a stepper and Sherline CNC lathe. As well as a desktop CNC router.
    I purchased the Taig and Sherline machines used and have not finished upgrading their software and hardware to get them up and running. Hopefully I will get to that sometime this summer.

    I also have access to two different Roland DGA CNC machines. The Roland are my favorites to use as they have high speed spindles on them.

    I can also get time on the big industrial CNC machines at the college where I studied CNC machining.

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    1. My milling machine is a small Proxxon MF-70 converted for CNC by me several years ago. CNC-lathe is from a Unimat-CNC set. Little more about my machines can be seen here on my old website http://unitaig.jalling.dk

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