I’m making some box joints but want to use a smaller bit for the dogbones to make them less obvious on the finished project.
This gadget allows you to use a large bit (example: 1/4") for the main profile then come back with a smaller bit (1/16") for the dogbones ONLY.
As of now the gadget identifies the inside corners, creates new vectors, and adds them to their own layer. It does not create toolpaths. For me this is a huge timesaver
I’m testing now and would love some feedback!
PS- I’m not sure how to upload the gadget? Message me if interested and I can send it to you.
I’m super happy with the results. No big ugly dog bones. Just little ugly dogbones. I did the main cutout with a 1/4 endmill and added the dog bones using an 1/8" endmill. I’ll try another test with a 1/16 in and I think they’ll pretty much just disappear.
I also made another gadget for doing drawers/boxes that gives you the option for a groove to slide in a bottom.
Here’s a VERY rough test that I just finished. No glue. Just a dry fitup, about 3 minutes of sanding, and a quick coat of wax.
I do a lot of my stuff with 1/8" endmills - no tool changing required.
If you happen to use Fusion, it is trivial to do a cut with a 1/4 endmill and follow it wit a smaller endmill for detail. I must admit, I don’t like tool changes so I try to stick to one endmill
I just completed a big knife handle project- 6 handles carved from brass, double-sided job, with 7 tool changes. I guess I got used to changing bits! So I don’t mind it.
Next project is a couple of rolling tool carts that each have 7 drawers. Are pretty joints necessary for a garage cart- of course not . But it’s part of my learning journey and maybe if they come out nice I’ll get permission to do some ‘inside’ furniture next?
Oh I get it … I used shop built drawer cabinets as practise before I built nice cabinets for my office. I am not ready to build ‘inside furniture’ yet.
What I meant to point out was that you can, rather than tool changes, use a smaller tool and do the entire project with it. Instead of doing a pass with a 1/4" tool followed by a 1/8" tool pass, just do the whole thing in 1/8. Of course you can’t go to something like a 1/16" tool if you want to ever get out of the shop.
I use blind dogbones and that helps too.
My default maximum depth of cut is the bit diameter (0.125 in) - going with 0.05 in seems way too conservative.
For 1/8" bit I go with 18000 rpm, feed rate of 3000 mm/min (118 in/min), stepover varies based on situation.
75 in/min seems reasonable but you can probably push things a bit more.
I have never sat down and compared machining time but a tool change that brings machining time from 30 minutes to 5 minutes would make sense.
. But it’s part of my learning journey and maybe if they come out nice I’ll get permission to do some ‘inside’ furniture next?
