This one is very similar to the vase that I posted previously. The design was posted on the Bambu 3D printer site. The level of detail that the Vortex can produce is quite good, I think. I did the outside detail with the model sideways. That way, I was able to rotate it 90° when it was finished and do the initial hollowing on the Vortex. I finished the hollowing by hand on a lathe so that the inside profile matches the outside.
As previously, this one is just glued up 2x lumber, so not a keeper; just a learning experience.
Who cares that it is just 2x lumber … take responsibility/ownership, be proud, display the heck out of it!
@Jens Thanks much for that, Jens. I tend to do these as practice for keeper projects. This one was the result of 3 failures. I don’t mind when it’s just scrap 2x lumber. I don’t keep these, though. I post them here so that members can see what can be done with our Long Mills and the Vortex.
thanks again
Another good one, Grant! Keep 'em coming. Who cares if it’s scrap lumber. It’s the end result that counts.
@Heyward43 Tks much, H. I plan to do some these Vortex projects as gifts, but they will be out of maple, cherry or walnut. I much prefer to play in 2x, though, to ensure that I’m on the right track.
That is so impressive. Makes me really excited to get my Altmill (few months out at a minimum) , assemble it and experiment. You have got me pumped.
@bpwilly I don’t want to “unpump” you, Bill. (That sounds a bit weird, doesn’t it?), but you will need a rotary axis of some sort to do these projects. I have the Sienci Vortex hooked to a Long Mill Mk1.
Sorry about the terminology! Your right, “unpump” does sound weird. LOL. I for got to mention I did also order the Vortex as well as the laser.
@gwilki I do tests with construction lumber or other soft scrap all the time… sometimes they do turn out to be keepers though!
I have been planning to pick up the Vortex for a long time now - but first I need to knock off some other projects I promised I would do before then. Your post is inspiration to get on them!
@elbarsal Some of mine turn out to be “wife takes them before I toss them”, too. There are only some many shelves in the house, though, and I turn bowls, too.
I’m reasonably pleased with the Vortex. It’s well made and with the SLB and the closed loop stepper on it, it is easy to set up. I’m still learning the best way to set up toolpaths, but I’m almost there, I think.
Going forward, the biggest constraint for me is the relatively small diameter limitation of the Vortex. It is limited to about 3 1/2". I have some ideas of how to overcome that, though, and will start to work on them soon.
Beautiful piece. How big is that?
@Chucky_ott It’s only about 3.5" in diameter and 2.5" tall. The Vortex limits me to that 3.5" in diameter. I have plans to address that, but it will require me to change my table, so it will have to wait a bit.
@gwilki Another nice one! I don’t have the vortex but I’ve thought about the size limit some. Really, as I’m sure you know, your just limited limited by the Z travel in any one project as you can lift the mill or lower the table. The trick is to make that easy and stay square.
These are made for k40 lasers, I think, but maybe they will give you some ideas.
I like the top one myself and after building my LogMill I think making something like that could be done. Probably you’d just need bigger belts and pulleys to keep the lead screws synced up.
Cannibalizing an adjustable standing desk was another though I had. It’s all just pipe dreams for me ATM because I’m lacking the Vortex but I thought I’d share my thoughts.
@_Michael Good ideas, Michael. I have already cut a hole in my table of my vertical holding setup. I thought that I could enlarge on that idea. Cut a hole almost the full width of my table. Then, cut the rail that the headstock and tailstock of the Vortex ride on. Mount the headstock and tailstock on separate shelf sections so that the space between them is open. Finally mount the two shelve sections below the table. Your idea of being able to raise and lower them is interesting. I was being to simplistic, I think. I was going to pick an arbitrary distance below the table that would allow me to carve some pre-determined maxiumum diameter. The more that I think of that, it would not work, because smaller diameter cyclinders would likely be too far below the able top to mill. With your idea, I could raise and lower the shelf sections so that the top of the cyclinder was within the travel of the Z gantry. The key is to find a way to raise and lower the two shelf sections while having the space between them open so that the diameter of a cylinder is not limited.
That’s why I don’t believe your first option would work. It would still limit the size of the cylinder.
I would almost need two of your jacks, on for the headstock and one for the tailstock. Then I would need to have a way to ensure that I could raise and lower them by the same amount - unless of course I wanted the project to be a tapered cylinder.
Much to think about.
Yeah, your right if the head and tailstocks were mounted to the top one you’d be limited by the spoil board instead of the mill!
That makes it a little more complicated, I guess. The reason I liked the top one was because it could also come in handy if you had to conventionally mill something that was really thick.
Now considering your last post my ideal setup might be like the top one with two of the bottom ones on rails for the Vortex!
Good luck! I look forward to seeing what you come up with.