I have not done aluminum with the handibot, but had done extensive work on a bridgeport 3 axis machine carving aluminum. I see no reason, with my experience on the handibot that it would not do a fine job with it. the issues that should be accounted for is galling in the cutter, something that would not happen with wood. feed speeds should be high so the chips don't get hot, 2 flutes rathby romeug - Handibot Forum
I noticed that there was a new update in mid October on the shopbot website for what i assume would be Shopbot3 software. Should we be updating each time a new one is offered? Are these announcements that we should be looking for in the Shopbot forums rather then here? Thanksby romeug - Handibot Forum
>Also you will find doing stuff like you illustrated so much easier if you will mount alinment lasers and make 0,0 the center of your work. I used that strategy extensively on the Bridgeport CNC as i milled a lot of cylinders on the vertical. In this case, as much of the work is on the tenons of legs that start square or rectangular (the taper (or turning) comes after, as in the case of thby romeug - Handibot Forum
That is so kind Mark. YOur thinking is the logical direction, and I am looking forward to where it leads. If they are short pieces, either > then 6 or 8 inches, this jig should be fine as i used the limits of the machine for the cutout. If they were symmetrical in all axis, perhaps double the size by flipping. the more interesting problem is having it register over an expanse. I couldby romeug - Handibot Forum
here are some photographs of a tenoning jig that has been successful.by romeug - Handibot Forum
Hi David, I would appreciate the research. It also comes in an 8" drive, but should be similarly specced. The Z axis on the Handibot seems to have the span suitable for either...thanks, gabrielby romeug - Handibot Forum
That definitely has good potential MItch, as the binding properties of milk paint can't be argued. Another possibility would be wheat paste.by romeug - Handibot Forum
I have a Tormach rotary indexer, would this require a separate breakout board or is it even possible to integrate? I assume you are working with the Shopbot, which seems quite nice...by romeug - Handibot Forum
and I will be looking forward to your results Mark, with pictures of course... I have been thinking (though have not tried it) of a derivation substituting shellac and kraft paper for porous woods (like white oak) where there may be finish issues with any glue residue. Alchohol would be the solvent, though i have never objected to base coat of a good shellac...gabrielby romeug - Handibot Forum
nice Mark, one thing i would like to add concerning small pieces...I was commissioned to make rather small Hebrew letters out of mahogany on my Bridgeport a few years back that would be cut free from the half inch mahogany board through the milling process. I used watered down yellow glue on both sides of a sheet of Kraft paper in between my sacrificial underlayment ply with and the mahogany (by romeug - Handibot Forum
I have been operating a Bridgeport Boss 1 conversion for years, past 4 a 3d printer with a vast array of metal working and wood tools both hand and tied into the grid...the handibot seems like an excellent take off point for less restriction in scaling, and on site work. One of the things that always fascinated me with the Bridgeport CNC (4 axis, rotary table) is designing hold down fixtures toby romeug - Handibot Forum